Emotionally Focused Therapists in Durham, NC

My approach to therapy is warm, nonjudgmental, compassionate, and collaborative. I believe a safe therapeutic relationship is essential in providing effective, transformative therapy. I honor the individuality of my clients and know the courage it takes to come to therapy, and I firmly believe that it’s in our deepest struggles that we have the most potential for learning and growth. I am guided by the belief that everyone holds the ability within themselves to heal, and that together through a trusting therapeutic relationship, I can assist clients in their journeys towards being more deeply connected to themselves and others.

I became a therapist because I value complexity. We each have our own vision for a life that feels vibrant, authentic, and fulfilling. As your therapist, it's my job to walk with you through the process of learning about yourself, growing, and getting more of what you want out of life. I work primarily with queer and trans people age 11 and older but offer individual, relationship, and family therapy services to clients of all backgrounds. I also offer autism and ADHD assessments for adolescents and adults.

Chelsi is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate. She has over 15 years of experience working within the field of mental health, substance use, I/DD and Autism. She has worked in various settings including school setting, specialized recreation, in home direct care, day program, community based and outpatient therapy. Chelsi has worked with populations including children, teens and adults. She prioritizes person centered care involving the goals of the individual and utilizing interventions to promote growth. She understands the importance of self-determination. Chelsi utilizes an unique, compassionate and collaborative approach

In our society, it’s easy to feel like you’re never “enough.” We’re constantly receiving messages about how to work smarter, live better, and improve our skincare routine. Therapy can help you let go of perfection and find joy. I help individuals and couples with "general" life issues such as anxiety, depression, and communication-but I also specialize in sex therapy. If you're wondering what sex therapy is, you're not alone! It's talk therapy, and it can address issues such as mismatched libidos, pelvic pain, and erectile disfunction.

Psychotherapy should be collaborative and flexible, based on you and your specific story. Whether you have been through things in your life that are just coming to the surface or are feeling stuck and struggling to find joy and connection, I can help you gain clarity and find new ways to move through old challenges. Together, we will work toward deepening your connection to your core self and engaging more fully in the life you want. I provide an affirming and supportive space to process family of origin issues, grief, loss, relationship struggles and feelings of worry or anxiety.

Dr. Shaenor Ishmael is the owner and maternal mental health therapist for Inspired Counseling Center. She is a mental health advocate who loves helping women and couples navigate various life transitions. Inspired Counseling Center provides virtual mental health services specializing in maternal mental health. This includes counseling related to infertility, pregnancy loss, birth trauma and/or postpartum.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and adults dealing with a wide range of challenges. I believe that whatever struggle a person might be facing, engaging in therapy can help them to further explore concerns, link experiences with emotions, build stronger communication and learn healthier coping skills. As with any relationship, therapy works best when there is trust, mutual respect and a sense of connection. I will collaborate with you to identify the most effective way to draw upon your strengths and move forward towards your goals.

Currently accepting new Clients. Are you feeling like life's remote control is stuck on fast-forward, while you're struggling to keep up? Do you find yourself juggling a million thoughts at once, yet feeling like you can't quite grasp any of them? Perhaps family dynamics leave you feeling like you're constantly walking on eggshells, or past troubling events seem to haunt your present. I specialize in providing compassionate support for individuals navigating the complex nature of ADHD, executive function challenges, family dynamics, and processing difficult experiences.

I strive to provide competent, compassionate and client-centered therapy services to assist and support individuals, couples, and families in processing past issues, managing daily stress, and working to make positive choices in the future. I specialize in working with children and adolescents who are experiencing anxiety, depression and behavioral challenges. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I value working with the entire family. I incorporate parents and caregivers into my work with children to ensure that the entire family system feels supported and can work towards improved family dynamics and relationships.

I have a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction in Counselor Education from University of South Florida in 2013. I have over 10 years of school counseling experience, 25 years of nursing experience where two of those years were in psychiatric nursing and five years of mental health counseling. My areas of special interest and experience are working with individuals with a chronic illness, adolescent with anxiety and depressive issues, and group counseling specializations. I have also counseled children and adults with career readiness after being diagnosed with a chronic illness.

Is pain from your past or worries about the future making it hard to enjoy the present? Are you struggling in relationships? Dealing with issues related to food or body image? Is anxiety or depression getting in the way of living the life you want? Imagine being able to talk to someone who can validate what you are feeling and help you understand it. You don't have to walk this journey alone. We all want to be heard and understood. Therapy is exactly that - a place to unload the thoughts and feelings you’ve been trying to make sense of on your own. It would be my privilege to help you sort it out. We all need support. Let me help.

Life can be challenging, and everyone faces times when they need support and guidance to navigate its difficulties. This is especially true when the problems we are dealing with feel too big to be fixed. I’m here to provide a safe and supportive environment where we can work together to help you achieve your goals and live the life you want to live. Every individual is unique and my therapeutic approach incorporates different tools and frameworks to best support each of my clients. I am deeply committed to creating a collaborative and inclusive space for you to explore your strengths and identity without fear of judgment.

Cortlin Polo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina who has been practicing since 2020. Cortlin offers a safe therapeutic environment, open, and judgment-free, and will bring a compassionate, results-oriented approach to help you experience a higher quality of life. She applies a person-centered approach to her style of therapy.​

{{{{ ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS }}}} Good therapy begins with a strong relationship between therapist and client, and I believe that creating this empathic connection is one of my greatest strengths. I provide a client-centered, strength-based, affirmative approach that is warm and welcoming — a safe space where clients can share, process, and experience their thoughts and emotions. I am committed to meeting clients where they would like to begin their journey, working collaboratively toward healing, acceptance, purpose, well-being, and fulfillment.

I am a committed and passionate clinical social worker, focused on supporting people on their path towards healing and change. My hope is to provide a space to process and reflect on significant events in your life while also providing specific skills or strategies. I support people looking to reduce anxiety, cope with and process difficult changes, and improve relationships. Therapy can be a vulnerable experience, though ultimately can lead towards meaningful change. I use a collaborative trauma informed approach focused on your goals.

I am a counselor who understands how it feels to sit in front of a therapist, that is why compassion is important to me. Vulnerability can be difficult, but we can create a safe space so when you're ready, we can change the difficulties interfering with your wants. That is therapy, getting what you need to get what you want. For example, depression has different flavors, but it keeps us from engaging fully in life and/or losing focus on what our dreams are. Whatever you are seeking to make life better and better, I am here to help. In person sessions can be scheduled on a limited basis but Telehealth with be offered on going.

It can be hard to talk to someone about personal concerns, especially those related to sex and relationships. As a clinician at Carolina Sexual Wellness Center, my goal is to promote healthy sexuality while providing a safe and accepting space to explore what that means for you. I strive to help clients feel as comfortable as possible so we can work together regarding any challenges they may face. I am committed to creating an open, honest, and safe environment to discuss difficult issues. I believe therapy should be a place free of judgement where clients can be their authentic selves.

Relationships are paramount to our health. The way we relate to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to our challenges determines the the flow of our lives. In a couple, when we struggle with communication, tension, conflict, or disconnection, we can feel small, angry, or out of control. As individuals, when we are not in authentic relationship with ourselves, it can feel like we aren't living the lives we were meant to have.

As a therapist, I foundationally work from the belief that all humans deserve to feel safe and at home in their bodies. In this messy world, we can often find ourselves not trusting our bodies and wanting to change them. Sometimes within that mess, people may find themselves coping in ways that do not address their deep, underlying needs. I believe in this therapeutic process, you can reconnect with those needs and serve them more intentionally, healing the deepest parts of yourself. My goal is not only to help you find that healing, but to also enjoy and accept the messiness along the way.