Social Learning therapists in Wadesboro, North Carolina NC

I’m different than most therapists out there. What makes therapy with me different? Well in order to understand that, let me tell you the quick story of why I became a therapist. After graduating from college, I felt lost. I bounced from job to job, but struggled to find my true passion in life. I was scared I would never find what I was supposed to do in life and this caused me intense anxiety. I didn’t feel like myself. My family and friends were really concerned about me because I stopped laughing all the time and instead I wanted to stay home and avoid people. I kept trying to keep my thoughts positive, but I found that when working in a toxic work environment it was hard to keep my thoughts positive. Instead I would find myself checking my heart rate, having feelings like I want to pass out, and wanting to RUN to my car to get home ASAP. These emotions were exhausting and draining. My mom was the one who told me that I really needed to go see a counselor to talk about what was going on with me, since I was constantly irritable and never happy. I struggled with the idea of having to call to set up an appointment. I thought to myself… “A therapist won’t understand me and she will just judge me!” After struggling for a couple more weeks with complete misery, I could no longer live with so much anxiety anymore and I made the call to set up my initial appointment. On my way to the appointment, I almost had a panic attack in the car. I was crying the whole way there so scared of what she might think or say. Once I arrived, I sat in my car for a few minutes, but decided I needed to go into the office. I was breathing so hard that I was afraid I was about to have a panic attack. After checking in with the front desk, I had to get some water and sit down while trying to make myself relax. Once I sat down in her office, she was the most genuine person I have ever met. Therapy was nothing like I had expected. She helped to make me feel accepted and to understand that my emotions are important. She helped me to understand that my emotions help to guide me in life, but when they become so intense they become ineffective. The more I understood what emotions I was feeling such as sadness, upset, frustrated, angry, irritated, mad, resentful, and embarrassed, the more I realized there were so many things I didn’t know about MYSELF or really didn’t want to admit to myself. I attended therapy weekly for several months and began to identifying that the job I was working was NOT what I wanted to do for a living AND not where my TRUE PASSION was in life. I decided that I could no longer continue to live in this state of HIGH INTENSE ANXIETY. I knew that my mental health was first priority. I found the experience to be the complete OPPOSITE of what I expected it to be. I expected judgement but instead she gave grace, compassion, and empathy. She helped to ask me questions which caused me to be real with myself in what I truly wanted from life – HAPPINESS, COMPASSION, PEACE, LAUGHTER, AND EMPATHY FOR OTHERS. I realized that by going to counseling personally, I wanted to become a counselor so that I could help others in their personal struggles and for them to know someone is there to walk with them through this thing called life.  

In searching for a therapist, you are taking the first step in what could be the most important journey of your life. It is definitely possible to make important, lasting improvements in your life and levels of happiness, satisfaction, and success. Therapy is often an effective way to attain these goals. With almost 40 years of experience working as a counselor and then a psychologist, I am well-qualified to help you identify what is standing in the way of increased life satisfaction, and help you effectively work towards your goals. People often get stuck in old patterns that make them unhappy, want to change them, but don't know how. I work together with my clients to understand how old patterns in thought, feeling, and behavior got established, and then explore how best to change those patterns. I enjoy doing longer term, deeper work with clients, to create significant, meaningful, and lasting change. I often employ a holistic approach, exploring personal history, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationship history and issues, as well as issues including medical history, self-care habits, and experiences of spirituality. I view the therapy relationship as a partnership, respecting the pace and timing that the client requires.  

My main objective is for you to achieve your goals for growth and to attain your ultimate potential. I create a warm and supportive environment so you can explore and accomplish your best self!  

South Psychology provides expert consultations, evidence-based outpatient therapy services, and thorough diagnostic assessments. Therapeutic services serve individuals and families across the lifespan, with specializations in perinatal mental health, early childhood mental health and behavior, neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD & Autism), disruptive behaviors, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adjustment disorders, trauma, personality disorders, social skills development, family therapy, parent management training, parent-child interaction therapy, and health psychology. Assessment services are curated based on individual needs to provide socioemotional, psychoeducational, and psychodiagnostic evaluations with detailed diagnostic information and insightful treatment recommendations. ​South Psychology partners with doctors, schools, and extracurricular or ancillary services to become a valued member of your health support system.  

I appreciate that you are seeking support for yourself or a loved one. As part of this process, important decisions are probably being made by you or on your behalf. I offer psychological and neuropsychological assessments to ensure that these decisions are informed and based on your (or your child’s) unique strengths and needs. I also provide individual therapy to adults struggling with mood disorders, anxiety, and relationship issues.