Dr. Sheila Vidal, licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma therapy for adults in California and Virginia — professional headshot used on the About page of Next Mission Recovery.

About Dr. Sheila Vidal: Online Trauma Psychologist in California & Virginia

ACT-led online therapy for adults with PTSD, C-PTSD, anxiety, and attachment challenges, statewide in CA & VA; in-person by appointment in Folsom.

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At a Glance: Qualifications & Focus

  • Availability: Statewide online trauma therapy across California and Virginia, with limited in-person sessions available in Folsom (by appointment).

  • Licensure: CA PSY36022 • VA 0810007130 • NPI 1134788763

  • Specialty: ACT-led care integrating CBT, CPT, optional PE, mindfulness

  • Populations: Veterans & military, security-clearance pros, immigrants & refugees, marginalized communities

  • Format: 100% online (HIPAA-secure) • Self-pay for maximum privacy • $300 / 50 minutes • Superbills available

Dr. Sheila Vidal, licensed trauma psychologist, writing notes during an online therapy consultation — professional portrait for the About page of Next Mission Recovery, serving California and Virginia.

My Story & Clinical Background

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Next Mission Recovery Psychology, PC. My work centers on helping adults recover from PTSD and complex trauma and rebuild connection, meaning, and daily routines. I’ve provided trauma‑focused care to veterans, first responders, reservists, law‑enforcement professionals, families, immigrants, unaccompanied minors, and caregivers. During my years with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, I provided therapy for veterans and active-duty service members recovering from combat-related PTSD, military sexual trauma (MST), moral injury, and other complex trauma. These experiences deeply shaped my ACT-led approach and my respect for the courage it takes to seek help after service.

Based in Folsom, California, I now provide trauma-informed therapy for adults across California and Virginia through secure telehealth, with limited in-person sessions available in Folsom (by appointment).

I hold a PsyD and MA in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Washington, DC). My training included placements at DC Superior Court (psychological evaluations for at‑risk youth and Spanish‑speaking unaccompanied minors) and a postdoctoral fellowship at Kennedy Krieger Institute / Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, supporting families navigating behavioral trauma and developmental challenges.

Earlier, I earned my BA in International Studies from the University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX), where my semester abroad centered on research into the fall of communism in Romania and Hungary, including an intensive field seminar in Transylvania.

I went on to complete an MA in Diplomacy and Military Studies at Hawai‘i Pacific University, receiving the Best Graduate Paper award for research on interwar political revolution in Vietnam (1954–1959). This scholarship sharpened my understanding of how large-scale political and cultural forces shape individual lives and relationships.

Alongside academics, I taught CBT-based anger management classes at the Fairfax County jail in Virginia, provided English language instruction for immigrants in Northern Virginia, and taught introductory psychology courses to young adults through the Mostar Summer Youth Programme (MSYP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These experiences—spanning correctional, immigrant, and post-conflict settings—continue to inform my commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and shape my understanding of human behavior, conflict, and resilience.

Ready to begin? Schedule your free 15-minute consultation to discuss online or in-person options.

Who I Work With

  • Veterans & Active‑Duty Military (including MST, combat trauma, reintegration)

  • Federal employees & security‑clearance professionals seeking confidential, insurance‑free therapy

  • Immigrants & refugees coping with displacement, raids, cultural trauma, and fear of deportation

  • Marginalized communities (LGBTQ+, ethnic minorities, and individuals impacted by systemic trauma)

  • Families surviving the impacts of trauma and PTSD

My approach emphasizes safety, collaboration, and cultural humility, recognizing the resilience that coexists with pain and the complex ways trauma shapes identity and relationships.

Where I Provide Care (Statewide Telehealth)

I offer therapy for adults across California and Virginia—primarily online, with limited in-person sessions available in Folsom (by appointment).

Looking for details on services? Visit Services.

How I Practice (ACT‑Led, Trauma‑Informed, Culturally Responsive)

I lead with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), helping you build psychological flexibility so thoughts, memories, or body alarms don’t run the day. Depending on your goals and readiness, I integrate:

  • ACT:

    Values-guided actions, willingness skills, and present-moment awareness so life can expand even when difficult experiences show up.

  • CBT:

    Updating trauma-shaped beliefs; establishing sleep and routine anchors; experiments that gently test new, safer behaviors.

  • CPT:

    Systematically examining beliefs about safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy to reduce shame and restore meaning.

  • PE (When Appropriate):

    Choice-based, titrated exposure for narrowed lives—only when stabilization and consent are in place.

    Clinical Focus: PTSD • C‑PTSD • developmental trauma • anxiety and depression • attachment challenges • moral injury

Privacy, Access, and Session Format

My practice is self-pay and insurance-free to protect confidentiality, an important safeguard for clients in high-security or public-facing roles. Sessions are conducted via HIPAA-secure video or, by appointment, in person in Folsom.

Dr. Sheila Vidal, trauma psychologist, standing in her office.

Education, Licensure & Professional Memberships

  • PsyD, MA (Clinical Psychology): The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Washington, DC)

  • MA (Diplomacy & Military Studies): Hawai‘i Pacific University — Best Graduate Paper award

  • Licenses: California PSY36022; Virginia 0810007130

  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP, Levels 1 & 2), NPI: 1134788763

  • Professional profiles: Psychology Today, TherapyDen, APA, ACBS

Ready to Begin?

If you’re seeking trauma‑informed therapy in California or Virginia, I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation. We’ll explore your goals, pacing, and whether working together feels like the right next step.

Schedule Consultation