Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) Therapists in Lake Junaluska, NC

...Life often involves challenges effecting the journey toward personal and professional objectives. There are times when it is only the support of genuine listening, empathy, and guidance that desired outcomes are achieved. Whether you are trying to cope with anxiety, depression, self-esteem/confidence, relationship challenges, communication skills, impulse control concerns, life-transition issues (e.g., military/vet, divorce, job loss, retirement), trauma, grief, physical/sexual abuse, or other life challenges. Life is difficult and requires growth and change that are not always easy or comfortable.

My ideal client is one who is interested in finding happiness in love, work and community. My reward during my 30 years in practice is to experience, with individuals and couples, their growth towards these goals. Years in private practice and a major medical setting in New York have given me a broad background in helping people cope with the many challenges life hands them and to help them regain their feelings of hope. Additional focus is placed on life transitions including divorce, retirement, and bereavement. Additionally, I offer guidance in helping your children and teens navigate those challenging years.

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC). As a therapist, one of my main goals is to build a strong connection with my clients based on acceptance, trust, and motivation. I feel this connection is important in order to establish a successful therapeutic relationship. I believe that empowering my clients will help them achieve many goals in many areas of their lives.

Many women struggle with anxious feelings, isolation, and stress. Too often, though, such feelings are pushed by the wayside. We understand that women face a myriad of challenges and transitions in their lives, from navigating relationships and motherhood, to managing career demands and societal expectations. That is where Women’s Integrative Counseling comes in to help. We are a therapy practice dedicated to providing compassionate and empowering support to women on their unique journeys towards mental and emotional well-being. We are deeply committed to creating a safe and nurturing space where women can explore, heal, and thrive.

Stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and fear can feel overwhelming. You may find yourself turning to drugs or alcohol, harmful eating patterns, self-harm, or fall back on other old habits to cope with your emotions. You may be struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, or fear. Maybe you are in recovery from addiction or an eating disorder, and are having trouble maintaining your progress. You may be navigating your gender and sexual identify. Or perhaps you are concerned that your teenager is dealing with some of these issues. Whatever you are facing, you are not alone! I am here to provide support, guidance, and encouragement.

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) in North Carolina with certification in Grief and Loss and Trauma and Crisis. I am also a fully-trained EMDR clinician. I have over 20 years of professional clinical experience providing direct behavioral health services and educational/career counseling and parenting skills in private practice, educational institutions, and in the community. My approach to therapy is grounded in Adlerian theory with an emphasis on encouragement and improving relationships in our lives and with ourselves.

I have been a clinician for 18 years and have found it one of my life’s greatest honors to be with people as they learn to be with themselves. My experience has been, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and behavioral concerns. I am dedicated to creating a safe place to explore with clients the changes they wish to make to improve their overall functioning. Building a relationship with clients is the most important and finding a good fit is crucial! My theoretical orientation is based in Gestalt therapy and I also have training and experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and EMDR.

Anxiety and depression can be overwhelming and interfere with reaching your highest potential in all areas of your life. It’s incredibly uncomfortable to feel your heart and mind race or to have shortness of breath. You worry about when a panic attack will happen again and the worry makes matters even worse. You just want to slow your mind down and quit thinking. Your relationships and work performance may be suffering as you lie in bed dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. You've tried everything to control your thoughts and feelings but can't.

There is a lot of pressure in today’s world to feel good, to handle our troubles on our own. We are led to believe that the signs of health and success are the absence of struggle, that we are weak if we reach out for help. And yet we all struggle to some degree. If struggle is a part of life, then I believe we must also contain the potential to struggle well. Struggling takes strength and courage. If you are reading this, you have already made your first step towards choosing to struggle well.

My ideal client is a person who is finding life, love and work challenging! I have been a Christian psychotherapist for over thirty years. My extensive education. my two NC licenses and a three year Residency in Pastoral Counseling at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital has equipped me to handle both acute and chronic mental health issues. I like working with Couples, Families, Children, Teens, Adults and Seniors! My specialties are Family Issues, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Bi-polar Disorders, Grief and Medical Issues. I like these websites: ADAA.org. and anxieties.com. Find me on Facebook@Mountain Center For Pastoral Counseling.

My goal as a practitioner, and the cornerstone of good therapy, is to foster a trusting, respectful, and collaborative relationship where clients can feel safe to sort through sensitive issues and make changes. For those reading, I honor your sense of purpose and your courage to take the first step. Together, we can team up to build skills, resolve concerns, and achieve mutually developed goals. You can achieve a high level of well-being and enjoyment in life, no matter where you start from and no matter your challenges. Your goals are within reach; success is possible!

We all go through times in our lives when therapy can help us to cope with the difficulties that arise. You are not alone. Maybe your are feeling overwhelmed or stuck. You feel like you have tried everything and you are looking for a new way to improve your situation. Perhaps your child has experienced an upsetting event and you don't want this to define them. It hurts to see the people we love upset or struggling. I can offer the tools, skills, and support for your journey.

You're worried and irritable, thinking of worst-case scenarios for everything. Are you constantly questioning yourself? Or afraid if you drop your guard, you'll lose control of yourself? You're probably exhausted and worry it will always be like this. You need a change. Constant stress and fear is so overwhelming and can have a chilling effect both on your relationship with others and with yourself. You want to be able to enjoy your life, without worrying about what comes next. You want to let go of the struggle for perfection. You deserve some peace. I can help you get there.

Life can sometimes be overwhelming and we just don’t know how to move forward. Therapy provides a safe, supportive place to regroup, experience nonjudgmental support, and take back the control you have been searching for. While talking to someone can be uncomfortable and sometimes daunting, finding the right therapist that can guide and encourage you will help make lasting transformation in your life.

After 24+ years of practicing in community mental health agency settings and supervising and training clinicians, I am transitioning into private practice in order to more directly serve individuals and families who are struggling with issues of functionality, relationships, identity, self-esteem and other manifestations of life challenges. I have extensive experience working with trauma, mood disorders and behavior disorders and I work exceptionally well with adolescents and young adults although I feel comfortable working with adults of all ages. When you want to better understand your particular challenges and make positive changes, I can assist with your healing/growth process.

My practice is dedicated to helping individuals and families reclaim their lives from OCD, anxiety, panic, and related conditions, born out of my own journey of healing. My approach is built upon the most effective treatments in the field, alongside utmost compassion and respect. I utilize Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and create individualized treatment plans for individuals and families. My priority is ensuring that my clients feel supported and validated while taking the courageous steps of changing their lives.

I provide individual therapy services to adults of all ages, and am licensed to practice in NC. I have over 20 years of experience working with clients of various backgrounds and life situations. I worked for years providing therapy in adult community mental health settings, a college counseling center, as well as experience serving as a Mental Health therapist for Native American/tribal population. I am well experienced in treatment of anxiety (including OCD, Generalized Anxiety, Phobia, Panic Disorder, etc), depression, grief/loss, codependency, life adjustment/transitions, family of origin issues, and PTSD.

Living with anxiety, OCD, and/or ADHD can be overwhelming, affecting various aspects of your life. Having both personal and professional experience, I understand the unique complexities and struggles that often accompany these conditions. Choosing therapy is an act of self-care and bravery, and I commend you for taking this step towards positive change. Together, we can cultivate your inner strengths, enhance your self-awareness, and empower you to overcome challenges associated with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and other mental health disorders. I am honored to have the opportunity to support you on your path towards mental wellness.