Emotionally Focused Therapists in Hillsborough, NC

Sometimes life is hard and you need help coping. Sometimes you get angry and you're not sure why or how to control it. Sometimes bad things happen and you can't get over it the way your friends and family expect you to. Maybe you don't really know what's going on, but you recognize that something isn't right. I want to help you figure out what isn't working in your life and get you to where you want to be.

I believe my role as a therapist is to provide a safe, supportive space where you can talk over your difficulties, and I in turn provide perspective, insight, and creative problem-solving strategies. With over 25 years of experience, I have many therapeutic approaches available. Past clients have told me that they appreciate my ability to listen reflectively but still provide active feedback and ideas that allow them to see a new angle on their problems and begin to change. I can be most helpful with relationship issues and with anxiety and depression. I have particular specialties in helping women with mid-life transition issues.

Sex and relationships can be hard to talk about --- But you don't have to do it alone! I am Devon Abdo (her/she), LMFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in Sexuality and Sex Therapy. I work with both couples and individuals who are interested in exploring their relationships and sexuality or need help dealing with this crazy world. I believe in tailoring each session to the needs of each client where they are, of any gender orientation, gender expression, race, or relationship style. I am trans-affirming, fetish-affirming, and poly-affirming.

Have you ever wondered if other people’s lives were as chaotic as yours? Were other people’s families as stressful as yours? Or, do you ever wonder if you are “just losing your mind?” I understand that life is messy and we, as humans, are messy too. Figuring out how to navigate life is serious business, and social media portrayals of “having the perfect life” do not help us tone down the negative self-talk that tends to jumble our thoughts. Would you like to pause all the static in your mind? Would you like to learn strategies to improve your mood, lessen your stress, and create “a life worth living?”

Hi Thanks for taking a look at my profile- Reach out if it seems we might be able to work together in a way that would be helpful to you...I'm working only via telehealth which reduces your commute time. If you're looking for a seasoned and experienced therapist, reach out, we can consult and see if working with me is useful to you. My clients tend to be working on being awake and aware of and attuned to the complexity of our culture today. I work with issues of alternative sexuality, gender dysphoria, relationships in all forms including relationships that are kink friendly and/or poly.

I believe that we have all of the tools in us already to make the change we desire. Therapy can serve to identify and access those qualities, offering a place to create a safe relationship and to explore and strengthen ones' sense of self, and to work through challenges. Do you have trouble liking yourself? Do you struggle with low confidence, anxiety or other intense emotions, such as shame or guilt? In my relational approach to treatment, I strive to find a balance, reduce suffering, and work toward the change the individual desires.

Life events occur that can overwhelm our coping skills or maybe we have been dealing with challenges for a long time. Either way, there are times we could all use support and perspective. I often work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationship issues, trauma, and eating disorders. I believe that social/cultural identities, roles, and life circumstances impact how we feel about ourselves and others. I'd like to get to know your unique story. Whether this is your first time looking for a therapist or it's time to re-connect with treatment, you have taken the first step.

I resonate with women who feel called towards a journey of self exploration. Perhaps they may be navigating their inner seasons, sensing something ancient and sacred in their bones guiding them towards deeper healing work. Maybe they also crave a sense of belonging among other likeminded people, and have a strong relationship with nature. I love the power of presence and connection with community and engaging in nourishing, playful, and creative practices with others. My spiritual connection with Earth is important to me and I hope to help others connect with nature through their experiences and integration practices.

I am currently accepting new clients, and I always respond within 24 hours. I partner with adults of all ages who are seeking psychotherapy within a setting that’s able to hold the fullness of who they are and the larger arc of their path. Located on Pickards Mountain at the edge of Chapel Hill, I describe my approach as somatic, depth-oriented, and mindfulness-based. Another term I use is soulcentric. Why? Because the word soul points to the deeper dimensions of one’s life. It evokes the rich, sometimes veiled currents running through our lives and orients us toward our ever-unfolding authenticity and path.

I believe therapy should be a collaborative effort between client and therapist. While I may share some evidenced-based ideas during our sessions, only you are the expert on what works for you. My sessions will generally follow a cognitive behavioral approach, meaning that we will examine, and possibly shift, your thoughts and perspectives on life situations that are causing you enough distress to want to pursue change. Together we will form a plan of action that is the right fit for you at this point in time.

Have you ever made a choice and immediately asked yourself: "Why in the world did I do that?" Imagine if you had talked with someone you trusted before you made that choice. What a difference some compassion and understanding can make. Lighten your burden with someone to walk with you through your difficult life choices. Whether you're wrestling with a work-related challenge or a situation in your intimate relationship, I can offer you a safe space, a ready ear, and help with the choices you're trying to make. Feel heard, understood, and confident in your decisions. That's what therapy offers.

Reaching out for help can be difficult, but seeking the support of a counselor can lead to measurable positive change, meaning, and balance in your life. My style is warm, non-judgmental, and affirming. I leave space for you to safely explore issues of concern as well as aspirations. I have experience working with individuals from all walks of life and work collaboratively with clients to help them achieve their goals. Whether you are seeking support with hard to change behaviors, a life transition, or emotional connection, deciding to enlist professional help can be a brave first step towards healing.

I am currently accepting clients for premarital counseling. I am a clinical social worker, addiction specialist and a certified supervisor. I support healing by fostering healthy relationship. I found that clients that value a psychobiological approach (relations between mind and body) tend to be drawn to me. I work with individuals and couples who don't want to settle in unhappiness and worry. I support my clients through transitions and change. My work with clients revolves around supporting them to prioritize their needs, as well as to identify coping mechanisms and resources available to them.

When your thoughts or actions do not match your feelings, or you find that certain relationships are a problem, it could be time to explore what hidden patterns might be impacting your life. Because you are always in relationship to those in your world, whether family, work, or with a significant other; it is important to find ways to calm overwhelming emotions, overcome negative feelings, develop effective communication skills and discover the real issues in your life. In a non-invasive therapy environment, together we will build permanent resources to support you in being who you truly want to be.

Changes often raise fear and curiosity. I particularly enjoy working with clients who are full of curiosities and who are willing to explore unknowns and perceive unknowns as gifts. I am interested in supporting clients’ fear related to changes, and helping clients work on variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, traumas, identity development (e.g., sexual orientation and cultural identities), etc. Prior to arriving in the US, I was a mental health provider in Taiwan. In my early career, I practiced child play therapy and animal-assisted psychotherapy.

With a background in social work and clinical psychology, I have been providing mental health services for more than 20 years. I am trained in Interpersonal Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and various Trauma Specific practices and am experienced in providing therapy to individuals, couples and families. While I am able to see clients presenting with various concerns, my main areas of focus include anxiety, depression, chronic stress, trauma and dealing with life adjustments.

Are you living a purpose filled life? A life that you enjoy waking up to and beginning your day with a strategic plan to live on purpose. At one point you felt optimistic about life then out of nowhere you were triggered by a memory from the past which led to your downward spiral of emotions. Now you are questioning your life's purpose and reason for existence. Or perhaps confused as to why you have experienced certain encounters leading you to feelings of stress, distant behavior, agitation, or perhaps hopeless.

I consider it a profound honor to witness human beings' capacity to become more authentic, liberated versions of themselves. My experience is that healing and transformation take place only in relationship, and that the therapist-client relationship provides a unique opportunity for connection, reflection, and change. I help clients co-create a space where they can process the heavy burdens that seem to be getting in the way- grief or loss, low self-esteem, ambivalence about what is next, or pain from broken relationships.

I work with adolescents, adults, couples and families on a range of things, from family and relationship issues to life transitions, depression and anxiety, grief, larger existential questions, and other things. A particular focus is helping people in crisis manage and make meaning from difficulties. My approach to therapy is supportive, relational, and client-centered, with a focus on how things manifest themselves in the here and now. More than anything, I try to create a safe space for tuning in to feelings, finding balance, healing, and working on change.