Grief counselors and therapists in Asheville, NC

I am a "tomboy" at heart! I love motorcycles, dogs, horses, the beach, running, and live music. But are we a good therapy match? You decide- AAS-Agribusiness, BSW-Social Work, MSW-Social Work. Work History: 8 years in Public Health, 5 years in Child Welfare, 2 years in Caregiving, 2 years in Developmental Disabilities, 8 years in Mental Health. Did I mention that I worked for DuPont for 10 years before going back to school for social work? I have a strong work ethic-that means I give you 100%.

Please feel free to call me Sam. I'm originally from North Carolina and received my bachelor's degree in social work at Appalachian State. In 2022, I moved to Southwest Virginia and received my master's degree in social work from Radford University. Overall, I have 13 years of experience as a Social Worker in different capacities, including grief and loss, chronic illness, and burnout. My passion is working with adults and older adults navigating life changes.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I also hold a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling, with honors of distinction from Capella University. I am a trained mediator who loves the opportunity to allow clients to be exactly who they are, while they figure out who they want to be.

Life can leave us carrying experiences that feel too heavy to hold alone. Whether you’re facing the impact of trauma, struggling in relationships, navigating grief and loss, managing anger, or working through challenges related to substance use, therapy can offer a space to pause, reflect, and begin again. The healing is not a "one-size-fits-all" process; my goal is to utilize an evidence-based intervention that you feel really "clicks" with how you view life and approach problem-solving. Common interventions I utilize include: EMDR, CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-focused Brief Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy.

Taking the first step to find a therapist or meet a new therapist is tricky! I am so glad that you are here! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and have been working in Community Mental Health for the past 3 years. My main focus that I work with in my practice over the past few years have mainly been PTSD and Postpartum.

I’m Dr. Pearson, and I draw on over 30 years of counseling experience helping individuals, couples, marriages, families, teens, children, and organizations work through life’s challenges. I support clients dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, anger, relationship issues, family conflict, addiction and alcohol concerns, military-related stress, and major life transitions. My background includes working with people across many stages of life, including active-duty military members, veterans, DoD staff, military families, couples preparing for marriage, families under stress, and individuals seeking healthier ways to live at home, at work, and in their relationships. I believe therapy should offer hope, practical support, and a clear path toward healthy change.

I love working with people and helping them "grow" through the things of life that they "go" through. A quote that I love to share with clients and live by personally is to remember not to focus on your purpose but to live your life purposely. As a military social worker my background is specific to first responders, but most importantly individuals that are learning their new "normal" after traumatic life events that have unexpectedly shaped them.