Grief counselors and therapists in Charlotte, NC

I'm a doctoral-level Licensed Clinical Social Worker (DSW, LCSW) with 8 years of experience specializing in OCD, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. I'm trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard treatment for OCD — and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD, a rare and highly effective trauma protocol. I work virtually with adults and older adults across North Carolina, Maryland, and Tennessee. I accept Aetna, Cigna, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic, Carelon, Ascension, Horizon BCBS NJ, and Independence Blue Cross PA.

I received My Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health Science because I care so much about the Earth and the creatures that inhabit it. But I soon realized that if I was not interacting with people (or animals) that the work I was doing seemed irrelevant.

Then caring for my terminally ill stepmother led me first towards nursing, then to Social Work.

Since getting my MSW, I have worked In a wide variety of settings ranging from domestic violence shelters to a medical hospital to a homeless day center. I believe that despite our varied backgrounds and beliefs, we are all good at the core and want to be physically and emotionally healthy in order to make the most of our lives. Some of us have learned bad habits by being told, or telling ourselves, that certain things are not possible or us and that is rarely the case.

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.

I believe everyone deserves to experience the joy and peace that comes from healing. If you're feeling stuck in darkness, weighed down by past experiences, or caught in negative thought patterns, you're not alone—and you don't have to navigate it by yourself.

For more than 34 years, I've helped individuals, primarily women, heal from trauma, build self-esteem, and create meaningful, lasting change. I have advanced training in EMDR and specialize in helping clients process traumatic experiences so they can move forward with greater confidence and emotional freedom.

My approach is holistic, recognizing the connection between your mind, body, and emotions. Together, we'll create a safe, supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to reach your therapy goals. My hope is to help you move beyond simply surviving so you can fully experience the joy, fulfillment, and life you deserve.

I’ve been practicing therapy for 25 years, which has included 12 years in NC and prior practice in both Kansas and New Mexico. I’ve worked in community mental health most of my career so I’ve had the opportunity to serve all ages and provide treatment for a huge variety of mental health concerns. I’m pretty down to Earth, open, honest, and genuine. I can be direct when needed to help bring awareness or light to a potential problem area while at the same time me providing support and encouragement. I enjoy hearing people’s life stories and helping individuals navigate their way through difficult life situations and problematic symptoms. No judgment, just a person available to help you find what you need.

Get what you need! That is my philosophy! I am pleased to hold space for individuals that is warm, relaxing, neutral, and intentional. My goal is for clients to explore who they are, process as they need to, and become empowered to change as they see fit. With over 20 years of Social Work practice and experience, a few of my specific treatment areas include individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease, Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and Stress.

I believe that most people have the answers within themselves to work through their own problems - my role is to help you unlock that inner wisdom. I have experience helping people who are struggling with anxiety and depression, or who are numbing out through substance use. My clients are often working through life transitions and other challenging situations, such as relationship issues, grief, or chronic pain. Perhaps you have not been handling your emotions very well. You may even feel hopeless, or unsure how to articulate what you are feeling. Therapy is a collaborative journey to a more healthy state of mind.

“My professional background as a Registered Dietitian led me to recognize my strengths as a social scientist, with a deeper passion for listening, understanding, and counseling others. I graduated from Drexel University in my hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I went on to become dually licensed as both a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor after completing a two-year internship.”