Culturally Sensitive Therapists in Chapel Hill, NC

When we ignore or deny the things that upset us most, the more power and control we attribute to them. How often do you suppress or push away painful feelings, intrusive thoughts, shame, or chronic suicidality? Rather than avoid what’s causing our pain, fear, and discomfort, it's crucial that we stop and ask ourselves why we’re avoiding the things that make us human. When we ignore the physical and cognitive messages our bodies communicate to us, we risk neglecting what our bodies need to heal and thrive, thus denying ourselves the chance to succeed and live a value-driven and purposeful life.

Trauma (well, and life) can be tricky. It could be what clinicians call a “Big T” trauma in the form of abuse, neglect, living through a natural disaster, etc.; or it could be a “little t” trauma that stems from your 2nd grade teacher who had a flippant attitude toward you for reasons unbeknownst to you. Often times the “little t” traumas manifest for us in the same ways as “Big T” traumas. We may be aware of our trauma responses but often times we are clueless and just know that something weird is happening within and we can’t really identify or explain it. We just know it isn’t working for us and we want to change it.

I am scheduling clients for August 2024 for in-person in Durham, NC or virtual sessions (in both North Carolina and South Carolina). Are you needing support with navigating and healing from attachment and relational trauma, struggling with family of origin issues and family estrangement, or in the process of exploring your sexuality, identity, and queerness? Then you may find a therapeutic home with me. I also focus on issues that arise in ethical non-monogamy (I have 7 years of personal experience with ENM), boundary and communication work, and affect phobia (fear of feeling your emotions and you need help feeling them).

Hello! My name is Amal. I see therapy as a collaborative effort between myself and my clients. As a queer black woman, my goal is to provide space for those like me and others who have felt silenced and marginalized a majority of their lives. I have a passion for working with women of color and LGBTQIA+ identifying folks.

You’re feeling disconnected from yourself or the people around you. Maybe you’re feeling stuck in life and can’t find the energy to change things up. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by thoughts or feelings that push you around or keep you from doing what you want to be doing. I'd like to help out. Clients often come to see me for help with different forms of anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, navigating a major transition or wanting to explore their identity. I also support individuals and relationship partners in traditional and non-traditional relationships, and specialize in helping people navigating polyamory.

Whether you are struggling with emotional challenges, trauma, addiction, or difficult life transitions and circumstances, you do not have to navigate the journey alone. I support clients in reaching their personal goals through a collaborative, therapeutic partnership and a customized plan of treatment. My philosophy is that my clients have an innate ability to heal from their challenges, as well as to grow and develop in positive ways throughout their lives. This is accomplished through building on personal strengths and abilities to achieve health and balance in all areas of life.

I am a caring and non-judgmental therapist ready to support you in living a balanced, fulfilling life. I will help you gently and compassionately open to the struggle or suffering you are holding as well as to the joy and awe in everyday life so you can skillfully process your emotions, build resilience, and live mindfully. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to nurturing the soil for all human beings to feel belonging, dignity, and flourishing. I use a heart-centered, strengths-based, mind-body approach to collaborate with adults to nourish their innate wisdom and resilience to heal and flourish.

Some people seek counseling for emotional issues such as anxiety and depression associated with problems in work, school or family life. Other people enter counseling to help them heal and cope with traumatic events that have taken place in their lives. Counseling works by giving you clarity, support and the courage to move forward in your life.

I whole-heartedly welcome all parts of you into our work together. I move beyond working with just your thoughts and embrace you as a whole-person, which includes your emotions, body sensations, relationships, and even spirit. As a result, I offer an integrated approach that includes body-centered, creative, cognitive, and contemplative techniques. By slowing down and deepening insight you can identify limiting patterns, develop greater acceptance, access inner knowing, and make self-directed change.

Hi! I'm Dr. Betsy Pedersen. I have been providing mental health services to adults for 40+ years with a caring, nonjudgmental style. My specialties include treatment of anxiety, depression, life transitions, women's issues, crisis intervention, & co-management of medical conditions w/ healthcare providers. Please call/email with questions or concerns you may have. We will make a plan to work together for your benefit. On Jan 10, 2023 I will begin accepting new clients through my portal: https://headway.co/providers/betsy-pedersen. I look forward to hearing from you!

I’m passionate about working with chronically ill adults and adults in their 20s-30s having difficulty navigating the many challenges of adulthood. If that’s you—hello there! You’ll want to know what therapy with me would be like. Put simply, my approach emphasizes noticing. It sounds easy, but many of us are ‘programmed’ not to notice what we're feeling or what beliefs we’re operating from. It actually takes quite a lot of courage & curiosity to notice. Together, we notice whatever is there. Often this means starting with the parts of us programmed not to: What's scary about noticing? How did they come to believe what they believe?

I believe each challenge in life can provide an opportunity for personal growth and that everyone, regardless of past experiences and life circumstances, has the capacity for change, for growth, for healing. I have over 20 years of experience working with clients around a variety of issues- including anxiety, depression, grief/loss, substance abuse/addiction, body image issues, relationship issues, and LGBTQI+ issues.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate with experience working with teens and young adults providing assistance in managing a variety of behavioral and emotional concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, difficult life transitions, stress management, self-esteem, relationship issues, and school/academic concerns. I am passionate about creating a space to reflect, resist, and regrow. I achieve this by creating a safe, non-judgmental, collaborative space where you can show up authentically.

Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, and/or a general feeling of loss? Do you find yourself reacting or having repetitive thoughts like "I'm not good enough" or "something is wrong with me?" Have you found talk therapy to not quite meet your needs? Sometimes, traumatic or stressful life events can cause us to feel disconnected from our environments and misinterpret what is safe/unsafe. In my therapeutic practice, I go beyond talk therapy to hold space for all human emotional experiences and responses. I seek to help you heal and increase moments of creativity, connection, and play in your day-to-day life.

I respect your courage in seeking help and in pursuing growth and change. Many people have gone through times of feeling overwhelmed, worried, sad, angry, unheard or invisible, as well as other challenging emotions and experiences. I believe the best way to approach these concerns is providing skills and strategies for coping effectively, while also taking time to explore their origin and relational context in your life. This holistic process is geared toward deeper self-insight, greater connection with others, and empowerment aimed at fostering lasting change.

I approach therapy as a collaborative partnership. My style is authentic, nonjudgmental, and compassionate. I think therapy should not be some mysterious process so I provide feedback and tools to help you make changes. Together we identify patterns in your life that are no longer working for you and find new ways of living that give you more of what you want. In my practice I offer individual psychotherapy to adults in person and via tele therapy.

I undertand the courage it takes to pursue psychotherapy and I strive to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to begin this process. I approach each individual in an integrated and holistic way, incorporating mind, body, spirituality, and environment in my assessment and treatment plan. I am interested in working with individuals experiencing a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, life transitions, grief, and trauma. I partner with clients to clarify goals, help recognize and enhance strengths they already possess, provide skills-building to manage day-to-day life, and may address the roots of certain problems.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NC. I collaborate with clients to develop creative solutions to problems and shift difficult emotions. I work with people from different backgrounds and with a variety of life experiences. I believe people are creative, unique and resilient and what we often require is the space and opportunity to explore and reflect upon what we already know. I work with adults and adolescents with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, self-esteem issues, grief, family conflict, struggles with independence/dependency, changes in living situation, chronic health issues.

My style is heavily collaborative with my clients, and I work hard to ensure clients feel comfortable and heard regardless of identity or background. I make continual efforts to stay educated, and my passion lies with underserved populations in need of safe places to seek counseling. Sessions are goal-oriented, strengths-based, and my role more like a Virgil to a client's Dante; I intend to serve as a gentle and informed companion on a client's personal journey.