Meet Virginia

 


Welcome. I'm so glad you're here.

My name is Virginia S Grenier, and I’m a Mental Health Counseling Intern currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. I’m on track to graduate in Spring 2026.

My counseling approach is rooted in person-centered values, existential and narrative therapy, and trauma-informed care. I also integrate polyvagal theory, somatic awareness, and expressive modalities like sand tray work. I’m currently completing my internship at Counseling for Success in St. George, Utah, where I practice under supervision. 

If you want to know more about me as a mental health counselor, you can visit my Psychology Today profile. 

 But like every story, there’s more beneath the professional headline.

Before entering the clinical world, I spent decades writing, editing, and advocating. I’m an award-winning author and editor, a Mom’s Choice Honoree, and former director of the St. George Book Festival. I’ve published over 50 articles and short stories, along with multiple books for children and young adults.

I’m also the co-host and producer of Language of the Soul Podcast, where I explore voice, healing, and the complexity of being human with the main host, Dominick Domingo.

As a nationally credentialed victim advocate through NOVA’s NACP, I’ve walked alongside survivors navigating the hard, non-linear paths of grief, trauma, and growth. That work, and my own life experience, taught me that healing isn’t about fixing—it’s about finding meaning, reclaiming voice, and gently rewriting the story we tell ourselves.

At home, I’m a mother to three amazing humans, a partner, and a lifelong learner of the messy, beautiful human experience.

This blog is one of the ways I continue that learning—with honesty, curiosity, and presence.

Thanks for walking part of the path with me.

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What’s on the Shelf Isn’t Always the Tool

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Therapy tools aren’t always still. They aren’t just books on a shelf or worksheets in a binder. Sometimes, they’re a miniature car held between fingers, or a tiny plastic ladder placed with intention into soft, forgiving sand. This week, I practiced my SandTray skills with the help of one of my favorite people—my daughter, who’s now in college and generously offered her time (and patience) to be part of my learning process. It was humbling. And also deeply meaningful. As a mental health counseling intern, I’m expanding my toolkit every day—not just in theory, but in lived practice. I’ve learned that creating safe, symbolic spaces isn’t just for the client’s benefit—it helps me slow down, stay curious, and hold space for what words can’t always capture. SandTray therapy may look like play… But it’s more than that. It’s storytelling in motion. It’s metaphor, memory, and meaning unfolding in real time. It’s giving someone a chance to explore their world with their hands when ...
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Welcome to Existential Narrative Therapy: Where Story Meets Soul

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This space is for those who are curious—not just about mental health, but about meaning. I’m Virginia S Grenier, a Mental Health Counseling Intern currently pursuing my degree at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. My approach to counseling is rooted in person-centered values, narrative therapy, existential exploration, and trauma-informed care. I also integrate polyvagal and somatic practices—because healing doesn’t just live in the mind; it lives in the body, and in the stories we carry there. This blog is not a place for advice-giving or “fixing.” It’s a space for reflecting, wondering, reframing, and remembering. You’ll find thoughts on: ✨ Reclaiming identity through narrative ✨ Making peace with ambiguity and grief ✨ The power of sand tray work and symbols ✨ Self-regulation through a polyvagal lens ✨ Parenting, partnership, and being human ✨ Quotes and voices that have lingered in my soul You may also find echoes of my voice from other realms—I’m an award-w...
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