Therapists in Banner Elk, NC

Is it time to find a new path? Life can be a difficulty journey, but you are not alone. My name is Dr. Nikki Hozack and I am here to help you navigate life's roadblocks so you can enjoy the ride.

I am passionate about working with men who have a desire to grow into the next greatest version of themselves. My life's purpose is to serve men who choose to walk the path of embodied presence. The walk on this path is not always easy. It can include suffering and heartache. These struggles have always been a part of the human experience. And, incredible transformation can occur when a man chooses to face these challenges in order to realize his full potential. I specialize in communication and relationship-building skills and bring more than 20 years of experience working with teens and adults in these areas.

Do you sense that there's more to life than you are experiencing? Or maybe you are in transition, or feel stuck in a rut you can't pull out of? You may also sense that you are a spiritual person living a human life, and you want to integrate all of these parts of yourself and improve the quality of your life? No matter what stage of adulthood you are in, you get to live in alignment with your highest values. As a Buddhist/Mindfulness teacher, I will bring an "embodied presence" to our sessions to connect with you and support you in moving forward to live a meaningful spiritual, human life.

Are you living with depression, anxiety, grief, addiction, lack of direction, trauma? I believe that we naturally feel a call to live meaningful, loving lives and know intuitively that this is our best path but we often will feel stuck, unsure, fearful and so take no action. Existential therapy calls this a restricted existence and believes the goal of all therapy is to remove the road blocks that are limiting you from moving toward living your best life.

Everyone's journey is unique and quite personal. I strive to honor your journey and the path that you are on. I am merely a guide helping you along the way. I seek to develop a trusting, authentic relationship in which you can explore, grow, improve relationships and make desired life changes. Clients often come into my office feeling overwhelmed and not sure exactly where to start. I take a holistic approach in helping you navigate life through optimal emotional health and wellness. This means that I often use a blend of therapy modalities to meet your needs.

Are you feeling alone, anxious or depressed? Unsatisfied with your career, have chronic pain or illness? Relationship stress, extended family issues? My clients tell me I'm warm, easy to talk to, and down to earth. I use a variety of treatment approaches: psychodynamic and relational, combined with CBT, EFT, and EMDR. EMDR can help almost any problem resolve more quickly because it allows the brain to make changes on a deeper level than just talking. We still talk plenty though, before, during and after EMDR. My clients find telehealth to be helpful and convenient. I see regular clients occasionally at my home office.

It takes a lot of courage to seek help due to the stigmas that are often associated with receiving counseling services and getting assistance with your mental health. I applaud you for taking the first step! I have had the opportunity to work a diverse group of individuals over the course of the past 15 years. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that there is no cookie-cutter, one size fits all approach to counseling. I prefer to get to know you as an individual, and not just categorizing or summing you up based on the challenges or behaviors that you’re currently facing or challenged with.

I believe in the natural healing capacity and basic wisdom of all human beings. Layers of confusion and unconscious wounds can disconnect us from our true selves, and we may end up feeling bad and acting in ways that hurt our relationships- with ourselves, with others, and with this magnificent planet. We become hard and out of touch with our lives and callings. Real, deep change is possible when we face ourselves and our challenges with honesty, willingness, and compassion. If you're struggling with existential confusion or you're feeling consistently sad, anxious, irritable or numb, I'd love to help.

Life is relational. From our first breath to our last, we are in relation to someone or something. Oftentimes, our suffering can be traced back to feeling stuck in our ways of relating, finding that no matter who or what we’re relating to, we feel anxious, depressed, unheard, or unloved. It can be helpful to pause and observe how our relationships and general patterns of relating are constraining or frustrating our lives in some way. Themes that I enjoy working with are anxiety, depression, grief, developmental trauma, relationship issues, doubt, faith, meaninglessness, spirituality, family of origin issues, dreaming, and meditation

Freedom, joy, connection, and peace are our natural state of being. They happen on their own when our bodies feel safe and supported enough to release painful past experiences that keep us stuck in distressing patterns. We feel unable to relax and are busy and burnt out. Being truly seen and loved and feeling belonging are deep desires for us, but seem unfulfillable. Instead, we resort to self improvement. Expressing our boundaries, feelings, and needs with others isn't easy. We often feel anxious, sad, shameful, numb, or alone. Triggers or physical symptoms intrude in our lives regularly. Our bodies don't feel at home.

I am a psychotherapist for adult individuals and couples. Do you want stronger, clearer and healthier relationships? My clients consist mainly of open minded, artistic and unconventional persons wanting more intimacy and connection or wanting to explore their innate gifts and talents. I also work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons. However, I love working with anyone who is seeking growth, wholeness and perspective.

Imagine a space where you're truly heard, understood, and supported, free from judgment. That's what therapy with me offers. Together, we navigate life's challenges, uncovering your strengths and empowering you to achieve your goals. Whether you're seeking relief from anxiety, healing from past traumas, or striving for personal growth, I provide a safe and compassionate environment for your journey towards emotional well-being and resilience. My client is ready to see change in their life and be encouraged and empowered to enjoy life on their terms.

Practicing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Colorado, I work with adolescents and adults seeking a way towards brave and engaged living, working through challenges that get in the way. My belief is that at our core we are fearless, clear, and compassionate. In therapy we work together to identify what is blocking you from that core, and set about clearing the way for your authentic self to emerge. I have worked over 30 years in mental health, 25+ years as a licensed clinician. I also bring experience of training and supporting clinicians, most recently as the CEO of a wilderness therapy program.

Through life experience we all construct beliefs about who we are and what we are capable of; some beliefs are helpful and some are not. Unfortunately for many of us, negative, unhelpful beliefs become the default thinking style or lens through which we view and experience the world. By integrating elements of various therapeutic approaches we will work together to reduce the power that unhelpful beliefs (and the connected feelings or "felt sense") hold over your life direction and experience; the goal being for YOU to begin steering your life in the direction that you truly want to go.

Looking for something different? I uniquely combine evidence-based therapy with meditation, breathwork, yoga, and other techniques, like art therapy. I’ve been a licensed therapist since 2007. I create a space where you can be heard and nurtured but also pushed to grow. We'll work together to set realistic therapeutic goals so you can thrive. I love to support teens, college students, & adults, as well as LGBTQIA+, POC, single parents, and other marginalized populations. I offer group for younger kids. Together, we’ll reduce stress, anxiety, and low mood by learning coping skills to increase overall wellness and personal awareness.

Offering Teletherapy in Most States: I primarily use IFS and behavioral treatments (ACT, DBT, CFT, RODBT) to emphasize acceptance of one's current experience, the development of skills (mindfulness, play, perspective, assertiveness, inquiry, and values), and use courage and experimentation to help promote change. I also help facilitate ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and I am strong advocate of developing the skill of compassion for oneself and others. Many of us struggle with finding a sense of being home with reality as it is, although that home is always available and may be easier to return to than assumed.

Chances are that if you’re reading my profile then you have probably been struggling for quite some time and have finally decided to give therapy a try. Congrats, this is often the hardest step. I primarily work with “men’s issues”, aka, the way in which men deal with emotional and relational challenges. Our work often starts when some patterns or habits have now grown into intolerable burdens that may be threatening things like their ability to work, stay in a relationship, or keep emotions like anger and shame at bay. Men are experiencing a crisis of connection and what men need most is the very thing they fear: emotional honesty.