Our Team

I am an outpatient therapist and founder of Southern Wake Counseling Center. I am a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a National Certified Counselor and a certified Parent Coordinator. I received my master’s degree in Counseling and my bachelor’s degree in Communications from Campbell University.

I am Certified to provide Parenting Coordination for high conflict separation and divorce parents. I have completed Level 3 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and utilize many of Gottman’s research-based approaches to relationship counseling. I have worked with the military since 2008 and have additional training and experience with the special needs of our military community.

I use a multi-modal approach to counseling primarily using cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic approaches; however, I do use other theoretical approaches as well. I try to understand my clients in terms of their current symptoms and stressors and aim to understand childhood experiences and how these experiences shape their current sense of self. I am available to see adolescents, individuals, couples and families.

I am a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, with a specialized certification in Accelerated Resolution, and a certified Meditation Transformation Teacher. I received my master’s degree in Counseling from Campbell University and Bachelor of Arts in English from The University of North Carolina in Wilmington.

I consider my approach eclectic and tailor treatment to the individual needs using aspects of varying modalities, such as: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Based Therapy, Somatic Based Therapy, and Person Centered therapy. I have a unique certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy. ART is an evidence-based psychotherapy that allows clients to experience rapid recovery by reprogramming how the brain stores traumatic memories using rapid eye movements. ART can be used for to resolve all types of psychological, emotional, behavioral, traumatic, and spiritual issues. It can help with decision making, learning to cope, and overall is the precursor to improving quality of life.

I consider my area of expertise to be trauma focused, however; I have 15 years of experience in working with relationship issues, intimacy issues, men and women’s issues, shame based thinking, boundary issues, sexual topics, anxiety, panic attacks, and mood disorders. I am available to work with teens, adults, couples, and families.

I see myself as a ‘relationship’ therapist – helping the people I work with to form loving, satisfying, rewarding relationships with self and others. I believe that the individual – you, is the expert and ultimately knows what is best for you. I also believe that you have all the abilities, skills and resources to fulfill your potential and lead a fulfilling life. I see myself as a kind of coach, helping you to unfold your natural potential and become the person you were intended to be.

Integrity, unconditional acceptance, compassion and respect for your uniqueness are vital. To help you, I like to apply whatever makes sense to both of us so that you can learn, heal and grow – to expand your present response repertoire so that you can get what you need.

I have had extensive training in the various modalities of hypnotherapy and like to employ its principles when appropriate and when they make sense to you. I also like to work with dreams – to help you to get in touch with healing energies.

The thought of starting therapy can be very overwhelming and scary. It takes a lot of strength, wisdom and maturity to start sessions. I feel every individual is a unique and a complex being, therefore, the approaches I take with your concerns are determined by the information you provide regarding any concerns you have of your emotional, mental, physical, social, spiritual, economic, creative, intellectual, environmental and career characteristics. As a team, we will work in collaboration as you identify concerns that you want to work on in session and as we explore options that are available to you to improve those concerns. Then, I support you in the choices that you make about your concerns and present psychoeducation, skills and resources to help you achieve your goals.

It is important that we be open and honest with each other in order for appropriate counseling goals to be established. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client Centered, Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Counseling approaches are the basic theoretical foundation of sessions. Depending on your individual needs, I will use various methods of therapy. I will challenge you in a caring and empathetic manner to look at yourself and seek alternative options and strategies for handling life.

I believe a trusting working relationship between a client and a counselor is important, and I strive to achieve that collaboration. I am comfortable working with individuals from diverse cultures and lifestyles; I feel being accepting, objective, respectful and genuine are characteristics essential in working with clients. Overall, counseling is a process in which you the individual gain knowledge and tools that will facilitate continued growth and development after therapy has ended.

As a couples counselor, I understand that relationships are challenging in even the best conditions. When the stress of balancing work, family, friends and taking care of yourself start to weigh on you, relationships can suffer and even fall apart. There is no secret formula or instruction manual for how to have a happy relationship, but I am a firm believer that with hard work, dedication and the right guidance, you and your partner can be happier than ever before. That’s where I come in: combining my clinical experience working with couples, my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy to help people reconnect and build a happy life together. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to counseling. Instead, I would prefer to partner with you to learn what your specific needs are and collaborate with you to come up with a counseling plan that works best for you. I can help identify the behavior and interaction patterns that contribute to your relationship problems and help you develop new behaviors conducive to your goals. Along the way, expect nothing less than understanding, patience, enthusiasm, safety and empathy from me. If you’re ready to be brave and take that important first step toward personal growth and a happier relationship give us a call. I am available for both in-person and virtual sessions.

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. I graduated and received my BS in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University in 1999 and went on to receive my Master of Arts in Counselor Education (Agency Counseling) from North Carolina Central University in 2003. I have over 18 years of experience in helping adults, adolescents, and children of diverse backgrounds improve their mental health. I believe strongly that meeting individuals where they are and taking the time to develop rapport are the corner stones in building a healthy therapeutic relationship.My approach is eclectic and evidenced based. I love Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; however, I utilize a variety of approaches to meet client’s individual needs. I have experience in working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harm and/or suicidal behavior, relationship issues, psychotic disorders, self-esteem issues, personality disorders, behavioral concerns, and struggles coping with everyday life. I prioritize assisting clients in developing insight and a better understanding of their current mental health. One of my favorite sayings is “Everything Matters”.

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (#A17030). I received a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from N.C. State University (Go Pack!).

My view of counseling is a collaborative relationship in which the client and counselor work together toward a positive path of growth and well-being. I have experience counseling clients across a wide range of presenting issues, such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, self-esteem, grief, life transitions, and family relational issues. I am especially passionate about working with adolescents and have worked with teenagers in various capacities for over ten years. I also enjoy working with adult women to address the unique issues that women face.

My counseling approach is eclectic but is overall person-centered and strengths-based. I believe that counseling is not about changing the person, but instead, equipping them with tools to develop a deeper understanding and acceptance of themselves and their environment. My hope is that through counseling, the client will feel empowered to take intentionally guided steps toward healthy change and to identify his or her unique strengths that may be used in this process. 

I am an intern currently working toward earning my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. When working with clients to achieve their therapeutic objectives, I apply a holistic and integrated approach to counseling, all the while utilizing evidence-based therapy interventions. I believe that each person is unique and has their own story to tell; therefore, counseling should be a collaborative process that is tailored to meet the specific and individual needs of the client. I prefer to use a multi-modal approach that is person-centered, which includes but is not limited to cognitive behavior therapy and dialectal behavioral therapy. My primary goal is to create a safe environment that fosters hope and empowers a client to take steps toward personal growth. Christian counseling and spiritual integrations are available upon the request of the client.

Counseling has a wonderful variety of styles. There are also many reasons to seek counseling. All of us have needs, and they are, at times, hard to talk about. I will be there to help you clarify and work to reach a resolution around those needs. For nearly 10 years I have volunteered and worked with domestic violence and rape crisis centers. It is through this work that I discovered just how big the longer term need for recovery is, especially after a crisis.

I use CBT and Mindfulness based approaches, all wrapped in a Person-Centered hug. I also work from a trauma informed care perspective. There are many ways to achieve the cohesiveness necessary to work through issues. We can work towards that together. Each person has their own unique approach to how they deal with things and how they want to approach healing. Therapy will be a collaboration between us. I look forward to meeting you.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have practiced as a Mental Health Therapist for more than 35 years. I will meet you where you are emotionally and will be with you as you take a healing journey. I believe that patience, trust, and humor help regulate us when we are facing life’s inevitable challenges. We will work together to tailor your individual skills toolbox to help with today’s problems and whatever comes.

I attended Boston University where I received my master’s degree. I worked as a therapist in Germany and Kansas before moving to North Carolina to develop and administer NC Department of Corrections Sexual Offender Program called SOAR.

My experience includes working in two state prisons, in a military hospital, at Cape Fear Medical Center psychiatric hospital, and at residential treatment facilities.

I have been a Clinical Director for a Critical Access Behavior Health (CABHA) and other Outpatient agencies in North Carolina. I spent several years working with Special Operations service members and their families.

I specialize in trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, play therapy, and school behaviors. My passion is creating trauma informed communities.

My expertise is in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed CBT, Illness Management and Recovery, sexual offender treatment, play therapy, sand tray, and Seeking Safety.

As an Office Manager, I enjoy supporting others, working on business operations, and creating tools to maintain an efficient work environment. I am a Fordham University graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Business Administration, and I have experience in the human resources and office administration areas. I strive to help others and provide clarity with business processes. In addition, I really like designing materials to enhance others' experiences with learning those processes.

I received my training in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and primarily work with teens and adults. I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate and a Nationally Certified Counselor.

I operate primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy but will tailor our sessions to meet your individual needs. I recognize no two people are the same, and approaches can vary. I use a variety of modalities such as Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Gottman Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based therapy. I am trained in Christian integration counseling, so if this is important to you, I am happy to make that a part of our session experience.

I treat issues related to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, communication issues, family dynamics, marital and premarital counseling, and relationship work. I work with women who are experiencing issues surrounding pregnancy, postpartum anxiety, and depression. I am also available for support if you just feel life is a bit overwhelming, as all of us sometimes do. I believe in a collaborative approach where I am not an authority, but rather I come alongside you on your journey. I will provide you with a safe and non-judgmental place to grow and heal. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your story.

I am a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern at Walden University. I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology from George Mason University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Western Governors University. I worked as an elementary school teacher for fifteen years before transitioning to counseling. I will offer a safe and nurturing space for you to explore your truth. I provide support and encouragement along your healing journey as you hone your inner guidance and move closer to reaching your goals. We will work together to tailor your individual skills to build emotional strength and resiliency

I am a licensed clinical social work associate. I received a master’s degree in clinical social work from The University at Albany - State University of New York. My goal as an integrated clinician is to treat the whole person. As an integrative therapist, I pull from multiple treatment modalities to individualize care based on your needs.

My specialties include chronic illness and chronic pain as well as pregnancy and post-partum. When you feel like nobody knows what you’re going through, sharing your feelings with someone who truly gets it can make all the difference. I’m a seasoned therapist who is a mom, a partner, and a person who lives with chronic illness and chronic pain; I can relate to what you’re going through and help you cope with stress, isolation, and the unknown. I’ll help you make sense of your experiences and feel more optimistic about the future.

Pregnancy and the first few months, even the first year, post-delivery can be really challenging. While it can be filled with such joy and anticipation, it is often accompanied by stress, anxiety, and the unknown. During pregnancy, we go through a roller coaster of emotions, our changing bodies, the anxiety about the baby, and the unknown of what delivery will bring. Once our bundle of joy is here, women and our partners may continue to worry about all of the new changes and what our new roles look like as parents, partners, and women. Where do we go from here? What is next? All of these feelings can be scary! My goal is to help you navigate all these changes and challenges to help you on your new journey as a parent and how to ensure you are caring for yourself with all of the new changes.

In addition, I enjoy working with adolescents with self-esteem issues as well as women’s issues. I have an extensive background as a health coach specializing in weight issues, self-sabotage, and learning new ways to love yourself and live a healthy and fulfilled life!

Ron Blanchard is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Master Addiction Counselor and National Certified Counselor. He is EMDR trained.

Professional Affiliations: Addiction Professionals of North Carolina, National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors, National Board of Certified Counselors, American Counseling Association, Association of Specialists in Group Work and Licensed Professional Counselors of North Carolina.

Ron has lived in Eastern North Carolina for over 40 years. He received a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Capella University and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. He has extensive experience working with adults, couples and groups and specializes in treating trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, grief and loss. Ron has worked with clients who have psychological and/or substance use disorders during both inpatient and outpatient treatment. He has experience working with the criminal justice system as the Clinical Director for Region One, TASC (32 counties along the coast of NC). He uses a holistic treatment approach utilizing the integrative methods of EMDR, CBT, REBT, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused counseling, among others. His goal is to help his clients establish a state of emotional balance and overall well-being.

On a personal note, Ron is a retired Marine Master Sergeant and a Vietnam Veteran.