Psychodynamic Therapists in 27302

We all strive to find our way in a difficult world. Yet many people find themselves feeling alone and misunderstood. I specialize in helping people with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and legal issues. I work primarily with adults and adolescents and am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

I know life can be challenging. It’s not always easy. As one journeys through life, there comes a time when we all need the love and support of someone who cares. For this reason, it has always been my passion to help those who are in need of that love and support. With a non-judgmental attitude and a heart of compassion I aim to meet you where you are. My hope is to walk alongside you in an effort to help you achieve your therapeutic goals.

My greatest pleasure is in seeing the people I work with grow, develop new skills, and make choices that bring more joy into their lives and into the lives of their families. I consult with parents to improve discipline and strengthen the parent-child relationship. I also specialize in working with adolescents who are trying to navigate the social and academic pressures that come with secondary school, often working with parents and their teens to foster better communication and trust.

People often seek therapy to resolve past experiences and life complexities and the decision to enter therapy may carry feelings of ambivalence and uncertainty. I believe that therapy is most effective when persons are offered an environment that is inviting, attentive, collaborative, affirming, and safe. Subsequently, my goal is to provide a challenging, but non-judgmental and encouraging atmosphere for persons to explore concerns and difficulties as a means of achieving desired change.

I am a psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapist that works with individuals experiencing relational difficulties and/or disruptions in their overall sense of self. Such concerns result in emerging or worsening psychological symptoms that are painful and difficult to manage. In addressing underlying mental conflicts and their associated compromises, I work with people to get behind their symptoms with the goal of developing more insight, self-agency, and a fuller life.

My clients often come to therapy stating their lives feel consistently chaotic and out of control. It seems that regardless of all they have tried, they can't escape from recurrent depression and major ups and downs in their mood. They often feel even the most minor situation triggers intense emotional pain. They describe significant difficulty within their relationships and report at times lashing out in anger because of feeling unheard, empty, and disconnected from their real self. They may even try to regain control of their life and emotions through self-destructive behaviors like drinking too much or hurting themself.

Every person I serve has a unique story. While some clients experience challenges in just one area, most experience difficulty multiple areas (mental health, trauma, loss, addiction), creating a complex, vicious cycle if not all parts are addressed. The circumstances that bring someone to therapy do not come in 'neat little packages.' I enjoy sorting out the pieces with each client, getting to the root of the issue, and offering a combination of evidence-based therapeutic interventions that help clients finally begin to experience relief, and start living a happier, more fulfilled life.

Have you ever made a choice and immediately asked yourself: "Why in the world did I do that?" Imagine if you had talked with someone you trusted before you made that choice. What a difference some compassion and understanding can make. Lighten your burden with someone to walk with you through your difficult life choices. Whether you're wrestling with a work-related challenge or a situation in your intimate relationship, I can offer you a safe space, a ready ear, and help with the choices you're trying to make. Feel heard, understood, and confident in your decisions. That's what therapy offers.

Melissa Enoch, LCMHC, QS, LCAS, CCS, MAC is Owner/CEO/Director of Trinity Counseling Services LLC, a private substance abuse and mental health facility located in Burlington and Charlotte, NC where she uses her twenty-eight years of experience to treat individuals with co-occurring disorder. Melissa is also the founder of Women of Strength, a non-profit educational organization focused on women's networking and community awareness.

**Not Accepting New Clients Currently** I am highly experienced with those who find themselves stuck in unproductive or damaging patterns of thinking or actions and have been unable to move forward, even with other professional help. The feedback I receive from fellow providers and clients is that I have a high success rate of treatment and recovery. I believe that outpatient psychotherapy is a process of collaboration that provides a stable, supportive environment for achieving psychological wellness. Each of us are unique and the best expert on the stressors in our daily life.

“Attachment is another word for disappointment and pain.” Are your relationships a source of elation and devastation but rarely anything in between? Perhaps ‘chaos’ and ‘emotional roller coaster’ define your family, friendships, or marriage? Trusting others is difficult. You feel manipulated or foolish, and your coping mechanisms aren’t working. You tolerate unhealthy behaviors because it hurts less than being abandoned. There is another way. I promise.

I entered the counseling profession to support individuals who are having difficulties facing life’s challenges. I have found that many people struggle because they have created unrealistic expectations about the support, relationships, and encouragement they need. I believe that as humanity becomes “busier,” life becomes more complicated, affecting relationships and how we see ourselves fitting in the world. Life is often full of difficult and complicated experiences that are difficult to overcome, especially without support. Ultimately, these difficulties distract us from pursuing what enriches our lives.

On the surface; you seem fine, but inside, you have a self-critical voice that won’t let up. You have a lot of feelings that you feel deeply. This can be a strength but it can also leave you feeling confused about why others don't see what you see. Others may have told you that you are too sensitive but you also may be the person that they come to for advice or support. Maybe you have been hesitant to try counseling because you feel that you should be able to figure this out yourself.

It takes immense courage to look inward and examine our well worn patterns with a therapist; I aim to honor that courage in every session as we explore your unique experiences, relationships, values, and goals for change. I am passionate about working with individuals navigating anxiety, grief and loss, family of origin issues, religious trauma, self-esteem issues, perfectionism, life transitions, and depression.

Part of being human means facing stressful and frightening situations. Most of the time we can tolerate and cope with these. Other times our problems become unmanageable. Situations, problems, relationships, work, school and other life experiences produce thoughts, feelings and unhelpful behaviors that become so overwhelming we begin to believe that we will "never" find a way to get through it. If your feelings and thoughts seem too big for you to manage at this time then I would be honored to join you and assist you to find new strategies and information that will help you cope more effectively now and in the future.

There's a quote by Dr. Russell Barkley that says, "The kids who need the most love will ask for it in the most unloving ways." Because I'm a mother of 5 that has 11 years of experience with adoption issues, I know this to be true. Developmental trauma has a huge impact on children, whether it is a result of inconsistent early caregiving (adoption/foster/difficult home life), a difficult pregnancy or delivery, early hospitalization, abuse, or neglect. These are the kids that desperately need to feel loved and secure, but will act out in many ways to test their caregivers' resolve.