Couples therapists in North Carolina

As an an expert in relationships and sexual intimacy, as well as life's harder moments, when things feel bleak or it is hard to trust that things will work out again, I am here for you. I am empathic, patient, thoughtful, challenging, and an out of the box thinker offering a steady hand to steer you toward your highest path. I am driven by your goals and act as an accountability partner and friendly ally on your journey to seek pleasure, change, and empowerment. I believe there is opportunity in crisis (big and small) and that you are here because you know what it is you need. Let me help you recover your true SELF.

Reaching out can be hard and I am here to help begin the process of healing and being there to help us become a better you. My goal and desire is to help teach you and provide you the essentials to overcome your obstacles. When life gets overwhelming at times, we forget to take care of ourselves. Depression and anxiety does not have to be a part of your everyday life.

I earned my Master of Social Work from UNC–Chapel Hill in 1999 and have more than 25 years of experience helping adults and families navigate emotional distress, relationship difficulties, and major life challenges. My background includes work as a psychotherapist and child welfare social worker.

I bring experience, steadiness, and genuine curiosity to my work. I am interested not only in what people are struggling with, but in how they came to experience themselves and their lives in the ways they do.

Through Headway, I provide insurance-based therapy to individual adults only. I do not see couples through insurance.

About Me

I'm not your typical psychotherapist, and everyone I've had the honor to work with on their life's journey can attest to this. Born, raised and forged in the "Steel City" and sharpened in the "City of Brotherly Love", the term "Alchemist" more accurately describes who I am. I specialize in alchemizing pain into purpose and trauma into triumph. If you're ready to transform your life, I'm your guy!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the state of North Carolina. I began my journey into social work and counseling after being honorably discharged from the US Army in 2006. Due to a lengthy combat tour overseas in Iraq, I was able to gain firsthand knowledge and understanding about the devastating effects Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Close friends of mine were irrevocably changed before my eyes, and I needed to understand why that transition took place. I utilized my G.I. Bill and obtained my Master’s Degree. I have been in the social work field for over eight years, working in various settings: veteran’s programs, residential treatment facilities for youth, outpatient treatment and a substance abuse treatment facility. I have training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care.

My belief is that real change can occur in one’s life when they work with a therapist who is genuine and unbiased; someone who has a desire to see others moving forward and living their lives to the fullest. It would be a true honor to be that individual for you or your loved one.

I’m an LCSW, and my practice name, Life Shift Happens, comes from a truth I see every single day: people don’t come to therapy because they’re broken. They come because life stopped unfolding the way they expected, and they feel entirely stuck. A lot of the humans I work with are incredibly thoughtful and trying so hard. They usually don't lack insight; they’ve read the coping skills and talked things through with friends. Yet, they still find themselves procrastinating, shutting down, or feeling completely frozen by past stuff. When that happens, change isn’t a matter of forcing more willpower. It requires slowing down to look at the patterns and defense mechanisms we build to protect ourselves when life gets heavy.

My style is collaborative, deeply conversational, and entirely human. I’m not here to judge, lecture, or pretend I have all the answers. Instead, I’m active in our sessions through asking questions, noticing patterns, and gently pushing back when I see you getting in your own way. We will work on the practical things like boundaries, follow-through, and managing emotions, while sitting with the messy overthinking, panic, burnout, or feeling checked out underneath it all. Therapy with me is a relationship where we make sense of the sudden crises and quiet paralyses that come with life shifts. The goal isn’t a perfect, flawless life, but rather a therapeutic space where you can figure out what changed, sprinkle in compassion, and learn how to move forward in a way that feels genuinely your own.

Ready to stop managing the noise and finally start living?

You are exhausted from carrying everyone else's luggage. On paper, you are high-functioning, capable, and the one everyone turns to. But inside, the mental noise feels like a car alarm that has been blaring for days without stopping. You have tried analyzing your thoughts, policing your anxiety, and forcing yourself to stay calm, but your heart is simply tired of the old way of surviving.

You don't need another clinical checklist or a rigid set of coping mechanisms. You need a space where it is safe to completely drop your armor.

• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - NC Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors
• Experience in working with children and adults with severe mental health issues, and athletes with performance anxiety
• Exceptional Children’s Teacher - North Carolina Public School System
• Worked with Easter Seals with children and adults with special needs, specializing in therapeutic recreation
• Enjoys working with all ages, is an LGBTQ+ ally, and is accepting of all races and cultures
• Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling - Capella University
• Bachelor Degree in Special Education - East Carolina University

I specialize in working with clients experiencing anxiety. depression, trauma, and disconnect in their relationships. I am a trauma focused clinician and work to meet clients where they are in their mental health journey.

I specialize in working with interpersonal conflict, behavioral issues, anxiety, life cycle transitions, depression, and helping clients recognize and build on strengths to overcome challenges.