Therapists for college students near Durham, NC

Hello, my name is Joel. If you are struggling with anxiety, relationships issues, mood changes, or daily struggles of being a student then we can work together on making it better. Difficulties come in all shapes and sizes and are personal to your experience. I have been in the field since 2004 and performing therapy since 2012. This progression with helping clients has been guided by a professional and person centered approach to help you meet your goals and desires. I have helped many students with issues ranging from anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship, self-esteem, and interpersonal issues. When you choose to work with me you will find an easy going, confidential, and strength based approach that will promote self-awareness, growth, and empowerment. I have an Undergraduate Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Appalachian State University, and a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have recently relocated to NC from 7 years in VT and excited to be back in my home state of NC. Therapeutic approaches will include, but not limited to CBT, Reality Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, and DBT. I enjoy being outdoors, sports, cooking, family, and education. I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your goals.

An inclusive practice specializing in religious trauma, eating disorders & food concerns, body image distress, anxiety, trauma, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

I work with clients who are dealing with challenges related to life change and transition, self identity and growth, anxiety and stress. I am passionate about helping people discover their ability to find fulfillment while coping with pain and navigating struggle.

You might be here because something has gone wrong. Your days might have been ruled by anxiety, old wounds that won't heal, or the quiet weight of wondering if you're enough. Maybe you're carrying the aftermath of a toxic relationship, spiritual trauma, or simply the exhaustion of doing everything alone. At Restore Hope Counseling, I provide individual therapy and group therapy to adults across Charlotte, Matthews, Mint Hill, Indian Trail, and surrounding areas. I specialize in helping survivors of narcissistic abuse and emotional trauma, men navigating identity and relationships, and leaders including pastors and ministry families who are ready to become the healthiest version of themselves. This isn't surface-level support. It's real, focused counseling centered on what actually helps you move forward.

I am passionate about helping people heal and develop their connection to themselves and others in a holistic way. I believe that healing occurs when we address the whole person including emotional, mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. I value our ability to connect with our stories and integrate all aspects of ourselves (body, mind, and soul) to help us grow. I apply a collaborative approach to counseling and focus on creating a therapeutic relationship centered on trust and respect. My desire is that all of my clients feel safe and known. Clients of mine have learned to better regulate their emotions, develop a better sense of self, decrease and manage addictive behaviors, overcome disordered eating and heal from past trauma. My scope of practice includes, but is not limited to, the following areas: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-esteem, addictions, relational problems, and adjustment disorders.

Are you seeking a space where you can feel heard, understood, and supported? Life can be full of challenges, transitions, and moments of uncertainty, but you don't have to navigate them alone. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, focusing on helping you uncover insights, build resilience, and create meaningful change. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, or simply feeling stuck, we'll work together to identify your goals and explore paths toward healing and growth. With a focus on mindfulness, self-discovery, and transformation, I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment where you can grow.

College students face unique challenges. Even though being in college can be exciting, it also can be an adjustment that doesn't always go as planned. I have experience working with college students with various stressors such as academic workload, feeling stressed out, anxiety, depression and some students have a hard time with being away from home.

I believe in the basic goodness and natural wisdom of all human beings. Layers of confusion and unconscious wounds can disconnect us from our true selves. We may end up feeling bad and acting in ways that hurt our relationships— with ourselves, with others, and with this magnificent planet. We become hard and out of touch with our lives and callings. Real, deep change is possible when we face ourselves and our challenges with honesty, willingness, and compassion. - As your counselor, I will adventure with you into the weird and wonderful world of your own inner self. I'll use techniques rooted in Experiential Dynamic Therapy to help you touch into the freedom and wisdom already inside you and to overcome the barriers that arise on the path toward that life. Expect to be cared for and to be challenged— if you’re living in a stuffy little house made of old, limiting patterns, it might be time for some demolition work. I’m not afraid to hand you the sledgehammer, and I’ll be with you as you begin to step forward into an open, affirming wilderness of possibility.

ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression can be heavy burdens to carry alone. Any one of these can be a struggle and you deserve someone that is willing to aid you in lessoning the burden. I provide a caring understanding environment focused on developing skills to help you become more flexible. Our sessions will be casual, but we will dive into what you are struggling with. We will be looking at what is most important in your life and working together, we will develop goals that are in line with these values. My goal is to help you live a purpose filled life full of what you find most valuable. I'm an ACT(Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) Therapist. ACT focuses on developing skills to take action in areas that you value. For you this means I am going to help you develop psychological flexibility so you can live a life you find meaningful. There will be laughs and tears as we work to understand what value means to you then work to ACT accordingly. As someone with ADHD and who has suffered with anxiety and depression, I know how important it is a client and practitioner are on same page. To this end I offer a free consultation. So, feel free to reach out hassle free. (I will be able to offer in person Eco-Therapy in the near future and will provide a discount to all current and past clients.)

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

After trauma, we reach for whatever coping skill is closest in order to survive. We may turn to substances, self-harm, intellectualizing, perfectionism, etc. This helps us soothe, distract, and numb from feelings of shame, guilt, anger and fear. Still, our unprocessed emotions can overwhelm–morphing into anxiety, depression, rage, dissociation, or hyper-vigilance. However, this only represents a part of us and our experiences. We contain creativity, empathy, resilience, & intuition. Through our strengths, we increase our tolerance, release survival skills that no longer serve us, and return to our most liberated and aligned self. I specialize in addiction, anxiety, trauma, marriage counseling, and depression. I am also trained in Brainspotting, a trauma treatment, which involves less invasive talk therapy & quicker response times for healing, when compared to EMDR. For marriage & couples counseling, I am trained in the Gottman Method. We all have an innate and intuitive ability to heal and transform, yet healing is not a destination. Rather, it is a continual process that we may deviate from and rediscover repeatedly throughout our lifetime. I am here to sit with you in your pain, your recovery, your joy and everywhere in between. Please reach out. You are worthy of support.

Diane Burke provides empowering, results-focused therapy for college students navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, identity development, and life transitions. Led by Diane Burke, LCMHC—a retired correctional officer turned therapist—services are grounded in real-world insight and practical strategies that help students build emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience. Whether managing academic stress, recovering from a breakup, or working through past trauma, students are supported in gaining clarity, developing healthier coping skills, and creating a strong foundation for personal growth. The goal is to help each student not just cope, but truly reinvent themselves and thrive both on campus and beyond.

Many of the students I work best with share a common thread: they feel overwhelmed by the transition of college life and want a safe place to sort through it all. Some are managing anxiety, stress, or burnout from balancing classes, work, and relationships. Others are navigating questions of identity, independence, or self-confidence. What they all have in common is a desire for a supportive space where they can be honest about what’s hard and learn tools to feel more grounded. My approach is down-to-earth and collaborative, so if you’re looking for someone who understands the challenges of student life and wants to walk with you through them, you might find a good fit here.

You’re already doing something hard just by being here. Reaching out for support isn’t easy—especially when life feels overwhelming and everything inside you feels tangled. It’s not just one thing. It’s everything. Confusion, stress, heartbreak, fear, loneliness, sadness, anger—sometimes all at once. And when you’ve been through difficult experiences, it makes sense that this has become your normal. But you’re tired of pretending you’re okay. Tired of holding it all together while quietly falling apart. When was the last time you felt present in your own life? Confident in who you are? Or even just able to slow down and take care of yourself without guilt? What if you didn’t have to keep pushing your feelings down or hiding from them? What if you could actually understand them—and feel more at ease in your own mind and body? I specialize in working with young women who feel overwhelmed by life, relationships, and their own thoughts—often shaped by both past and present pain. Together, we create space to process what you’ve been carrying so you can find clarity, steadiness, and a stronger sense of yourself again.

You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, or disconnected in your relationships—especially during times of change. Life transitions can bring up anxiety, uncertainty, and questions about who you are and what you want, even if things look “fine” on the outside. You may be looking for clarity, relief, and a way to feel more grounded and secure in yourself and your relationships. I support adults through relationship and life transitions by helping them understand attachment patterns and regulate their nervous system. Drawing on my experiences, including my time as a veteran, I blend attachment-based therapy with mind–body tools, informed by my yoga teacher training, to support grounding and connection. I'm here to fully understand your situation and assist providing skills, support or relief during these transitions and times in life. Please reach out and let's see if we connect to help on your journey.

Student life can be complicated but it doesn't have to be. Navigating personal and emotional concerns and relationships while focusing on academics, athletics or work/family-life balance often requires support and patience. Some students do this well, while others benefit from someone from the outside who provides them with a non-judgemental space to sort through and make sense of it all. Together we will identify the source of your concerns, and how we can work together to make sense of the thoughts, feelings and actions which are getting in the way of your personal and professional goals. I have worked with college students in many capacities and hope that my experience can help me to help you find a way through depression, anxiety, stress or life transitions.

As we face life’s challenges, we may also be facing the opportunity to find growth & meaning through our most difficult experiences. I am here to provide you with warmth, respect, & kindness as you face these difficult moments. I will aim to work alongside you, supporting you through the process of recognizing your strengths, uncovering & learning new skills, & problem solving ways to effectively cope with whatever difficulties you may be facing. In my approach I incorporate interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) along with the use of creative approaches stemming from expressive play & art therapies. I have experience working with a variety of child & adult clients in both outpatient & in home settings, & I am fluent in English and Spanish. I also have experience treating issues related to anxiety, depression, affective disorders, trauma, loss, interpersonal conflict, adjustment, & behavioral issues related to ADHD. I can see clients located in both NJ and NC. I look forward to supporting you on your journey of growth & healing.

Life can be brutal, can’t it?! Can you remember that time in life when you were happy, like top of the world scream it from the rooftops happy? In that moment, everything was right in your world and then well, life happened. Now you look back and have so many questions…What happened? Let me tell you, you are not alone! We’ve all been there in some season of life. But who says this can’t make us better! Every person comes to therapy with their own individual needs. Therefore, we adapt our interventions based on a comprehensive assessment of who you are and what you need. We are all trained in a number of different interventions and like to use a combination of our training and expertise to utilize an eclectic approach to best meet the needs of each individual person. We know that every individual is uniquely different and therefore each person should have a unique therapy journey based on their own needs.