Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Gastonia, NC covered by Aetna

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) licensed clinical social worker in North Carolina with over 18 years of experience. I have helped individuals enhance their lifestyles and feel confident resolving problems, improving relationships, and communication skills.

I offer bilingual (English/ Spanish) as well as in-person and online.

Counseling is a place of acceptance where you can learn to see your true value. You hold the keys to your happiness. You just need support to unlock that door. Doing it alone will keep you stuck. You can learn to trust again. I received specialized training in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am also a Registered Play Therapist and enhance parent-child communication. I have an office where I see individuals and families. I also have two large rooms where I teach parents how to use Play Therapy Skills.

I believe meaningful healing begins when individuals feel seen, heard, and understood. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, I bring over four years of clinical counseling experience, along with more than twenty-two years as a school psychologist, to support children, individuals, and families.

With more than two decades in education, I became deeply aware of how essential mental health support is for children and families. I witnessed firsthand how emotional challenges can affect learning, relationships, and overall well-being—and how transformative the right support can be.

These experiences led me to pursue a career in mental health counseling. Today, I partner with adults to help them build a strong, grounded foundation for themselves, one that naturally extends to their children and strengthens the family as a whole. I also remain committed to supporting teens as they enter adulthood, helping them develop the tools and confidence needed for lifelong well-being.

I am a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist specializing in co‐occurring disorders. I provides evidence‐based care for individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and dual-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I provide care to children, adolescents, and adults, and my background in both family medicine and psychiatric mental health allows me to consider the important connection between physical and mental well-being.

I evaluate and manage a wide range of psychiatric and behavioral health concerns, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar and other mood disorders, trauma and PTSD, personality disorders, substance use and addiction, chronic stress, anger and aggression, sleep concerns, and emotional and behavioral difficulties. My medical background also informs my work with individuals whose mental health may be affected by chronic pain, medical conditions, medications, or other physical health concerns.

In addition to my medical and psychiatric training, I have specialized training and certifications in various evidence-based psychotherapy modalities. My therapeutic work may include individual therapy, trauma-focused therapy, family therapy, and parent-child therapeutic approaches. This combination of medical, psychiatric, and therapeutic training allows me to provide care that is individualized to the needs of each person and family.

Welcome to my practice, One Step Forward Counseling, PLLC.! My name is Sara Bell and I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. I have been working in the therapy field for over 9 years. I have worked with children, teens, young adults, and adults. I have a main focus on trauma and brainspotting. I am not a Christian counselor, but I am a Christian who is also a counselor.

Azleena Azhar works with clients from all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds at Lifeologie Counseling Durham. She has extensive experience supporting survivors of trauma, abuse, and intimate partner violence, helping them develop their inner strengthand resilience. She incorporates present moment mindfulness, boundary setting, and transcendence to help clients navigate toxic relationships and narcissistic family systems.