Therapists in Hickory, NC

In my counseling practice, I focus on assisting those who are transitioning out of previously intimate relationships and support them as they seek to redefine and rediscover themselves as individuals. This process often involves re-examining one’s self-esteem, self-worth, values, and emotional security, all of which may have been threatened or damaged in former relationships. It is my firmly held clinical and personal belief that, following the ending of a relationship, we all have the choice as to whether we become bitter, or even better, as a result of our life’s experiences.

I specialize in counseling individuals with neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-concussive syndrome, stroke, etc. The brain serves as the central processing organ, influencing nearly every aspect of an individual’s life. The consequences are rarely confined to a specific set of issues. Instead, cognitive, physical, sensory, and emotional challenges can intertwine impacting various components on a person's life. I empower individuals to build resilience and adapt to the changes they may experience. I help individuals reclaim their emotional well-being and adapt to new chapters in their lives.

We provide services for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, & groups in need of coping skills to better manage mental & emotional distress caused by life transitions, crises, mental & emotional illness, & past/current traumatic experiences. We also provide care & treatment for those suffering from the effects of various mental health concerns.

Therapy can be a transformative experience. I am glad you are here! My goal for therapy is to provide an environment where you can feel safe and work towards being your authentic self. This judgment-free zone will be filled with warmth, understanding and genuine curiosity as we move through the therapy process. You can count on me to ask the hard questions, challenge unhelpful thoughts and educate my clients. I will also listen, laugh, respect and meet my clients where they are in their therapy journey.

As we journey through life, we can face multiple challenges. Sometimes we can solve these challenges and become stronger. Sometimes the challenges can feel overwhelming, and we can feel like we are no longer in control of our thoughts, our emotions, our lives. It is at these times when we may need help in overcoming these challenges; challenges like depression, anxiety, grief or loss, unresolved trauma, sleep disturbances, anger, or even alcohol or substance use concerns.

You have not felt like yourself for a while. You feel trapped in a cycle of anxiety, frustration, confusion, exhaustion, and maybe even feel stuck. You may not know when it all started, but you know that you are now ready to initiate lasting change in a meaningful way. As well as learn and develop skills that initiate change in a positive direction.

I help people get their unhelpful thoughts out of their way. Your thoughts keep throwing useless “solutions” at you that never really work and sometimes even make things worse. Your mind may even come up with new problems that do not exist with thousands of “what if” scenarios - as if it’s getting paid by the minute to work against you. It can be frustrating and stressful to go through this same loop day after day. I get why you are ready to try something new. I can help you build the skills you need to respond to difficult thoughts in healthy and effective ways.

You are struggling to find enjoyment in the things that mean the most to you. You don't know what to do or where to start. You feel alone, lost, and scared. You wonder if things will ever improve, and who can help? I am glad you're here. I will work with you to identify and address the barriers that are causing your struggles. I am committed to helping you achieve a sense of purpose and discover tools to help empower you to overcome life's challenges. Come as you are, I want to help!

I have been in the helping field for over fifteen years. I work with children, adolescents, couples, & families.Working with all of these age groups has helped me to have a better worldview of how issues affect us throughout different stages of our lives.My approach is cognitive behavioral therapy with family systems, but I also believe that an integrated approach alows us to use the events that have hurt us over the years to actually strengthen us today. I do EMDR as well. It is a process but I am here to guide & support you through getting to a healthier you.I am full of gratitude for the opportunties I have to work with you.

Everyone’s journey is different. At times, this journey is wonderful and inspiring, and other times it can be overwhelming or exhausting. My mission is to support children, adolescents, families, and adults of all ages as we identify your unique qualities and resources. Together we will navigate the challenges you are experiencing, draw on your strengths, and seek manageable steps that empower you. It is okay to ask for someone to walk alongside you during this journey, and comforting to have someone new on your team!

Do you find yourself struggling with life in the present… anxiety, depression, memories from the past? You want to move forward, live freely, and truly enjoy life, work, and meaningful relationships with others. You have goals you want to achieve and are tired of feeling held back. Through reflection you realize that many of these struggles are tied to the past... perhaps to childhood experiences, unhealthy relationships, trauma, or past difficult situations you went through. Perhaps you can't even quite identify the reason, you just feel a heavy emotional burden and that something is holding you back.

There is so much excitement around babies. From the sound of soft baby coos to the warm cuddles right before a nap. Ideally, babies are fun, but new parenthood can be overwhelming, scary, and anxiety provoking. That’s something we don’t talk about enough. From brain fog, not feeling like yourself, body betrayals, feeling out of place, shifts in relationships, grief, exhaustion all the way to isolation, there is so much that can come up in the journey to parenthood. You want to feel balanced, and enjoy yourself again. You want your body to do what it’s supposed to. You want to feel heard, seen, and connected.

I believe life needs to be fully experienced and enjoyed! Too often, the stresses and traumas of life prevent us from stepping into a full life. My goal is to create a welcoming environment where you can feel safe enough to start working on creating the life you dreamed of having and to develop the skills necessary for personal growth. Prior to becoming a counselor, I worked as as a Qualified Professional with individuals with developmental delays over a decade. I enjoyed assisting individuals with specific behavioral and life skill needs. I enjoy spending time with my son, riding horses and gardening.

My ideal client is someone who is ready for new results. I love helping people create what is really important for their life, and I am committed to being someone who can push them to have it. The most successful couples I work with have struggled with infidelity, considered divorce, or lost the fireworks in their marriage. The most successful individuals I work with have struggled with anxiety, addiction, intimacy issues, death/loss, or finding a purpose. All of my clients who succeed are open to exploring new ideas and hungry for change. Our conversations are action-oriented and results driven. Most of our sessions are fun.

I specialize in helping clients learn to take control of their anxiety and lives by examining the impact of internal pressure (like unhealthy self-talk) and external triggers (like toxic relationships) and replacing what doesn't work with strategies to feel more empowered. I firmly believe that the way that we speak to ourselves impacts how we handle the pressures we face and let's be honest, we are often our own harshest critics. That is why I use a strengths-based approach to treatment to help clients get rid of hurtful self-talk and learn to embrace their own power!

We each have the wisdom within ourselves to guide us on our life journey. However, we often forget to listen when life around us is loud, confusing or perplexing. Additionally, childhood trauma or old baggage interferes with our listening ability. These distractions prevent us from hearing our own inner wisdom. I am a sojourner with my clients as I help them learn to listen to their own internal wisdom. Together, we work to discover inner healing, peace and life balance in their lives.

I provide psychological/psychoeducational evaluations to diagnose learning and attention disorders including ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, as well as Autism Spectrum Disorder (under 18 only), anxiety, and depression.

I value the mind-body connection and believe we can find healing when we approach our health from a holistic perspective. Counseling requires a lot of effort and can only be truly transformative if you show up as yourself. I will show up as mine and that may include laughing, maybe some crying, and definitely some hard conversations. I am passionate about helping women adjust to motherhood, women experiencing fertility challenges, and those with anxiety and self-esteem issues. My role is to listen, ask questions, guide, and challenge you to shape your own path.

CTSHealth Integrative Wellness Clinic supports the clinical views of the Integrated Care Model, Person Centered Thinking, System of Care and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. With these approaches, we’re able to identify and increase the emotional, cognitive, social, and psychological functioning of our clients. We provide guidance, education, and skills to caregivers to become better equipped to assist individuals in their care. Our professional teams are committed to safeguarding the continuity of care through collaboration with all participants involved in assisting the client through the treatment process.