Therapists for college students near Duke University

I have worked with college students struggling with a wide range of difficulties and acuity over the past decade plus, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship difficulties. I have a casual yet professional style, and prioritize creating a warm, non-judgmental space where clients can increase awareness of their emotional and relational patterns. I pull from several orientations, including psychodynamic/relational, emotion-focused, CBT, acceptance-based, and compassion-based approaches in order to make sense of your difficulties with you and to identify ways to change, or as is the case in the many situations that we can’t change, learn to relate to it differently. My clients express appreciation for my transparent, collaborative, compassionate, and well-informed approach. I am interested and have experience in working with clients from diverse backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities. I try to understand clients in context and I seek to bring in societal issues and -isms to understand clients experiences in the world. I am open to talking about my own identity and position in society. I have openings for telehealth clients located in Massachusetts, NC, or any participating Psypact state. I accept Aetna in MA. I accept Aetna and BCBS in NC. Please email me if you would like to schedule a free initial call to answer any questions and assess whether we may be a good match.

Extensive Experience I have dedicated my career to working with a diverse clientele, encompassing children, adolescents, and adults. My experience spans individual and group settings, allowing me to tailor my approach to the unique needs of each client. While my primary focus has been on outpatient services, including leading psychoeducational groups, I have also gained experience in other therapeutic contexts. Areas of Specialization My therapeutic expertise encompasses a wide range of presenting concerns, including: Personal Difficulties: Addressing challenges related to self-esteem, identity, life transitions, and personal growth. Behavioral Difficulties: Assisting clients in managing and modifying problematic behaviors that impact their daily lives and relationships. Emotional Difficulties: Providing support and guidance in navigating a range of emotions, including anxiety, depression, anger, and grief. Relationship Difficulties: Helping individuals and couples improve communication, resolve conflict, and build healthier relationships. Trauma and Family Difficulties: Supporting clients in healing from trauma, addressing family dynamics, and fostering healthy family relationships. Substance Use Disorder and Treatment: Providing evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders, including individual and group therapy, relapse prevention, and support for family members. Core Counselor Role My fundamental role as a counselor is to create a therapeutic environment that is characterized by safety, trust, and mutual respect. Within this space, clients and I collaborate to explore their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. By working together, we can identify new perspectives, develop coping strategies, and empower clients to make informed choices that align with their personal goals. Integrative Theoretical Approach My therapeutic approach is grounded in an integrative framework that draws upon multiple evidence-based modalities, including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This approach focuses on identifying and modifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive coping patterns. Person-Centered Therapy: This approach emphasizes the importance of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in fostering client self-awareness and growth. Motivational Interviewing: This approach utilizes a collaborative and client-centered style to elicit and strengthen motivation for change. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This approach is specifically designed to address trauma and PTSD by facilitating the reprocessing of traumatic memories. Gottman Method Couples Therapy: This approach is based on extensive research on successful relationships and focuses on enhancing communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy within couples. Emphasis on Cognitive and Person-Centered Principles While I integrate various therapeutic modalities, my approach is particularly influenced by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. I believe that our thoughts and perceptions significantly impact our emotions and behaviors. By helping clients identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts, we can promote emotional well-being and adaptive coping. Additionally, I am committed to providing a therapeutic space where clients feel unconditionally accepted and valued, fostering self-exploration and personal growth. Collaborative and Empowering Therapeutic Relationship I view the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative partnership in which clients are empowered to take an active role in their healing and growth. I am committed to providing compassionate and individualized support to help clients achieve their desired outcomes and live more fulfilling lives.

Here at Rachel Wakeford Therapy, I realize that no two people are the same, and tailor my therapy to meet your specific needs as an individual. I love helping people understand the things that are holding them back with an in-depth approach. After recognizing underlying problems, clients can fully realize their strengths and adjust certain behaviors and thoughts to see things in a different, healthier way.

I believe that healing happens through genuine connection and collaboration, and I strive to create a space where you feel seen, heard, and valued. I take a person-centered approach to therapy, where we work at your pace and with your goals and voice at the forefront, taking practical steps toward the life you deserve. I work with individual adults and teenagers (14+) who are navigating life’s inevitable challenges in an open and honest way, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship concerns, confidence and identity challenges, and stress or burnout related to school, work, or major life transitions.

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Author Shannon Bream inspired the name through her book, The Women of the Bible Speak”, which entails the wisdom of 16 women in the bible and their lessons for today. The book provides a sense of hope and light to the reader. When women of God speak, you’re wise to listen, take notes, and learn. With that being said, it’s my obligation that when I speak, it’s full of wisdom, with expectation to provide hope and reassurance to individuals’ lives and circumstances. The mission of VicNikolSpeaks: Counseling and Wellness, PLLC is to inspire, motivate, uplift, encourage and support all individuals through life’s challenges and transitions. It's time to uproot the unhealthy seeds that were planted by life or people that have caused weeds like hurt, anger, shame, etc. to grow inside of you and replant seeds of healing, love, peace, joy, and freedom. You have the power to replant healing. It’s time to grow! What you water grows! Are you watering seeds of healing or your seeds of hurt? Let’s dig in!

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You're both reflective, and self-critical, constantly trying to prove yourself. The strive for perfection, and loud inner critic leave you feeling exhausted both physically and emotionally. You want to feel better, but don't know where to begin... Whether you're navigating anxiety, processing trauma, or you’re exploring your relationship with food and/or your body, I want you to know things can get better. My work focuses on empowering college aged and younger adult women as they begin to connect with who they are, clarify what is important to them, and cultivate a life where they feel fulfilled, connected, and energized. My approach is warm, relational, trauma informed, and direct. I use humor when appropriate, and encourage my clients to show up authentically. I integrate somatic (body) based interventions like gentle movement, breathwork, and ifs-parts work with cognitive approaches to help you better identify, understand, and work through your thoughts and feelings. My passion is helping women explore and improve their relationships with food, their bodies, and ultimately, themselves. Together we can explore the deep rooted narratives you hold, and work on building a new story that feels both empowering and tangible. I strongly believe we heal through safe connection, so if you're ready and willing, let's connect!

When is the last time you felt unconditionally accepted, exactly as you are? It's my belief and experience that among all of our deepest desires is the longing to be fully seen, validated, and loved, when all the masks are taken away - for who we truly and authentically are. I offer a safe, heartfelt, compassionate space in which individuals can reveal their deepest vulnerabilities. I specialize in working with trauma, women's issues, sexuality, grief, addictions recovery, and spiritual crisis / emergence. I offer individualized and personalized treatment. I utilize an inclusive approach to therapy that’s somatic, mindfulness-informed and nature-based. By allowing clients to reconnect with the wisdom of the body, the natural world, and the present moment, I hold a space for transformation. Does the thought of traveling to a therapist’s office feel like a barrier to getting help? My virtual sessions, conducted via video platform or phone, offer you support where and when you need it, from the comfort of your own home. Please don't hesitate to reach out for a free consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!

Our team works with people located in both Connecticut and Massachusetts, and specializes in work with college students and young adults. If you are struggling with overwhelm during the college experience, or managing emotional challenges such as anxiety or depression, our practice can help. We also help support students struggling with transitions, life decisions, social stress and the other challenges of the college years. We would be honored to meet you and support you through this time!

Are you looking for a therapist that will listen to you, motivate you, inspire you to do and be better, help you solve problems, AND reach your goals? Then hello, you've stumbled across the right person! I am the owner and sole therapist of Reshaping Realities Counseling. My practice is a safe space for those in need of someone to help them with life and all its challenges. My goal is to help you become the BEST version of you. Not only am I empathetic, non judgemental, and a great listener, but I aim to make you feel comfortable and at ease with me. The counselor-client relationship is extremely important to me because it is essential in your success. With me, therapy is more than just another appointment; it is an experience designed to help reshape your life into the best version for you. I work with clients that experience anxiety, depression, toxic/negative relationships, family conflict, self-harming, trauma, lack of confidence, and more. I can help you develop positive coping skills and strategies, build your self-esteem and self-confidence, and provide you with the tools you need to make a positive change in your life. Let's be honest...life can get a little overwhelming sometimes, and that's okay! So if you are taking the first step towards healing, I am proud of you. It won't be easy but it'll be worth it. If you feel we'd be a good fit for each other, please feel free to schedule a consultation and I'll be here to help you along the path towards positive change.

When you're struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety, or depression, the idea of opening up and trusting another person can be HARD. I know that you've likely heard so many messages throughout your life about what you should do and who you should be, but I don't think that "shoulds" have a place in therapy. Who do you WANT to be? How do you WANT to feel? That is way more important than any shoulds, and I would be honored to walk alongside you as you start to find answers to these questions over time. Together, we can unravel those expectations - what you've been told it means to be healthy or successful or fill in the blank - and get to the heart of what really matters to you and what you need. Being a human is messy, and as your therapist, I'll be right there in that space with you as a human first, therapist second. Let's explore what it means to be humans in a world that expects perfection (which doesn't exist!) and pushes you to grind until you're too burned out to do the things you actually want to do. Whether you realize it today or not, you deserve peace. I have many tools in my toolbox to support you, but to me the most important thing I can do is to provide you a safe space to explore your experience in its entirety at your own pace - to build a connection that is strong enough for you to know that I won't judge you or make you bad or wrong for how you are feeling or for using certain behaviors to cope. It's what you've known to do up to this point, so let's put our heads together and find the ways that this has made sense so we can look at it from a place of compassion instead of judgment. This is a shame-free space! I hold a special place in my heart for those who are working towards eating disorder recovery who feel like they aren't sick enough because their body size, race, sexuality, or gender identity don't match what they are seeing on social media under the eating disorder hashtags. All identities are welcome here, and no matter what your circumstances, your concerns are valid, you ARE sick enough, and you deserve compassionate, equitable care. If anything I've said here makes you think "I like her vibe," please don't hesitate to reach out. I would love to chat further about what it would look like for us to work together.

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Are you feeling lost or struggling to navigate the stressful events happening in your life and in the world around you? Or feeling overwhelmed as you try to balance school, work, and home responsibilities? Do you find yourself feeling anxious about your choices and your future or feeling overwhelmed when you evaluate where you are and where you would like to be on your journey? Or maybe you are experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one, or grief that can accompany life's transitions. If you answered yes to any of the questions above, I can support you with working through these challenges. I specialize in providing a holistic approach to treatment using solutions focused and acceptance and commitment therapy. I aim to create a safe space for you to process through the challenges surfacing, while ensuring you feel heard and understood. It can feel daunting to reach out for help, but it can be even scarier to try to work through these challenges on your own. I encourage you to contact me so that we can identify your concerns and your goals and navigate your treatment together. Click the website link to view my calendar and schedule your first session. I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you on your journey.

Areas of Expertise I help adults facing anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, substance use, life transitions, and relationship struggles. My approach combines CBT, ACT, DBT, and Self-Compassion Therapy, tailored to each client's goals. My Approach Clients often tell me they appreciate my direct yet compassionate style. I challenge people in a kind, honest way to face what's not working and take real steps toward growth, healing, or acceptance. How I Can Help As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned that fulfillment doesn’t come from doing everything “right,” but from living in alignment with what truly matters. I help clients clarify their values, build self-awareness, and take meaningful steps toward lives that feel authentic and sustainable, not just what’s expected. Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready for change, I’m here to support you.

Our vision is to combat the negative stigma of mental illness by promoting holistic health within our community.

Are you looking to repair your self-worth, esteem, and confidence, that was damaged by life experiences whether it be from childhood trauma, a toxic work environment, racism, and a number of other horrible experiences? I help clients that have internalized those experiences believing that something is wrong with them. I'll help you change your negative and distorted view of self and regain your power. We will disrupt your thinking patterns that are impacting your ability to function and are causing distress such as depression, anxiety, and poor relationships. My ideal client is those ready to put in the healing work.

Bethany creates a deeply relational, trauma-informed therapy experience. Her approach is both compassionate and direct, combining evidence-based tools with soul-level support. You’ll do more than just talk-you’ll feel, process, and heal in ways that reach beyond the surface. She draws from EMDR to help you safely revisit and reprocess trauma, somatic tools to regulate your nervous system, and parts work (IFS-informed) to explore the complex and beautiful layers of your internal world. Bethany also uses attachment-based language to build emotional safety and connection, and DBT-informed strategies to hold space for life’s inevitable nuance and emotional intensity. Therapy with Bethany is a place where radical self-honesty meets deep self-compassion. You’ll explore the fears that have kept you playing small, challenge the boundaries and beliefs that no longer serve you, and start moving toward the life you actually want to live-not the one you’ve been conditioned to settle for. And while the work runs deep, it doesn’t have to be heavy all the time. Bethany brings a grounded, human energy to her sessions-one that makes room for laughter, realness, and even joy. She believes in healing that’s holistic and sustainable-where change starts from within and ripples outward into every part of your life. If you’re done with surface-level fixes and ready to do the kind of work that actually shifts you at your core, Bethany is your person. She’ll meet you where you are, walk alongside you through the hard stuff, and help you remember your worth, one honest step at a time.

Figuring out identity, establishing meaningful relationships, and navigating through changing independent roles while on the quest for financial stability, can be an overwhelming mix of demands. Add spiritual and/or cultural expectations to the blend and you might just feel like quitting before you even start! It’s a wonder why anxiety, depression and other forms of addictive “coping” exist. Need some help addressing these symptoms while managing life’s demands? Say less.

At Art of Care Counseling, your well-being is our ultimate concern. Whether you’re an individual, a couple, or a family looking for help. Art of Care Counseling will design a treatment plan to strengthen your confidence and assist you in the process of positive change. We provide Clinical Assessments & Consulting Services. We encourage you to take a look at all of our services and get in touch with us today.