Therapists in Swannanoa, NC

I specialize in counseling Law Enforcement families, Christians, couples needing Premarital counseling, adolescents and young adults searching for purpose, as well as individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, hopelessness, stress, family issues, singleness, and breakups. We all need hope and comfort. I strive to be accepting of all people and to provide support for whatever issue a person is facing without allowing my own opinions to influence the sessions. My clients are important to me and it is a privilege to be able to see them find hope again.

My work is trauma informed and incorporates a holistic approach, one in which we seek to not only honor your individual needs and strengths but find acceptance and compassion for the struggling and unlikable parts. I utilize strength-based and trauma informed methods as well as therapeutic yoga and mindfulness strategies. Recently, I have begun facilitating EMDR and IFS ("IFS Informed" the IFS Institute). Counseling is part of your healing process, but it's not all of it. I will help you identify what aspects of your wellness need nurturing and how you can find your balance.

Max Ehrmann’s poem, Desiderata reads “you are a child of the universe and have a right to be here. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul”. The poem’s sentiment resonates with my counseling philosophy and approach. If you have been struggling with a new medical diagnosis, grieving the loss of a loved one or are overwhelmed in your role as a caretaker consider reaching out. I would be honored to assist you on your healing journey.

Sometimes life entangles us along the way and it's held in our bodies in the form of mental distress. I believe that every person has their own innate light to self-healing but may need some support along the way. I find it a great privilege to walk with clients on the personal journey of healing. I work especially well with children doing play therapy and art, teens facing anxiety, trauma, and/or adversity, adults with trauma and/or anxiety ,and those who just don't quite fit cultural norms.

Meg Russ is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate. She is a board-certified counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors. Meg is a graduate of Liberty University where she earned her Masters degree in Professional Counseling. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services through Montreat College, and she has an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. Meg has experience with helping others with PTSD, ODD, DMDD, grief and loss, anger, trauma, anxiety, abuse, and depression, among other issues.

Often times, events occur in life that are outside of our control, but profoundly affect our lives in such a way that our safety and stability are compromised. During such times, we may find ourselves struggling to cope, going through the motions, or relying on maladaptive strategies to simply survive day to day. Our attachment wounds and trauma responses begin to dictate our thoughts and behaviors. Our relationships suffer, and our ability to form and maintain healthy connections diminishes. If this scenario is familiar to you and is what brought you to this page, I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey.

The dating advice to "just be yourself" or "relax" hasn't done you any favors. Of course you want a romantic partner and solid friendships too, but anxiety gets in the way. You see your peers connecting easily with others and feel alone and frustrated because for you, those relationships feel out of reach. How are you supposed to meet someone special when the idea of meeting in person has you shaky and nauseated? How are you supposed to make new friends when attempts at small talk with classmates leave you certain you sounded or looked stupid? And actually getting to know your colleagues? At this point? Forget it.

I am currently serving adolescents and adults with depression and anxiety. I am knowledgeable about sensory issues, executive functioning, anxiety, and depression specific to the neurodivergent experience, and have an understanding of a variety of neurotypes; attention deficit disorder, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dyslexia. My clients want to feel understood and validated and tend to gain confidence in identifying their needs and advocating for themselves through therapy. I hope for clients to feel that they have real solutions to work towards and to know that I am ready to help them navigate challenges.

Living authentic lives aligned with our true values & beliefs is challenging at times. When out of alignment, we may recognize we no longer function well, feel stuck, or lack a sense of meaning and purpose. Previous coping strategies may no longer be sufficient to deal with life’s unexpected events. We may need help to access our innate wisdom & strengths, claim our own voice & self-worth, & free ourselves to move towards our goals.

As an LCMHC I have worked with many adults who have felt alone in dealing with changes they are experiencing, difficulties in families or work, and intense stressors that are difficult to cope with. I have had the privilege to support people in a process of self discovery. Sometimes we need a guide and partner to explore how to regain that balance during difficult life transitions or when we feel separate from people that are important to us. In my practice I work with individuals, couples, and families. My clients have come to me when they have been going through significant change or loss as well as depression and anxiety.

40 years of clinical experience plus my own experience in recovery from addictions and traumas. My work is grounded in Holistic Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR trauma work, cognitive-behavioral techniques, & mindfulness training. My therapy approach is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. I encourage an individual's ability to change self-defeating patterns of thoughts/behaviors, increase self-esteem, recognize strengths, and develop healthy relationships. I feel privileged to help facilitate growth and change in each of my clients as they work toward healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

Are you struggling with a challenge and not quite sure how to make a shift, or the things you have tried just aren’t working as well as you want? Are you looking for someone to join you in your journey of dealing with a struggle? Are you looking to change your relationship with substances or have shifted already and wanting ongoing support in maintaining recovery?

You are struggling to find your way in this complicated and ever-changing world. You are constantly thinking about stressful events and the worry is keeping you up at night. A weight is often on your shoulders. It is difficult for you to connect with others and it feels like relationships are causing more grief than joy. Unhealthy behaviors or the use of substances allow brief escape, but eventually cause more distress. You are doubting yourself, have lost sight of your personal identity and don’t know how to find your way. If any of these situations seem familiar, I am here to help.

It is exhausting dealing with mental health and wellness issues on your own. The clients I serve seek counseling for a variety of reasons. Some are dealing with depression and anxiety, others are having difficulty finding their way through some of life's rough patches dealing with issues such as adjustment issues, grief, divorce, trauma, or changes in life. Clients who come to counseling are ready for these issues and situations to stop controlling their lives. Clients are ready to find their inner strength, change from negative to positive coping, and work toward having a more positive and healthy life.

Helping people gain confidence and self esteem through the development of a safe and collaborative relationship is the goal of my practice. I believe that strength comes from within and finding a way to connect to our own deeper strength and spirit brings success, joy and fulfillment. My approach is determined by listening and being present then careful consideration of each individuals strenghts and needs.

I help people who’ve discovered that they have outgrown their lives find the most authentic versions of themselves. You may have become aware that something important in your life feels inauthentic, small or suffocating. This can manifest as symptoms of depression and anxiety, making you feel both overwhelmed and underwhelmed simultaneously. These life transitions can make you feel as if everything around you is falling away. This is fertile ground for growth and an ideal time to seek counseling. These experiences will break you, but can also be used as a catalyst to elevate you to create something more whole from the broken pieces.

Healing is a process that it is not linear and it will require work, but it is worth the journey.

Life is a journey, full of complex relationships and events that we all strive to understand and live with. Life can become complicated by traumas and relationships, as well as from internal struggles, such as anxiety or depression. Without help, these complications can leave us struggling to cope. I believe we all deserve happiness and understanding as we travel this journey, whatever complexities we face.

I chose to enter the counseling field as a teen after I saw a counselor myself. My experience opened me up to learning to cope with things in a way that I had never learned. I was so changed by this process that I decided I wanted to give others what had been given to me.