Therapists in Sylva, NC

HELLO. Thank you for stopping by. My name is "AC" (Alisha) and I am a licensed professional counselor. Thank you for stopping by :-) I am trained clinically as a therapist. However, the reason I do this type of work is for a much deeper and meaningful reason. I will have to take you to the past for a moment. I have religious roots but they were not good ones in terms of helping me understand the things that I was struggling emotionally. If those challenged endured for a long time, there was really no help. It was summed up as not having "enough" faith. Tired of hearing this sentiment, I pursued counseling for Christians who felt like they were faithless because they had struggles. I wanted to stop this from perpetuating one person at a time. What you can expect from a counselor who is a Christian? You can expect that you will not be shamed into thinking that you do not have enough faith. In fact, we may not even talk about faith in sessions unless you ask for that. I say to people that I am a Christian so that you know my core values. Do I have people that do not share the same values? I sure do... not to talk about my values but what you are seeking relief in with kindness and care. Before we do: Here are a few things to expect: 1. Nervousness-What will happen? How will I feel? What should I say or not say? There are questions that can cause some nervousness. Just remember, everything that you have experienced is part of the human experience. Say what you want if you want, when you want. 2. Feeling like what's the Point-"I don't feel a change". Some times a light will flicker in therapy BUT not always in every session will that occur. But whether it occurs in real time or not, what we talk about is always working on you consciously or subconsciously. You will know when you notice that a new way of looking at something happens and think to yourself, "That is a new though or different reaction that I had." This delayed reaction to a therapy session is actually more common! 3. Frustration-As you do your "work", you'll notice that people who you are in relationship have not. Learning how to take your new found skills and freedom into the world takes a new perspective. Who are you now regardless of all circumstances is the question that you will be able to answer. This means that despite what others do or don't do, you will be OK. 4. It is time to Fly- You will find at some point in your personal work that you are not as distressed and you are better able to manage thoughts that once brought you distress. You are spreading your wings and will not have an imminent need for counseling. No matter when this occurs for you, I want you to fly. It may be time for you to end your subscription and do just that. If a few weeks have passed and you have not used the service, you are likely taking flight on something new that you discovered. Please Fly High. No need to feel as though you have to maintain your subscription "just in case". You can always come back later if you'd like. 5. Flexibility and Persistent pesky gnats. That is what I am calling thoughts and feelings that just need time to stop appearing and biting. Do not feel odd if you still fight to fan off pesky thoughts. Likely there is a "holding on" to a thought, belief, image, or something else that you have not fully released. This is where the need for flexibility comes in. You will have to be flexible and not hold on rigidly to the way you have interpreted things (even though you are sure that you are "right") . Even if you are right, you still may be left feeling less than free. Counseling is a good tool to see what is left in your thoughts that need to be re-worked. 6. Never Compare Yourself to Others. Do the best that you can do. That is Enough. Appointments: You are free to choose any time that you see on the calendar. If you need to verify that your time zone is reflected accurately, know that I am in the Eastern Time Zone in the US (EST time). Your time zone as listed on your account will be seen. If you travel outside that time zone, a good app is World Time Buddy to verify. My commitment to you is that I will be on-time and prepared for your session. I will not respond to other clients while I am in session with you. Should I have to reschedule an appointment, I will do that as soon as possible, likely days in advance as not to disrupt your plans. I will then get you reschedule ASAP. If I have an personal emergency and need to cancel the next day, I will inform you promptly of my situation and when I will be available. I ask that you take the same care when scheduling or cancelling. PLEASE NOTE: The Golden Rule Policy for No-shows or a Same Day cancellation. Please cancel 24 hours in advance. This allows for your block to be used. Cancellations that occur the same day, prevents anyone else from scheduling in that time. Emergencies do happen and I take a person's word for it without explanation. The honor system is enough :) In the case of a true emergency, you are free to reschedule as you wish. Crises and emergencies are rare. However, should 2 emergencies occur resulting in you not maintaining your appointment, please talk to me so that I can understand your unique needs before attempting to reschedule. If the no-show/same-day cancellation was for any other reason and you would like another appointment, I ask that you message me and Request a Same- Day appointment. I will give you the times that are open for the day you contact me. This it lessens the chance of a repeat no-show and I can serve efficiently. Have a lovely day, AC

Do you often find yourself struggling to sort out your thoughts and feelings about events in your life? Have there been times in your life when you have wondered if you have made the right choices or if there are other possibilities for you? We have all experienced life changing experiences that have shaped us into the people we are today. Sometimes, a listening ear is all we need. Other times, more in-depth exploration of thoughts and feelings is needed before you can feel better. Whichever situation fits for you, I am here to help. I have been in practice for over 20 years and have had experience working with a diverse group of individuals, couples, and families. Together, we have explored trauma events and their impact on individuals and families, family relationships, couples’ issues, and depression, anxiety, infidelity, spiritual dilemmas, and other experiences that have an effect on day-to-day living. My experience extends to adults of all ages, including an older population and caregivers. I am open to working with couples who are experiencing issues, particularly in the area of communication. Working with individuals who are in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's Disease are a new and interesting population for me. For me, counseling is a passion. Being a counselor is a calling, it encompasses me as a person and as a professional. It is my hope that you will contact me for counseling so that I can be your companion on your journey to a more peaceful and satisfying future.

I am a country girl with a big heart; two qualities that have served me well as a mental health/substance abuse (MH/SA) professional. I have 12 years of experience working in the mental health field. I am also licensed as an addiction specialist. I first went to college as a math major, but after working with at-risk adolescents in group homes my purpose became clear to me; I am a social worker at heart. I earned my BSW from NCSU and my MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. I enjoy working with adolescents and adults, couples, and families with diverse backgrounds and experiences, using a collaborative approach. Together, WE identify your goals, then WE identify steps that will help you reach those goals. I have worked with clients with a wide range of challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use/addiction, and relationship/attachment issues, to name a few. Therapy modalities I use include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, and Mindfulness. It is important that my clients understand that they have a voice when they work with me. I believe that despite your challenges, you know what is best for you. My job is to offer ideas and strategies to help you overcome barriers that impact your ability to have a fulfilling life. As a therapist, it is my hope that our work together encourages you to stretch towards your dream, think bigger, go further, be committed, grow, and achieve more than you dared to imagine. Take that first step, by contacting me. I am excited to get to know you so we can do some great work TOGETHER!

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read my profile. I was born and raised in North Carolina. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Counseling both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I have worked as a counselor in North Carolina and South Carolina for 19 years. I am licensed in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and in South Carolina as a Licensed Professional Counselor. If you are seeking counseling to solely address substance abuse or dependence, that would be beyond the scope of my licensure and I would not be an appropriate choice of therapist for you. I have enjoyed a variety of work experience in my 19 years of counseling. I have helped clients coping with longer-term problems, and clients working through different life stressors. I have helped clients address concerns related to depression, anxiety/panic attacks, self-esteem and motivation, family stressors, grief and complicated bereavement, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, trauma and abuse, career development, and adjustment to phases of life. I would describe my therapy style as being sincere and genuine, and comforting and interactive. I have enjoyed helping people of a variety of age groups, cultures, and lifestyles. My main therapy approach is Person-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I also use interventions from Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy, skills for relaxation and distress tolerance, and mindfulness techniques. Person-Centered Therapy stresses “unconditional positive regard” and empathic understanding. I believe many of us strongly judge ourselves, and may also experience external judgement, and this often impedes positive change. I will offer a non-judgmental and supportive counseling experience to support you and help you utilize your own strengths. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy promotes change by examining the relationship between our thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. We sometimes develop patterns of thinking, either through our childhood experiences or stressors later in life, that often causes distress or makes it hard to achieve life goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you identify if these patterns of thought are present and replace them with more positive and productive thought patterns. I enjoy spending time with my parents and friends, watching movies and historical documentaries, reading, yardwork, and weightlifting. I hope Betterhelp can help you with any problems you are experiencing. I also hope I can meet you and help in any way possible. For Disclosure purpose, things spoken/written in counseling are confidential, unless I were to think you were in immediate and clear danger of hurting yourself or someone else. At that point, I would need to contact your emergency contact and/or 911.

I currently specialize in relationship counseling not limited to intimate relationships, but also everyday interactions i.e. working, organizational, non-traditional, casual, mutually beneficial, and structural. I am able to assist with communication which is a common underlying issue within relationship dysfunction. Whether a relationship exists in a professional or private setting, I am competent in adjusting a persons understanding of the situation to bring out the best outcome. I have lived in over 7 areas of the world and am open minded. The preferred methodologies for my treatment consist of but are not limited to Gestalt Therapy, Autogenic Training, CBT, Existential Therapy, and Grief Counseling. My strengths lie in understanding, compassion, and experience. I am able to channel superior levels of comprehension in the following areas: Abandonment Depression Jealousy Lack of Trust Anger Management Insecurity Relationship Strain Everyday Challenges Forgiveness I am a firm believer in meeting the client where they are. I have worked with veterans for over 10 years. I have experience with newlyweds and those wishing to maintain a healthy relationship. I believe that every relationship is different and that they are constantly evolving over time.

I view my work as a therapist through a multicultural lens, and I customize my approach depending on the unique needs of every individual I work with. Many people have told me they’ve been frustrated by therapists in the past who sat quietly and provided very little feedback. In response, I’ve developed a forthright, solutions-oriented style of engaging with my clients that encourages them to set goals for themselves and empowers them to work toward them. I also have experience working with clients who prefer a softer, less structured approach, so I can customize the therapy experience to each person. I work well with people who want to channel negative experiences in a more positive direction. During my work in prison systems and in the military, I observed the many self-destructive behaviors that people use in an attempt to cope with difficult situations. I’ve helped people overcome a wide variety of addictive behaviors related to shopping, sex, substance abuse, eating disorders and more. I've also helped those who are experiencing the different stages of grief associated with loss. To change self-destructive behaviors, I believe that people must first change how they think. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist (CBT), I leverage the innate connections between a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions to enact positive change. By encouraging my clients to question the truth of negative thoughts (such as “people are judging me” or “I’m such a failure”), I help them break out of painful patterns. I also help them focus on their strengths. Using positive psychology and motivational interviewing, I help my clients reframe their thoughts and view themselves in a more positive light. I encourage them to channel their anger, sadness, and other difficult emotions in a way that helps them overcome life’s challenges rather than becoming more deeply entrenched. I believe everyone has the strength to make positive changes. My goal is to help each person I work with cultivate the courage, resiliency, and potential that is already inside them.

Hello, and thank you for visiting my profile. Congratulations on taking this positive step in getting the support that you need. My name is Carlene and I'm a licensed psychotherapist with 23 years of experience. I work individuals, couples, students, families and veterans. I have provided counseling services in many different settings including: a university counseling center, school system, private practice, community mental health centers and veterans within the VA system. These varied experiences have allowed me to develop an in-depth understanding of the ways that things can go wrong for people. My success in working with people stems from my desire to help them make sense of who they are, what they do and what they want in life. I strive to help them see the very best in themselves and others as well as the opportunities that they have. In these trying times there are many day-to-day stressors and we can often find ourselves lacking the skills to overcome these challenges. I work hard to help people set goals and to identify their strengths so that they are better able to deal with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger, relationship conflicts, abuse and trauma. My approach is eclectic as I draw from many different evidence-based interventions because we are all unique. Practically speaking one-size does not fit all. My style is laid back, common sense and often playful. A positive therapy experience can and should be enlightening and rewarding. Warm Regards, Carlene Messer

I am licensed in North Carolina with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & trauma and abuse. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in North Carolina with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in North Carolina with 9 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, & family conflicts. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.