Anxiety Therapists in Glenwood South, Raleigh, NC

I provide guidance for clients with a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety, OCD, depression, traumatic events, challenging childhoods, and feeling overwhelmed, stressed and “not good enough,” but most importantly, I enjoy helping folks navigate the challenges of being human in a world that is constantly telling us how we’re “supposed” to be. I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental and down-to-earth environment for clients to begin sharing their life experiences, expanding self-awareness, shifting perspectives, and letting go of unworkable patterns in order to move in a more meaningful and intentional direction.

I am currently accepting new Telehealth clients! - Any number of barriers could impede peak performance. Anxiety, burnout, injury, external pressures, and trauma are but a few of the challenges my clients regularly face. Any one of these factors can lead to feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and/or diminished self-esteem. Sometimes, my clients are unaware of the underlying mechanisms contributing to performance breakdown, distress, or loss of enjoyment in sport/performance or life in general. This can lead to maladaptive behaviors and beliefs that perpetuate a debilitative cycle.

Hi! I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress management for children, teens, and adults. I like to utilize a creative approach to therapy to help tailor to you as an individual. I view myself as an eclectic counselor as I like to pull from various theories to best fit your needs. I mostly tend to utilize cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, expressive art therapy, and solution-focused therapy. I chose to become a counselor because I love to witness the growth that others achieve. I have a passion for healing and counseling allows me to be a part of others’ healing journeys almost every day.

Licensed in VA, WVA, MD and NC. Are you struggling with your overall mental wellness? Have you tried therapy in the past and not seen the progress you were expecting? I am here to offer support and collaborate with you to find hope. Therapy is a shared journey to identify new insights and work on finding actionable solutions. I actively listen to get to know you, develop a clinical relationship and address your unique needs while in a calm and comfortable setting. We work together to create tangible tools to process past experiences, including trauma, and tackle current complicated life issues to facilitate a healthier future.

My journey to becoming a therapist started in an art room. I attended NCSU's College of Design, which led to teaching high school art for several years. Teaching allowed me to find my calling as a therapist and consultant. I graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social work in 2008, and have since pursued Certifications in Addictions, Self-Compassion, & the work of Dr. Brené Brown. I also have specific training in Emotionally Focused Individual and Family Therapy which is based on attachment theory as well as AEDP, an experiential therapy model that helps heal trauma through corrective emotional experiences.

I help adults who feel overwhelmed and unable to live life fully due to anxiety, depression, and life transitions. My specialty is the treatment of anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, depression, and interpersonal/relational issues. Specifically, I treat generalized anxiety, social anxiety, relational trauma, and anxiety caused by circumstances such as illness, loss, relationship difficulties, career burnout, perfectionism, and social isolation. I help clients first understand how and why anxiety and depression limit their lives, and then find ways to live life more fully.

For the last ten years I have been helping clients from a variety of backgrounds to move in the direction of making a meaningful, fulfilling life. I have extensive experience working with folks struggling with disordered eating and body image distress, obsessive compulsive tendencies, anxiety, depression, trauma, and challenges related to gender and sexuality. As a person who identifies as queer herself, I am strongly committed to providing a safe, non-judgemental, and affirming space for all folks in the LGTBQ community and provide letters for folks looking to receiving gender affirming medical care.

Therapy is a collaborative process. It involves the client, the therapist, and the experiences & relationships that have shaped us. The reasons that bring you to therapy are unique to you. It can often be a path full of reflections, questions, and challenging decisions. Folks who have experienced relational/attachment challenges may describe themselves as an empath, intuitive, a people pleaser, or a cycle breaker. This might also feel overwhelming, lonely, and confusing. My hope is that this is a step in a direction towards peace & insight while providing comfort knowing that you no longer need to take additional steps alone.

I am currently taking clients! I have an interest in and experience working with individuals who are seeking guidance with navigating their world. I have worked with them in a variety of areas such as exploring their identity, learning healthy habits, and growing in their relationships with others. I have previously worked in community mental health with folx ages 6-23, and my current passion is working with individuals aged 13+.

As a somatically focused gestalt therapist, I believe there is wisdom and meaning in our suffering and that we need to be able to experience and listen to our bodies in order to feel whole and alive. Our relationship can help you create the change you are longing for by supporting you to get clearer about your needs, respond more flexibly and effectively to the world around you, and ultimately have a fuller and more fulfilling experience of yourself, your relationships, and your possibilities.

Do you want to feel at understood in your relationships, but you struggle with communicating emotions deep down? In your relationship, you want to deeply understand one another, break out of unhelpful patterns, and feel the energy you once had. You might not even remember a time things didn’t feel this way. One thing is for sure: you’re ready to feel confident in making changes. You’re ready to enjoy meaningful relationships without feeling the need to over-achieve. You’re ready to take the courageous step towards vulnerability. Most of all, you’re ready to go from complacent to passionate.

Gentlemen, it’s a recognized human tendency to get “stuck” in our lives. Here’s the truth; you are never “stuck” with your present circumstances. The Game of Life is a psychological and spiritual journey and winning at this game requires you to change your play and learn to think differently and do things in a new way. The work of Stephen Pleasant Therapy is to help men break out from being “stuck” in life, resigned to producing results that are disappointing to them and others. The goal of Stephen Pleasant Therapy is to see transformative progress in men’s confidence, clarity, and full self-expression.