Counselor in Charlotte NC
Hello!
I’m Courtenay
There is no way around it, it takes courage to reach out and ask for help. But that can be the first step on your path to improvement. I’d be honored to guide you on your journey.
If you choose to take this path, then here’s what working with me is like.
You may have heard that therapy takes years, just getting to know each other session after session until you can finally get down to what really matters.
That’s not how I work.
My aim within the very first session of working together is to get to know you and help you feel better and optimistic about what’s to come.
I cut through the noise and get straight to the root cause of why you’re feeling stuck, of why the stress is overwhelming.
By helping you to let go of those inner battles, you can gain a completely new perspective on life, free from the constant burden of anxiety and conflict.
I don’t just stop there though. I show you how to create beliefs and actions that support you in your life instead of holding you back.
The better you feel, the more movement you take, the more confidence you feel in an upwards spiral.
But it all starts with taking that first step.
What does the actual process look like?
First, we’ll have our consultation call to determine that we are the right fit to work together. I’ll ask you about why you’ve chosen to reach out at this time, what your challenges are and what your goals are for therapy.
From there we’ll have our first session, in which we’ll dive in and understand in more depth what’s making you feel stuck. We’ll look at not just what’s happening right now, but also possible past events that could be contributing.
You may have some idea of why these feelings are occurring, but together we’ll look at your life and collaborate to see exactly what brought you to this moment today.
This observational process in and of itself can be exciting as you can start to see the patterns and look at your past in a totally new way with greater insight. You start to see why you have certain thoughts and behaviors you repeat.
Once we’ve identified these areas that aren’t helping you, then we get to work letting go of them, working through a guided method that lets them pass through.
Does it take work? Absolutely.
Is it worth it? Yes, it can be one of the best investments you ever make in yourself. What do I use to help you make the transformation happen? I work using a small handful of therapy approaches that I am well versed in. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, Brainspotting, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help make positive change a reality. I use therapies that have been scientifically effective at helping people improve how they experience life quickly.
People get better with me because I help to normalize feelings, reduce shame about what you’re dealing with and feel more connected to yourself and your relationships. I am not a therapist looking to check off a diagnosis box or blame you for your failings. After 20 years as a therapist, I am completely unshockable so bring on whatever is hard and know that I can handle it and I can help you handle it.
This is the place to be honest and messy. No one who sets foot in the therapy room, including me, has their life together all the time. When working with me, clients tell me they feel more understood, and problems become smaller than they used to be.
In sessions, I roll up my sleeves and get in there with you. I’m good at helping you identify when you’re holding yourself back and when you’re being too hard on yourself.
A little About Me
I am a Counselor in Charlotte NC. Being the daughter of an immigrant father from Haiti, a mother of Swedish heritage, and spending my childhood years growing up in several West African countries, I have been given an opportunity to view the world from a fair and accepting perspective. I take advantage of that with the social justice work I am involved with in our community.
When I’m not working with clients, you’ll find me catching up on a NYT article, coaxing my family to take a trail walk with me, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen or squeezing in time with friends. I am also a podcast junkie, a mango lover, wanna-be plant lady, a cheating vegan and an old soul.
It can be hard to take that next step to get help. As a counselor in Charlotte NC, I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC).
I am certified in Brainspotting, a cutting edge brain-body based therapy which helps clients overcome thoughts, feelings and behaviors that keep them stuck.
I am trained in the Gottman Method, an approach to therapy that strengthens relationships. I am also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
You’ve been stuck and overwhelmed for a while now, but you don’t have to feel this way. If you are looking for a counselor in Charlotte NC, let’s make life easier for you by pulling you out of the mucky place you’re in and getting you to higher ground.
If you’d like to learn more, have a look at a recent blog I wrote called “what’s a first phone call with me like“.
Give me a call, and let’s get acquainted.
My priority, to help you get on track soon.
Wondering whether now is the right time for therapy?
That depends on if you are ready to start experiencing life differently?
So if you think that time is now, then I’m ready to help you make it happen. How I got started in therapy…
I became a therapist because it was the first thing that made me feel like I truly loved what I was doing, and I could see myself helping people who are struggling for the better part of my life.
I also became a therapist because I have had a few key people in my life give me help when I needed it.
It was a gift to be so validated in what I felt, and it allowed me to be a more resilient person.
MY BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE
University of Redlands, BA in Communicative Disorders 1998
National University, MA Educational Counseling 2002
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC (LCMHC) 2014
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in SC 2024
What do I do when I’m not doing therapy?
I’ll be at the gym.
Coaxing my family to take a trail walk with me.
Squeezing in time with friends.
Attempting a new recipe in the kitchen.
Catching up on a NYT article.
Taking the first step
I know it can feel like you’re in a tough spot right now, I’ve been there as well. But if you’ve read over this, if you’ve resonated with what’s here, then I’d highly recommend you reach out for therapy.
Even if not me then with another therapist.
Getting your mind back to the right state can be the most important thing you do in your life, as it completely changes your perspective on the world.
And I’d be happy to help guide you through it.
You can book a time to chat with me below and I can’t wait to start working with you.
Counselor in Charlotte NC