Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Therapists in Hillsborough, NC

Thanks to COVID, I'm working only via telehealth which reduces your commute time. If you're looking for a seasoned and experienced therapist, reach out, we can consult and see if working with me is useful to you. My clients tend to be working on being awake and aware of and attuned to the complexity of our culture today. I work with issues of alternative sexuality, gender dysphoria, relationships in all forms including relationships that are kink friendly and/or poly.

Despite best efforts, the clients I work with find themselves frustrated, overwhelmed, or disheartened when trying to achieve goals, grieving a loss or navigating life’s unique challenges. They want to heal; disrupt patterns within themselves; or in relationships. Typically, they are open to the idea of “awakening” & want to feel more grounded within themselves & explore how they interact with the world. Through the lens of authentic compassion, they’re awakening or questioning our cultural conditioning that reinforces the idea that we are not enough. I create a genuine space for you to come as you are.

Welcome. I am a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in helping people of all ages, nationalities, races, gender expressions and sexual identities. My clients find me easy to talk to and my style is warm, non-judgmental and relational. I have a particular expertise in helping couples with issues such as infidelity, arguments, lack of communication and connection and dwindling sexual expression. For this work I draw on Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy by Susan Johnson see "Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love." I also use the work of the Gottman Institute, Harville Hendrix and Stan Tatkin.

I provide general psychotherapy for adolescents, adults, couples and families. My specialities include working with trauma, sexual and gender diversity, neurodivergence including providing informed care for Autistic folks, and supporting people who want to change their relationship to substances.

Do you experience anxiety, feelings of failure, and insecurity? Wondering how you ended up here; feeling hopeless, helpless, or even ashamed that you can't overcome trauma on your own? While you're feeling as though life is falling apart around you, maybe others are telling you that you're controlling or manipulative. This leaves you confused, hurt, and desperate to be understood. Would you like to increase your self-awareness and develop new coping strategies? Addressing trauma and healing from PTSD could be life-changing for you.

Reaching out for help can be difficult, but seeking the support of a counselor can lead to measurable positive change, meaning, and balance in your life. My style is warm, non-judgmental, and affirming. I leave space for you to safely explore issues of concern as well as aspirations. I have experience working with individuals from all walks of life and work collaboratively with clients to help them achieve their goals. Whether you are seeking support with hard to change behaviors, a life transition, or emotional connection, deciding to enlist professional help can be a brave first step towards healing.

My approach Integrative Psychotherapy draws primarily from Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Insight Meditation. It is my experience that people make changes in their lives in therapy when they feel appropriately supported and understood. This combined with awareness developed through mindfulness practices enables people to take the insights cultivated in therapy sessions and implement them in their lives. I see therapy as an opportunity to explore how our thoughts and perceptions about our life situations, determine the quality of how we experience our lives. Our self-perceptions developed throughout our lives, are often our greatest impediment to changing our lives.

One of my goals as your therapist would be to provide a relationship of trust, respect and warmth. I want to understand your frame of reference, needs and goals, and tailor my work with you accordingly. To do this, I draw from a wide array of traditions and skills, including psychodynamic therapies, hypnosis, Cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness/meditation training, EMDR, Trauma therapy, relational work, and dream work.

Everyone gets “stuck” in harmful patterns of thought, attention, behavior, and emotions sometimes. Working together can help you learn to slow down, see with more acceptance, curiosity, and compassion, and adopt new ways of being which support greater aliveness, connectedness, and purpose. I approach therapy with a warm and collaborative attitude, holding a strong belief in your strengths, potential, and innate wisdom.

I work with adolescents, adults, couples and families on a range of things, from family and relationship issues to life transitions, depression and anxiety, grief, larger existential questions, and other things. A particular focus is helping people in crisis manage and make meaning from difficulties. My approach to therapy is supportive, relational, and client-centered, with a focus on how things manifest themselves in the here and now. More than anything, I try to create a safe space for tuning in to feelings, finding balance, healing, and working on change.

Sex and relationships can be hard to talk about --- But you don't have to do it alone! I am Devon Abdo (her/she), LMFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in Sexuality and Sex Therapy. I work with both couples and individuals who are interested in exploring their relationships and sexuality or need help dealing with this crazy world. I believe in tailoring each session to the needs of each client where they are, of any gender orientation, gender expression, race, or relationship style. I am trans-affirming, fetish-affirming, and poly-affirming.