Aetna Therapists in Cary, NC

I have been a practicing psychotherapist for over 20 years. I have had the opportunity to work within very unique and challenging clinical settings, including within a school, within a psychiatric center, within a residential campus and for the past decade within my current outpatient practice. The aforementioned settings have afforded a wealth of empirically based mental health insight and training, while also allowing efforts to gather invaluable clinical experiences working with adults and adolescents, dealing with mental health issues ranging from anxiety, depression, Bipolar Disorder and various other personality disorders.

I bring over 29 years of professional experience to my counseling practice, primarily working with professionals. With a deep understanding of the demands and pressures within the IT and other industries, I assist individuals in setting achievable goals, enhancing communication skills, and advancing in their careers. I have an extensive background allowing me to provide tailored guidance to navigate the complexities of the professional world successfully.

Are you struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, or relationship concerns? You don't have to do it alone. I can help. My primary specialty areas include survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault, other trauma survivors, and members of the LGBTQIA community. I also greatly enjoy working with those who struggle with family-related concerns and life transitions including grief and loss, pregnancy & postpartum, marriage & divorce, adjusting to college or a new career, etc.

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” We all have moments in life when we experience depression, anxiety, or overwhelming situations that seem to knock the wind right out of us. It’s important to remember that you don't have to face these challenges alone. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, my role is to help individuals navigate their mental health challenge and develop healthy coping strategies to improve their overall well-being.

As a therapist, I utilize person centered therapy to ensure my clients are getting what they want out of therapy and do not have to go on their journey alone. I seek to provide a warm, nurturing, and safe environment for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I especially welcome members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I work well with clients of all ages. I have experience working with many different disorders through my time in Intensive In-Home therapy and working at a psychiatric hospital. I graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with my BA in Psychology, and NCSU with my Master of Social Work.

My style is personal, creative, relaxed (shoes in session are optional!), compassionate, and good-humored. I work with children and adults without discrimination based on race, gender/gender-orientation, sexual identity/orientation, culture, or religious beliefs. I'm here to help you delve deeper into where you are, where you've been, and where you want to go; in your relationships, in your life, and in your future! We will explore what being well really means to you and how to achieve your goals. Expect to try new things, be challenged, encouraged, and supported as we journey together in this sacred work.

Life can be confusing and painful at times. Unexpected situations can leave us barely managing instead of thriving. I often think of the quote from the show Sweet Magnolias when one of the main characters says, "Life is insane, I am holding it together by ducktape and happy thoughts and I am near out of both." In my own experience, seeking therapy can bring insight and healing for all different people and situations, it just takes one step of courage to decide to begin.

In times of great vulnerability, mind-body awareness, self-compassion and insight guide the way to healing, self-empowerment and renewed purpose. We all carry these capacities within. My approach combines evidence-based clinical, holistic and mindfulness-based methodologies grounded in the leading-edge neuroscience of emotional wellbeing and personal growth. I specialize in helping clients navigate anxiety, post-traumatic symptoms, grief and loss, sleep dysregulation, major life and career transitions, clinician and caregiver chronic stress, end-of-life and psycho-spiritual integration.

It can be exhausting to navigate life when isolated, facing one stressor after another, feeling depressed or anxious, or trying to recover from a traumatic experience. For many, these experiences interfere with day-to-day life such as our relationships, work, school, and more. For many, therapy can provide needed support. The most significant part of therapy is your relationship with your therapist, this is why I approach therapy by getting to know you as a whole person and use a collaborative approach to help empower your innate strengths.

New clients welcomed! Feeling seen, heard, and understood can be some of the most empowering feelings we experience in life. On the other hand, feeling lost, misunderstood, disconnected, and overwhelmed can be extremely isolating. Whether this is due to trauma, life transitions, identity, relationships, dysfunctional family dynamics, anxious/depressive thoughts, etc. I know how hard it is to feel alone. Therapy can be a great tool to know yourself fully, work through those isolating experiences and feelings, and ultimately live more authentically.

As someone who has worked in the Autism community for 16 years and as an LP-A for 11 years, building relationships with my clients and families is at the heart of everything I do and offer. I love working with teens and young adults who may be on the spectrum or may suffer with depression, anxiety, or ADHD. My passions lie in helping with these struggles in order to lead successful and fulfilling lives. I empower my clients to be an advocate for themselves, reclaim their lives, and pursue their passions.

Struggling with past experiences preventing you from moving forward in life today? Overwhelmed with negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself? Feeling burned out from your work in a helping profession? Struggling with anxiety or depression? Paralyzed with fear because of a previous event? You are not alone, there is HOPE! I believe in your capacity to heal, no matter how insurmountable your experiences may seem today. Your healing journey may involve therapies like EMDR and/or medication. EMDR is a powerful therapeutic technique that alleviates distress linked to fears, trauma, negative beliefs, and past experiences.

Welcome! I provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy services to people of all gender identities and sexual orientations ages 15 and up. Areas of expertise include eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, interpersonal conflict, personality disorders, and others. Some areas of specific clinical interest of mine include disordered eating, gender/sexuality concerns, relationship issues, and substance use. Additionally, I supervise and consult with other clinical social workers and clinicians working on eating disorder specialist credentialing.

Navigating the heavy currents of our own thoughts can be challenging, and no one should feel trapped in their own head. I get it: we have SO much to deal with between school, work, family, relationships and major life changes. My mission is to help guide you through life's challenges and help you find your spark! Picture me as your co-pilot: I'm there to assist but ultimately, you are in the driver's seat. My goal as a therapist is to help you get out of your head and start enjoying life again.

My treatment philosophy is to meet people where they are and work collaboratively to help define a more positive and joyful path forward. I look to my clients as experts on their situation, thought processes and experiences. It is through this shared work that I best utilize my clinical skills to help individuals identify unhelpful thinking patterns, self defeating behaviors, as well as any barriers to reaching identified goals. Once we identify what is standing in the way, I help my clients implement relevant strategies and coping skills to assist in independent emotional regulation.

Sometimes life can feel hopeless and the answers are hard to come by. As your therapist, I tune in to what interests and empowers you. This means using; empirically supported methods such as, art therapy, meditation, EMDR, Reiki, DBT, CBT, Yoga therapy, body-brain therapies and exploring skills you already possess to improve your life. At Kelley Counseling & Wellness we meet with young children, adolescents, teens, couples and families. I specialize in treating teens, adults and couples who suffer from; addiction, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, mood disorders, depression, LGBTQ+, grief and loss and eating disorders.

Ida Ham is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. Ida is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, and couples address their unique challenges and create life balances with improved coping skills for a fulfilling life. She specializes in depression, anxiety, addiction, life transitions, problem solving, relationship issues, and coping skills. Ida completed her Master of Arts (MA) in Agency Counseling at North Carolina Central University.

Are you beating yourself up with negative thoughts and feelings? Finding fault with yourself may be the only way you know how to deal with stress and anxiety, but together, we’ll find alternative ways of thinking that honor your strengths and capabilities. My work focuses on helping clients break the cycle of unhelpful thought patterns, while giving them tools to work through trauma and difficult life situations. I work with adolescents and adults struggling with various mental health issues, including perinatal mood & anxiety disorders, grief, trauma, relationship/family issues, disordered eating, anxiety, depression, etc.

Yes, I speak Spanish. / Sí, hablo Español.