I am a Registered Play Therapist working with children who are hard to reach either because they are angry, anxious, or depressed. Children don't express themselves the same way that adults do, rather, they express themselves more naturally through play. Play is a child's natural way of relieving stress and play therapy is the best practice for working with children. Using Play Therapy most children are able to work through issues in a much shorter amount of time. For more information Call today (910) 407-0052 and check us out at www.AtlasChildCounseling.com

Love is the greatest risk in this life, and yet to not love is to not really live. I'd like to help you discover how you can find momentum in the primary relationships that mean the world to you... while still developing you. While working as a therapist for over 30 years I've discovered that I do not have all the answers for your life. I have tools, techniques, wisdom, metaphors and empathy, but I also respect the internal wisdom (collective wisdom for couples and families) that we can discover through a really good, solution focused, conversation.

Let me help you find your balance by meeting you where you are and working with you to move towards your goals. Sometimes that means examining the past; other times that involves planning for what might come next. Along the way, comfort can be found in present-moment mindfulness and talk therapy. Coming from a place of compassion and understanding, my goal is to provide clients with a space in which they feel safe and free from judgment in a warm, informal environment. As a person-centered therapist, I value the importance of an authentic connection between therapist and client.

I believe that we live in difficult and challenging times and there is no one who, at least on occasion, would not benefit from help in navigating their way through these times in order to have a better quality of life. I am here to listen to you and to help you achieve your vision for a happier and healthier life. I work with adults, teens, youth and children to address issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, adjustment to life changes, abuse, trauma, grief, behavioral problems, and relationship problems.

So many of my clients come in feeling like something is wrong with them. They are relieved to know that their feelings are normal. My clients come to me because they just want to feel better. They want to be less depressed, less anxious, better parents, more confident, and have healthier relationships. I work with my clients as they learn new ways of coping and living life that free them from negative thoughts, behaviors and patterns of emotional reactivity.

I believe that everyone may experience unfortunate circumstances during their lifetime. When this happens, we may need a helping hand in managing our difficulties. It takes a brave person to ask for assistance but this is the first step in the healing process. If you would like for me to be that helping hand, please contact me. I offer Tele-Counseling at various times in order to meet the busy schedules that many people have in their lives.

My work is informed by this belief: Life is difficult and facing its challenges requires courage and support. I strive to create a non-judgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be expressed, issues can be explored, and values can be acted on. Recognizing suffering and the need for change is never easy, but asking for help is a strength that often brings relief, problem solving, and transformation. Each day I witness how counseling helps individuals navigate predictable life-stages as well as unexpected crises. And I see that healing, growth, and meaning are within reach for all.

I work with individuals and families, ages ranging from early childhood to adult. I have experience supporting people to work through trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, parenting issues, behavioral concerns, grief, and many other issues. I have 10 years of experience working in the mental health field. I am a Registered Play Therapist, Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and a Triple-P Level 4 provider. You may not fully understand why you're having your present issues and you may not have the coping methods, support, or knowledge needed to navigate life.

I like to consider myself a play connoisseur! I am a licensed professional counselor and a registered play therapist. I received a Master's degree in Counseling from Regis University and am currently enrolled in a doctoral program. I have advanced training in different play therapy modalities, sandplay therapy, and Theraplay, and truly specialize in working with children. I believe in empowering children to make their own choices, take responsibility, and assert their autonomy by engaging in an accepting, genuine, and trusting therapeutic relationship. My office is designed for kids with adults in mind! :)

Are you having issues with a difficult person? Are you tired of fighting and endless discussions? Do you have difficulty communicating your feelings. Do you suffer from anxiety or depression and it's impacting your relationships. Do you lack the motivation to make real changes in your life? Are you an empty nester and unsure how to move forward? Is your work and leisure time out of balance? Then let's talk because I can help. I have immediate openings and offer EVENING HOURS 3 nights a week.

If going to traditional office based therapy doesn't appeal to you, there is another option. Harley Grace Farm & Counseling Center combines evidence based mental health treatment with a non-traditional setting. Therapy is designed to meet your individual needs; you can opt to take a walk on the farm's trails during your session, utilize activities with horses to actually practice new skills necessary to meet your goals or select one of the seating areas on the farm. The farm is a safe place of acceptance, growth & healing as we are all deserving of happiness & second chances.

Clinicians have ties to the military and surrounding areas for: Cumberland, Moore, Harnett, Robinson, New Hanover and Lee, NC counties. Our contracted clinicians provide a wide range of services and specialties. We appreciate the opportunity to be of help and look forward to all of us working together. Bobette Donaldson, LCSW, owner, military connected and Fayettevillian. Experience with: Service Members, military families, children, adolescents, adults, geriatrics, families, small groups, intensive outpatient groups and clinical inpatient hospital care.

I have openings now! Beginning therapy can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be! With the right therapist, it can be a casual and enjoyable experience, building trust and safety so that you know that you can share what is most on your mind and resolve the issues that keep you from functioning at your best.

Who are you here to be? I am here to support you and actively engage with you in the therapeutic process, where you aren't discovering my answers to this question, but discovering yours. Areas where I can assist you include coping with stress, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and life transitions (moving, divorce, job loss/change, chronic illness, military life). As a former military spouse, I am very familiar with how military service affects all members of the family. I have been practicing as an LCSW for over 20 years and bring this experience to help you define and achieve your counseling goals.

**PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS.** I have the privilege to work beside children, adolescents and adults in difficult and often confusing times in their lives. My goal is to leave clients with strategies, communication skills, and ways of thinking that can be transferred from the therapy room to everyday life - to friendships, family dynamics, workplace, and those moments at 2 a.m. when it is difficult to fall back asleep. My approach to therapy is relational, creative and collaborative and I believe very strongly in forming a trusting relationship with my clients.

Energy psychotherapy is compatible with many standard approaches to therapy such as CBT. My work includes approaches to the assessment and treatment of many behavioral difficulties through bioenergy systems. In addition to standard therapeutic elements such as rapport, listening and discussion, energy psychology also involves procedures that address the underlying energetic aspects of the problem through attunement, muscle testing, and techniques that may involve tapping, assuming body postures, visualization, affirmations, expressed intentions and assertions often achieving observable and measurable results rapidly.

Sometimes life throws things at your path with no prior warning, and you end up somewhere that you had not planned. And then, with the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes matters even more challenging to deal with. With warmth and compassion, I provide therapy in a way that will make you feel comfortable and safe. In our sessions, I will help you identify what is most important to you and then help you move toward your goals.

Life can be challenging, with many twists and turns along the way. We may even find that events and circumstances in life are not what we expected or are out of our control. In those times, we seek to find strength and encouragement to endure and perhaps even rebuild. I believe that everyone has the potential to rise above their circumstances, no matter what they may encounter. We can turn disappointment, hurt, or pain into learning experiences that help us grow.

I believe that it is essential to incorporate the client’s strengths, culture, and worldview when developing and refining treatment plans. I use an integrative therapy approach that is rooted in Person-Centered, Attachment Theory, Strengths-Based, and Cognitive-Behavioral modalities. I am passionate about providing clients with a comfortable space to explore, refine, and develop tools and strategies that will benefit their present and future growth.

I work with individuals, ages 4 through adulthood, who have experienced traumatic events (Childhood sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, physical abuse, car accidents, military trauma, etc) and are experiencing trauma symptoms. I have vast experience working with children in the foster system with their foster parents and/or biological parents. I also have training working with individuals with depression, anxiety and Borderline Personality Disorder, among many other disorders. My goal is to help others find and achieve their "life worth living".