Therapists in Durham, NC

We all have learned to walk through this world with a certain degree of guardedness and protection. Through a safe and gradual process, I assist people in letting down the walls that we formed to protect us. I have found that when our masks start to come off, we can form more authentic and real connections with others. You can safely begin to open, become vulnerable, and get in touch with what you desire. Together, we discover how you can live in a more authentic way in your life. Freedom and happiness are attainable in this world!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck in a stress cycle of worry, sadness, or loneliness, you are not alone! These emotions can be natural responses to life circumstances. Sometimes it seems as though you can’t find your way out of these feelings. As a licensed clinical social worker, I am ready to join with you and offer support. Together we can identify your personal challenges, build upon your unique strengths, and develop healthier life patterns.

Life is like an ocean of possibilities. There are times in life that you are floating along just fine, times were you are riding high on the waves, and then there are times you feel like you are caught in a strong under current, struggling to keep from drowning. Whether you are dealing with depression, emotional challenges, trauma, relationship issues, or difficult life transitions and circumstances, you do not have to navigate them alone. My role as your therapist is to support and challenge you to reach your personal goals, with compassion and understanding, in an empathetic, judgment free partnership.

Through difficult life experiences, you may have come to believe that you can't ask for help or that you can only trust yourself. Perhaps you believe that being vulnerable is dangerous. Strong emotions might even make you feel out of control. More importantly, there’s a part of you that wants things to change. Welcome! My therapeutic work is deeply grounded in healing practices that promote dignity, justice, and self-determination. I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental, empowering, and collaborative healing space where you can show up just as you are and where you can gain the tools for meaningful change.

Are you living a life you can be proud of? I have been helping People of all ages for over 20 years achieve their goals by working together through anxiety, fear, trauma, and anger. I believe in creating an atmosphere of trust in which clients can explore their fears and take necessary chances to better their lives. My approach to therapy combines CBT and ACT models with client centered, insight oriented approaches. My passion is helping each and every client meet their goals and find their way to FEELING better.

I believe that good counseling, beginning with a natural fit between client and therapist, can be one of the most important and beneficial experiences of our lives. I am passionate about working with my clients and strive always to bring my natural compassion and creativity to each session. I find I am most helpful to clients struggling with loss, grief, depression, anxiety, and relationship issues, though I help clients work through other issues as well. Because I am trained in theology as well as psychotherapy, I bring a unique understanding of faith and spirituality to my practice, welcoming clients from any (or no) faith tradition.

If you are looking to reduce stress, better understand your emotions, communicate more effectively, and increase overall meaning in your life, I am here to help. I work with adults, romantic partners, and families who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, indentity issues, body issues, stress management, or other issues. I am a writer and former educator, and I use a creative, empathetic approach to find the treatment plan that works best for you.

** I am not currently accepting new clients or adding to my waitlist**. Do you feel disconnected, or wonder if relationships could be easier and richer, or does your life look differently that you'd like? I work with clients to explore such questions and help them find relief from suffering, and strengthen their ability to make change. My practice integrates proven therapeutic techniques with warmth, humor, and compassion. I provide a safe and productive environment for those in the LGBTQI community/ who identify as gender or sexually non-conforming.

Are you looking for a safe place to discuss what matters most to you? Family, work, relationships, health, transitions, grief, loss, children, trauma, life purpose, letting go of past hurts. I love assisting individuals and couples with relationship skills, communication issues, changing self defeating patterns, healing pain (physical and emotional), and learning to be one's best self across settings. I work with children and families in our ever changing world to improve relationships, performance, self awareness, mood, behavior. I bring my many years of experience working with young and old alike to this passionate pursuit of balanced living.

I undertand the courage it takes to pursue psychotherapy and I strive to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to begin this process. I approach each individual in an integrated and holistic way, incorporating mind, body, spirituality, and environment in my assessment and treatment plan. I am interested in working with individuals experiencing a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, life transitions, grief, and trauma. I partner with clients to clarify goals, help recognize and enhance strengths they already possess, provide skills-building to manage day-to-day life, and may address the roots of certain problems.

My approach combines an empathic and supportive style with active treatment that is informed by scientific findings. I offer a non-judgmental environment where I listen, ask questions, and strive to broaden our understanding of the underlying issues. I am a licensed doctoral-level psychologist and my services are provided via telehealth. My specific areas of specialization are trauma, anxiety, and insomnia.

I am a clinical social worker with 10 years of experience and have worked in both residential and outpatient settings. I currently offer individual therapy to clients experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, substance use, and grief. I work with many LGBTQIA+ clients and believe that issues of social justice are often relevant to therapy. I come from a Health at Every Size perspective, am sex-positive, and am committed to ongoing anti-racist work. I have sought additional training around sexuality and gender and am enthusiastic about supporting folks who are feeling curious about exploring these facets of their experience.

I enjoy counseling individuals with a focus on personal growth, social connections, and wellness action planning. I typically work with children, youth, families, and adults at better managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, low self-esteem, and family conflict. I utilize eclectic approaches to play therapy, mindfulness, self-esteem enhancement, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Welcome! I aim to create a supportive space to partner with clients in their healing process. I have over a decade of experience working with adult and youth trauma survivors and their loved ones. I partner with folks seeking support with trauma recovery, anxiety, mood disorders, identity development, reproductive health (pregnancy, abortion, loss, etc) challenges, and/or parenting concerns. Antiracist and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy is an ongoing practice to which I am committed.

I respect your courage in seeking help and in pursuing growth and change. Many people have gone through times of feeling overwhelmed, worried, sad, angry, unheard or invisible, as well as other challenging emotions and experiences. I believe the best way to approach these concerns is providing skills and strategies for coping effectively, while also taking time to explore their origin and relational context in your life. This holistic process is geared toward deeper self-insight, greater connection with others, and empowerment aimed at fostering lasting change.

My name is Emily Benefield (she/her) and working with others is my passion. Humans are resilient creatures - but sometimes when we encounter persistent mental health concerns, life transitions, grief, low self-esteem, relationship conflicts, or any of the many challenges that come with existing in the world today, we find it difficult to access that resilience. I work with individuals and couples through the lens of empowerment, authenticity, trust, and kindness. I cultivate individualized treatment plans using a variety of evidence-based yet eclectic frameworks, dependent on the unique needs each person brings to the therapy space.

It’s no secret that there are times when we all become overwhelmed, feel down, or we just don’t know where to turn. There are also times when we experience hardship, feel hopeless, or think we are not good enough. I have been there before, I know that it can get better. That’s why I chose a career as a LCMHC. In my six years of counseling, I find joy in helping clients find a way back to a sense of well-being. Together, we work to find the root cause of difficulties, begin building a healthy perception of self and ultimately progress towards living a life you deserve and desire.

**Not Accepting New Clients Currently** I am highly experienced with those who find themselves stuck in unproductive or damaging patterns of thinking or actions and have been unable to move forward, even with other professional help. The feedback I receive from fellow providers and clients is that I have a high success rate of treatment and recovery. I believe that outpatient psychotherapy is a process of collaboration that provides a stable, supportive environment for achieving psychological wellness. Each of us are unique and the best expert on the stressors in our daily life.

All of us live with stress and unexpected situations. It's part of being human. If all of these things have become too much, if you've found yourself thinking, "No one can help me through this", "I want to go to therapy but...", or "I'm broken", I'm glad to help you show yourself that these thoughts aren't the truth or a definition of who you are. You may be an adult struggling with sudden life or career changes, newly concerned about what the future holds during the pandemic, a parent looking for extra emotional support for you and your children, or simply someone who wants to be heard. I'm here to do so.