Family Therapy in Cornelius, NC

From the outside looking in, people see someone who “has it together.” Perhaps this is related to your family, job, marriage or community. From the inside looking out, you see a world full of pressures, expectations and a need to cultivate happiness for those in your life, sometimes at the expense of your own sanity. I often hear from clients that they feel “stuck” in the same cycle of life and can’t seem to find satisfaction, despite having many of life’s “checkboxes” marked off. Experiences of chronic anxiety and worry are common though they keep moving through the motions of life.

Currently have a waitlist for evening clients.I enjoy working with and have extensive training in working with persons experiencing a variety of life's challenges. I tend to see a lot of adolescents, couples and families, as well as individuals that are having challenges in the following areas: anxiety, depression, separation/divorce, trauma and abuse, infidelity, spiritual concerns, career challenges, sexual addictions, sexual intimacy issues, loss and grief, blended family issues, issues of sexuality, parenting, ADHD & focus challenges, oppositional and/or entitled adolescents and overall relationship challenges within families.

I have been working with children and adults of all ages in individual therapy / family therapy and play therapy for over 18 years. My expertise is in the areas of working with anxiety, depression, psychosis, grief, suicide, complex trauma, relationship concerns, developmental concerns for all ages, PTSD, and diversity issues, dementias. I specialize in comprehensive neuropsychological and diagnostic assessment for Autism, ADHD, Personality, medical necessity, forensic, fitness for duty, educational, TBI, dementias, etc. I speak several languages and have won several awards for multicultural and diversity focused work.

We are all faced with a myriad of obstacles, adjustments and stressors throughout our lives. Starting a family and navigating the role of new parent can be one of the biggest. Whether working through the postpartum adjustment, navigating the ever changing role as parent or walking through the many transitions and difficulties of being a child, I work with adults and children to find ways best suited to master these obstacles and surmount life's challenges.

I earned my undergraduate degree from University of Southern Maine and went on to receive my Masters of Social Work degree from University of Southern Maine. I have worked in various therapeutic settings such as group homes, a psychiatric hospital, community mental health center and most recently been in private practice for the past 11 years within the Lake Norman community. I opened Peaceful Path Counseling, PLLC in 2021.

Clearwater Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, was founded by Elizabeth Kovacs, LCSW, in 2019 as a place of support for adults coping with the stress of caregiving, parenting, chronic illness, and family tension. Located on the shores of Lake Norman, Clearwater Counseling seeks to be a place of comfort and affirmation where teenagers, adults, and senior citizens can find solutions and healthy coping skills. Elizabeth enjoys having a broad diversity of clients, and accepts clients of all genders, races, faiths, identities, and orientations.

Want to enjoy more family activities but worried about your child's behavior? You've received several calls from school, they have difficulty participating in extracurricular activities and the stress from trying to manage it all just continues to mound and is leaving you frustrated. This is not the family lifestyle you imagined. The vision of your family includes unconditional love, resilience and fun but you are unsure what to do and where to start.

Is something keeping your peace? Do you struggle daily/weekly with anxiety and/or depression. Are you ready to move forward and be full of life? Often times we get stuck in our past or stuck in the negatives because it's comfortable and known. It's your choice to stay stuck or to take a chance and move forward. The unknown can be a very scary place but with positive coping skills, my support and encouragement, I can show you how to step back, reevaluate your scenario and prepare yourself to move forward.

Jennifer enjoys working with all ages but specializes in working with children (10 and older), adolescents, and their families. Jennifer’s experience as a school counselor makes her especially helpful for those children and families experiencing difficulty within the school or with behavioral-educational issues. Jennifer also works with adults during difficult life transitions. Jennifer sees clients struggling with depression, anxiety, anger, life changes, family stressors, behavioral challenges, and ADHD.

We are stuck doing the same thing. It is difficult to keep going with all the chaos. We don't know what else to do! These are a few of the frustrations that many families bring to sessions. Do you love your family yet going home feels more exhausting than going to work? Is your family constantly arguing and family life feels like you are stuck in a loop? Family Therapy can help your family learn to better communicate needs and problems without criticism and rebuild relationships within the whole family.

It takes strength to admit we are having difficulty managing problems alone. If you are anxious, depressed, feeling stuck or without hope you are among the many that often turn their lives around with the help of therapy. Processing our issues, prioritizing and developing strength are of tantamount importance. As a therapist I have worked with clients that have struggled with *Bullying *Communication Skills *Conflict Resolution *Coping Skills *Domestic Violence/Abuse *Family Issues *Mood Disorders *Personality Disorders *Phobias/Fears *PTSD/Trauma *Sex Abuse/Trauma *Sports Psychology/Performance Anxiety

Everyone has a story, and I want to listen to yours. Encouraging hope, helping a person see their worth, and teaching them how to advocate for themselves drives my practice as a therapist. I will meet you where you are and help you reach your goals on your journey to finding hope, healing, and meaning in your life. I provide advocacy, care, and support for those seeking self-improvement, enduring crises and life's challenges, and those suffering from family and relationship conflict, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, grief and loss, OCD, PTSD, complex trauma, panic, interpersonal violence, and work or school-related stressors.

I specialize in working with the neurodiverse community (all ages) and draw from a wealth of experience to provide psycho-education, validation, empathy, and strategies. I hold space for processing the challenges while also working to identify strengths. When working with children, I utilize play therapy to focus on building your child’s understanding of their ADHD brain, equip them with skills to both understand and communicate what they are feeling, improve self-control, and increase their confidence. This often helps reduce the intensity of emotions that can be otherwise felt and expressed in BIG ways!

Are you a stressed out mom? Feeling the mental challenges of pregnancy, parenting, and finding time for yourself? Needing someone to help you find hope in the overwhelm? Pregnancy and parenting are hard. I provide perinatal and postpartum counseling to mothers and birthing persons struggling with anxiety, depression, infertility, and grief. Whether you are struggling to become a mom or overwhelmed in motherhood, I offer a compassionate and collaborative approach. I walk alongside you to help you find the hope and healing you are looking for!

Now accepting virtual clients My main goal in therapy is to walk with my clients on their journey to their authentic life and healthy relationships in a non-judgmental environment. We will work together to explore your values, identify your needs, and create goals to foster your sense of self, build your confidence to use your voice, and reinforce your internal strengths. I enjoy working with individuals, families, and couples that are struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, difficulty communicating, intense emotions, and family conflict.

It’s hard to know how to start an introduction like this. It can quickly feel like I am trying to “sell” myself to you, which is not the point. It's for you to get to know me. I have found therapy to be most beneficial under two conditions: first and foremost, a person HAS to be ready. Ready to make changes; ready to dig deep. I think we have all been guilty of continuing the same patterns of behavior, hoping things will magically change one day. I advise a healthy mix of tangible change along with exploration to identify how core beliefs, negative thoughts and family dynamics impact present behaviors and relationships.

Are you seeking healing from your past? Do you want to save your family? Do you want others to understand where you are coming from as a young adult? Has life dealt you unexpected and unwanted pressures? Do you need payment options? Are you out of solutions? I can help you heal from your past. I can help you to find a new outlook on life. I can explore solutions with you. Sometimes we know where we want to go; yet we need a road map to get there. I feel it is a privilege to be a therapist. I love my work. I offer a safe and nonjudgmental atmosphere for my clients to talk through their concerns.

My philosophy of therapy is that people sometimes get to a point in life where they can no longer tolerate old ways of dealing with problems (i.e. substance abuse, avoidance, blaming, hiding, etc). No matter how big or how small those problems are, you may need to establish new ways of coping. I strongly believe that people can begin to recover from many mental health issues by setting their sights on the life they want, rather than continuing to run from the life they don't want. If you feel like you've been living in darkness, and want to feel the light on your face (or in your heart) again; I suggest you consider therapy.

Many individuals suffer silently when overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or struggle with deeper issues that affect relationships, family, work and daily living. There is hope, acceptance, compassion and healing in therapy. I create a non-judgmental, nurturing, safe space for clients to explore their struggles, process their pain and acquire skills to accomplish set goals. I walk alongside each client to help them regain their power, happiness, peace, confidence and ability to live the life they deserve.