Attachment-based Therapists in Charlotte, NC

Dating, trouble with boundaries, sexual trauma, relationship trauma, codependency, childhood trauma, relationship conflict, and more may lead to feeling as though it is difficult to have fulfilling relationships with ourselves and others. Or, maybe you are experiencing a general sense of anxiety, and it feels difficult to live in the moment. My priority is to offer an empowering, trauma-focused safe space where you can heal and cultivate healthy relationships with yourself and others.

Life is full of transitions and challenges that can lead to depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and family problems. You may feel frustrated, anxious, and disappointed leading to your desire to seek help. I believe everyone needs a person that supports, advocates, and listens to them. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I strive to build a space of acceptance to promote your growth and honor your strengths. I believe everyone has their own unique experiences and therefore, I adapt my approach to fit your needs and goals.

In our therapeutic space, you will find warmth, understanding, and a non-judgmental atmosphere where your unique experiences are honored. I believe in the power of collaboration, and together, we'll create a safe haven where you can explore your thoughts and feelings. My approach is centered on you – your strengths, your resilience, and your aspirations. Through our work together, we'll navigate challenges, process emotions, and uncover the tools and coping skills that resonate with you. Each session is crafted with your individual needs in mind, ensuring a personalized and empowering experience.

Hi, my name is Rachel Merritt. I am currently a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate. I have experience working with adults and adolescents who have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, ADHD, BPD, & OCD. My area of focus has been working with adults in individual therapy, working with couples through relationships difficulties and intimacy issues and working with groups in the treatment of trauma. My biggest goal is to help you reconnect and become the best version of yourself.

Welcome! I am glad you are here. I have a passion to help others navigate the challenges of life that come our way. I have worked with those who have struggled with feelings and behavior rooted in shame, addiction, self-loathing, low self-esteem, perfectionism, trauma and abuse and grief/loss. I am driven to help individuals heal their wounds, develop a new relationship with their thoughts and transform their lives. I am passionate about helping my clients reach their full potential by living their lives more confidently and authentically. I have fifteen years of experience as a therapist.

We live in a world where we are constantly expected to grow and change without even knowing ourselves. With all my clients, I see them as the experts of their own life and aim to create a supportive space for vulnerability and radical acceptance. If they are struggling to find to their inner voice, I work with them to do this by processing their life experiences and trauma. By following a person centered and eclectic strategy, we develop tools for a deeper self-understanding of their needs and boundaries. I love working with children, individuals, parents, and couples to become comfortable with self-acceptance and emotions.

Weekday appointments available: My approach to therapy is attachment based psychoanalysis with a trauma focus. All humans have the basic fundamental need to be loved, be seen, and be heard. Our beliefs, feelings, behavior patterns, and relational dynamics are driven by these needs before we could articulate. We learned about our world through our first relationships and these subconscious attachments. We work with the subconscious, identify how your attachment reinforces choices, and unworked through feelings. You may not have an identified traumatic experience; rather, you experienced an event that was too complex to process then.

I believe one of the bravest things you can do is to begin to understand your own story. Reaching out for support is often the hardest step and I commend you for being here. Together, we will explore the layers of your life that have caused burden, stress, or sadness and work together to release you from their hold. I provide a virtual space of safety, connection, open expression, autonomy, authenticity, and collaboration. With compassion and understanding, I work with each person to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing.

Hello beautiful people! There is no instruction manual for life and being human in an ever changing world is tough. I believe that we are all perfectly, imperfect and aim to assist my clients in appreciating their individuality and developing a life and sense of self of their choosing. I firmly believe that, as human beings, we don't belong in a box. If you are struggling with a life altering situation or simply need to process some potential life changes, reach out! You deserve a safe, supportive environment where you can be transparent and honest in achieving your personal goals and thriving in life rather than just surviving!

As a seasoned therapist with over 13 years of clinical mental health experience, I specialize in supporting individuals who have faced traumas and many other stressors life may bring. My passion lies in helping clients overcome life's challenges using evidence-based interventions like TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, and attachment-based tools. In my practice, I work closely with children and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. Witnessing my clients grow and confidently navigating their healing journeys brings me immense joy.

Sometimes, the survival mechanisms and belief systems that help us survive our childhoods do not serve us well later in life. A therapeutic relationship that is both safe and challenging helps us heal those early wounds, reclaim the spirit that we were born with, and return us to our authentic selves. My mission as a therapist is to help my clients recognize their self-worth, and become the whole people they were meant to be.

I am enthusiastic about the science that makes therapy work and often utilize psychoeducation to help others understand their struggles. I work from an integrative trauma-informed, attachment-based approach. I also utilize elements of other humanistic approaches such as Cognitive-Behavioral, Creative interventions, Logotherapy, Client-Centered, Solution-Focused, Trust-Based Relational Interventions, and EMDR.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I obtained my undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology and graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. My therapy approach is taken from an attachment theory and perspective. I believe humans are wired to feel connected, and that we all greatly benefit from healthy relationships. Without this connectedness, we may experience loneliness or isolation. I provide a safe, accepting space for individuals, couples, and families using a positive Existential Therapy Model to support self-awareness, meaningful relationships, and values of life.

Maybe your emotions sweep you off your feet, but not always in a good way. You use substances, food, or other habits to try and escape these feelings, but ultimately the underlying causes go unaddressed. There’s nothing wrong with having big emotions, but what would life look like if you learned how to ride these waves instead of feeling like you’re drowning? Although change can feel impossible, I’m here to suggest it is not. I want to walk beside you as you discover and embrace your authentic self, and channel your strengths to cultivate resilience as you work through the tough stuff.

I hope that this message found you ready to let go of the patterns that ail you and prepared to embrace something new. You do not have to suffer not one day longer, we can navigate it together and I can be with you sitting in your closet or in sweat pants petting your dog healing. If you are feeling stuck, uncertain of how or if therapy can even help, like the last man standing, judged or alienated, this is your place to be celebrated and accepted for all of who you are. A good therapy session realigns your inner compass and enhances the things that make you EXTRAordinary. Let’ connect, big personality, and complex trauma welcomed.

Motherhood (and fatherhood!) looks different on everyone. My passion for maternal mental health sparked after having my daughter and I was able to fully appreciate the challenges and range of emotions that surface within parenthood from a lived experience. I then sought to specialize in Perinatal Mental Health to shift my focus from counseling children to counseling parents. When most people hear about Perinatal Mental Health, they often think of postpartum depression- but Perinatal Mental Health encompasses so much more than that! I work with women in all stages of parenthood including infertility, grief, and loss.

As an adult who wrestles with stopping the frieght train of their thinking loops or as the parent of a struggling student, I offer you hope! You may have done countless Google searches, talked to many friends and neighbors, and may have been hopeful you had found a solution, only to find out it was a temporary solution. It CAN get better and many solutions can be permanent! Let's start feeling hope again. The soul is healed by being with children (Dostoyevsky). Pain and suffering are inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart (Dostoyevsky). Let's turn suffering into dancing!

Are you a high achiever or high performer? Do you feel like you're failing at everything some days or not showing up as your best self? Do you want better relationships? As a former attorney, I understand feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and burned out. Something isn’t working, you're stuck, or frustrated. Perhaps you struggle with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or overworking. I'll help you achieve solutions, improve your relationships, and make the positive life changes you are looking for. You can feel hopeful and supported here. I incorporate humor, compassion, and skills with clients. Therapy can be enjoyable and effective!

Life can be tough to navigate at times especially during major life changes but you don’t have to go it alone. I’ve been a social worker for 25 years and have experience working with individuals with anxiety, depression, poor self esteem, grief and loss and people going through major life transitions.