Body Positivity Therapists in Wood Valley, Raleigh, NC

First and foremost, I support and affirm all LGBTQ+ identities and I am respectful of all racial, ethnic, and cultural identities and experiences. I spent 21 years in the U.S. military and have been peer mentoring in the addiction recovery community for over 10 years. My time with these two populations, and my own personal experiences, have given me a passion for understanding and treating trauma and the many conditions that arise along with it. I use a trauma-focused approach that processes foundational issues while learning coping skills that can quickly lessen symptoms.

As your therapist, I will provide a safe, nonjudgmental, and empathic setting for you to share about your current situation; explore early life experiences; gain a helpful understanding of your emotional world; and why you think and act in particular, problematic patterns. Many, if not all, of our emotional burdens (anxiety, people-pleasing, lying, codependency, lack of coping skills, mistrust of authority, hypersensitivity, defensiveness, an underdeveloped sense of self, parenting struggles, relationship issues) are the result of earlier wounds that infuse within us lasting well into adulthood.

The effects of trauma can reverberate long after the traumatic experience is over. Traumatic events can overwhelm your ability to cope, leaving you feeling anxious, fearful, angry, depressed, or numb. Traumatic stress can cause you worry, overthink, lose sleep, and have trouble focusing. It can strain your relationships and affect your ability to trust and feel safe. If your trauma has left you feeling stuck, hopeless, or defeated, know that help is available. Healing is possible, and you don't have to go it alone.

You deserve to live a meaningful and balanced life. Using a compassionate and collaborative approach, we will create a safe and nurturing environment for you to begin your self-exploration and healing. I will listen to you without judgment and honor you as a whole person who has inherent wisdom. Whether it is processing unresolved trauma, improving your mood, strengthening your relationships, or seeking support as you navigate life's transitions and challenges, you will experience healing and growth.

As of 2/9/24 I am currently accepting children 6+, teen and adult clients via telehealth. Staying true to ourselves may be one of the hardest but most important tasks we encounter as we mature into adults. Family, social needs, achievements, anxiety, depression, and many other factors often get in the way of our ability to express ourselves in our fullest capacity. During our time in counseling, you will get to know your truest self, and practice expressing yourself authentically with curiosity and mindfulness.

Clients who come to work with me are seeking a welcoming and laid back environment where laughs can be shared but hard work and healing can also take place. Client needs are usually around relationship struggles, self-esteem, career exploration, anxiety/depression, and trauma. Healing from these struggles can aid in great advancement in life through living each day with a positive lens, getting through the tough times in life, and genuinely enjoying where they are at in the present moment.

What you learn today can change the future! Are you having a difficult time with destructive or harmful drug/alcohol use or experiencing stress because a loved one is experiencing harmful or destructive drug/alcohol use patterns? I am excited to help you find freedom from the stress that unhealthy patterns of drug/alcohol use brings into your life. I believe in empowering individuals to find and utilize your strengths to build self-acceptance, healthy relationships, and find passion for life without suffering. I am motivated to help you make lasting positive changes in your life.

Accepting new clients: I believe in addressing the full picture of the client, growth, and healing. I recognize that each client' story is unique and deserves a unique approach. I use integrative styles of therapy to create a client-centered fit. I am professionally multi-disciplined much like my educational background which includes psychology, clinical social work, and education. I bring to therapy a culturally competent atmosphere that welcomes all people who are ready to grow. I enjoy the empowerment perspective, strength-based therapy, trauma-informed therapy, coping skill building and more.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience. I believe that everyone has the ability to change and improve themselves and their circumstances given the right opportunity and the right support. My goal is to provide a safe and trusting environment for my clients to grow while at the same time improving their mental health and their relationships with the people around them.

**Practice has immediate openings for new clients**. When was the last time you checked in with you? I’m not talking about your children, partner, your friends, your colleagues, but I’m talking about you. How often do you evaluate your current place in life, then set realistic goals to accomplish life’s milestones? Are you constantly thinking that there has to be more, but you just need help trying to figure it all out? I am here to assist you. My job is to help move you away from the things that no longer work, perhaps they never did, and towards a more ideal way of being.

Accepting New Clients! Stressed out? depressed? marriage problems? anxious? struggling to hold it together? many of us are! I can help. Empathy, understanding, listening and commitment to assisting you with what life has dealt are vital ingredients for a quality therapist. Here you will be treated with respect and I guarantee that you will never feel uncomfortable or out of place. Contact me and I can get you scheduled very quickly, I look forward to seeing you!

I believe that we are all capable of growth and healing; we sometimes just need some extra help and support along the way. I will walk alongside you as you uncover, discover, and explore areas in need of healing, growth, or change. I will utilize your own personal strengths to help you set, pursue, and accomplish goals. You and I will, collaboratively, come up with strategies that best suit your life and situations and I will be there to support and encourage you as you navigate through what life brings.

Accepting New Clients: I believe life should be enjoyable. Life is a journey we all walk through with moments that challenge us. Life comes with challenging situations and life circumstances, but we can ask for help. My job is to help you get through those tough moments in life, to collaborate with you to increase your life satisfaction and focus on building a better you. I can create a warm and safe environment to empower you. I will listen and be present. I welcome everyone from all walks of life. I will join you in the journey of becoming a better you.

Each day presents a new challenge, most of the time we are able to navigate life, while balancing other hats. However, there are times when we encounter situations or moments which make us feel unbalanced, out of control and uncertain, disrupting our mental & emotional well being. If we do not address & re-align our imbalance, things can lead to mental & physical breakdown. Do you feel depressed, constant fear, anger, loneliness, & hopelessness, & more? You don’t have to accept this as a way of life. Let us help you regain balance, overcome obstacles while identifying & reconnecting to your own inner strength. Let’s Transform you!

With over 25 years of combined experience in the field, we have had the privilege of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, dealing with a wide range of challenges. We offer an integrative and client-centered approach, tailoring interventions to meet your specific goals and preferences. Whether you are facing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, or any other mental health concern, we are here to provide you with evidence-based strategies and compassionate support.

Life is a journey. There are hills and valleys and sometimes it’s necessary to go through the valley to get to the mountaintop. I’ve always had a passion for helping people reach their goals and I look forward to providing a safe space in partnering with you on your journey to healing, reaching your goals, and self-discovery. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist registered in NC. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and my Master of Social Work degree in Clinical Social Work.

Greetings! Congratulations on taking the 1st step to address your concerns. It takes courage to make this step and I want to acknowledge your efforts. It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to develop a collaborative relationship with you and to connect with you, guide you and provide a non-judgmental safe place. I enjoy working with children, pre-teens, adolescents, and adults. I am a passionate clinician that strives to improve the quality of life of my clients.

Are you struggling to connect with yourself and others? Are emotional difficulties impacting your ability to show up authentically in the world? Do you suspect there might be deeper, more complex themes you have not yet explored about yourself or your past that contribute to your current state? If so, I would love to work with you! I will accept you for exactly who you are, without judgment. Together, we will ease restore balance in your nervous system, build emotional resilience, increase your capacity for positive emotions, and develop behaviors consistent with your most authentic, organic self.

I have always had an interest in not only how our minds, bodies, and spirits are connected, but also what takes place when an imbalance exists and then how to implore healing. I look at an individual through a holistic lens, and use this approach, when appropriate. A part of this holistic approach, I have the belief that as a part of the world and universe in which we live, that we are all, interconnected and operate as a part of a dynamic system. I am especially interested in how mindfulness practices, yoga, animals, and nature, might influence the ideas of acceptance and non-judgment, and overall, positively affect an individual.