Therapists in Asheville, NC

Do you sense that there's more to life than you are experiencing? Or maybe you are in transition, or feel stuck in a rut you can't pull out of? You may also sense that you are a spiritual person living a human life, and you want to integrate all of these parts of yourself and improve the quality of your life? No matter what stage of adulthood you are in, you get to live in alignment with your highest values. As a Buddhist/Mindfulness teacher, I will bring an "embodied presence" to our sessions to connect with you and support you in moving forward to live a meaningful spiritual, human life.

Practicing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Colorado, I work with adolescents and adults seeking a way towards brave and engaged living, working through challenges that get in the way. My belief is that at our core we are fearless, clear, and compassionate. In therapy we work together to identify what is blocking you from that core, and set about clearing the way for your authentic self to emerge. I have worked over 30 years in mental health, 25+ years as a licensed clinician. I also bring experience of training and supporting clinicians, most recently as the CEO of a wilderness therapy program.

Life is relational. From our first breath to our last, we are in relation to someone or something. Oftentimes, our suffering can be traced back to feeling stuck in our ways of relating, finding that no matter who or what we’re relating to, we feel anxious, depressed, unheard, or unloved. It can be helpful to pause and observe how our relationships and general patterns of relating are constraining or frustrating our lives in some way. Themes that I enjoy working with are anxiety, depression, grief, developmental trauma, relationship issues, doubt, faith, meaninglessness, spirituality, family of origin issues, dreaming, and meditation

I am a psychotherapist for adult individuals and couples. Do you want stronger, clearer and healthier relationships? My clients consist mainly of open minded, artistic and unconventional persons wanting more intimacy and connection or wanting to explore their innate gifts and talents. I also work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons. However, I love working with anyone who is seeking growth, wholeness and perspective.

Offering Teletherapy in Most States: I primarily use IFS and behavioral treatments (ACT, DBT, CFT, RODBT) to emphasize acceptance of one's current experience, the development of skills (mindfulness, play, perspective, assertiveness, inquiry, and values), and use courage and experimentation to help promote change. I also help facilitate ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and I am strong advocate of developing the skill of compassion for oneself and others. Many of us struggle with finding a sense of being home with reality as it is, although that home is always available and may be easier to return to than assumed.

You have BIG feelings and always have. You are sensitive to your environment, tuned into the subtle nuances and energies of the people/world around you. You feel it in your gut. You sense it in your body. You were bullied, shamed, or invalidated for these feelings growing up – told you were too sensitive. You learned to doubt, squash, numb, or project those feelings onto other people and things as a way to stay safe in a world that doesn't have time for such things. You people-please, overwork, over-think, detach. You run from your feelings until they suddenly consume you. Disconnect or engulfed. You crave harmony inside and out.

Welcome! The calming presence of a seasoned therapist can provide much needed respite in an increasingly complex world. At its best, therapy can also help you to get to know yourself better and learn new tools to move forward from a place of self-compassion. I help individuals develop tools to heal from trauma and loss, let go of unhelpful thought and behavior patterns, and identify what they most value at work and in relationships. My deep-seated empathy drives my work with clients, which is informed by my 15 years as a licensed professional counselor and three years as a meditation instructor.

Are you feeling alone, anxious or depressed? Unsatisfied with your career, have chronic pain or illness? Relationship stress, extended family issues? My clients tell me I'm warm, easy to talk to, and down to earth. I use a variety of treatment approaches: psychodynamic and relational, combined with CBT, EFT, and EMDR. EMDR can help almost any problem resolve more quickly because it allows the brain to make changes on a deeper level than just talking. We still talk plenty though, before, during and after EMDR. My clients find telehealth to be helpful and convenient. I see regular clients occasionally at my home office.

How can I help you? At face value, it's a simple question. However, it's one that can have profound meaning when you are experiencing hardship and confusion in your life. It offers the opportunity for you to enter into a therapeutic working relationship. One that provides the professional guidance and support needed to resolve the issues that are contributing to the problems at hand. It also provides you the opportunity to develop a deeper sensitivity, understanding, and acceptance of your true self. It's the first step forward, towards a change for the better and a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

I know personally how hard it can be to experience sexual/physical/emotional trauma/addiction/depression/grief/financial/relational ruin/overwhelming anxiety. Hoping to get through a day with the jaw clenching/palm sweating/handshakes/thoughts racing/heart pounding/doubting every idea/thought/emotion, asking will this be forever? Sometimes, you experience paralyzing nightmares or dreams that you are moving in slow motion and feel so alone and isolated when in a crowded room. Moreover, the constant dread (or the invisible weighted depression blanket). I get it; I've lived it and worked with many others who have.

Are you living with depression, anxiety, grief, addiction, lack of direction, trauma? I believe that we naturally feel a call to live meaningful, loving lives and know intuitively that this is our best path but we often will feel stuck, unsure, fearful and so take no action. Existential therapy calls this a restricted existence and believes the goal of all therapy is to remove the road blocks that are limiting you from moving toward living your best life.

My goal as a practitioner, and the cornerstone of good therapy, is to foster a trusting, respectful, and collaborative relationship where clients can feel safe to sort through sensitive issues and make changes. For those reading, I honor your sense of purpose and your courage to take the first step. Together, we can team up to build skills, resolve concerns, and achieve mutually developed goals. You can achieve a high level of well-being and enjoyment in life, no matter where you start from and no matter your challenges. Your goals are within reach; success is possible!

I believe that most people have the answers within themselves to work through their own problems - my role is to be there with you through the process. I have experience helping people who are struggling with anxiety and depression, or who are numbing out through substance use. My clients are often working through life transitions and other challenging situations, such as relationship issues, grief, or chronic pain. Perhaps you have not been handling your emotions very well. You may even feel hopeless, or unsure how to articulate what you are feeling. Therapy is a collaborative journey to a more healthy state of mind.

Through life experience we all construct beliefs about who we are and what we are capable of; some beliefs are helpful and some are not. Unfortunately for many of us, negative, unhelpful beliefs become the default thinking style or lens through which we view and experience the world. By integrating elements of various therapeutic approaches we will work together to reduce the power that unhelpful beliefs (and the connected feelings or "felt sense") hold over your life direction and experience; the goal being for YOU to begin steering your life in the direction that you truly want to go.

Freedom, joy, connection, and peace are our natural state of being. They happen on their own when our bodies feel safe and supported enough to release painful past experiences that keep us stuck in distressing patterns. We feel unable to relax and are busy and burnt out. Being truly seen and loved and feeling belonging are deep desires for us, but seem unfulfillable. Instead, we resort to self improvement. Expressing our boundaries, feelings, and needs with others isn't easy. We often feel anxious, sad, shameful, numb, or alone. Triggers or physical symptoms intrude in our lives regularly. Our bodies don't feel at home.

Therapy is a place to dream, scream and put it all back together again. You will arrive, again, to a place where you know that you are worthy and you do not have to hide. There is a future where you are welcome without wearing a mask. There are people that will show up for you. The real you. You deserve to find them.

Exhausted by your loud inner critic? Overwhelmed by your neverending to-do list? Despite looking like you have your sh!t together, internally you may feel like a scattered fraud cosplaying as a human. Trying to be the perfect friend, perfect professional, or perfect partner all at once is exhausting. Maybe there's a deeper wound that hasn't healed yet. Perhaps you dream of feeling fulfilled, calm, & confident. To say "no" and actually mean it. To stop playing small & launch that creative idea. If you want to stress less & live authentically without fear or guilt, I’d love to help you step into your power.

We all go through times in our lives when therapy can help us to cope with the difficulties that arise. You are not alone. Maybe your are feeling overwhelmed or stuck. You feel like you have tried everything and you are looking for a new way to improve your situation. Perhaps your child has experienced an upsetting event and you don't want this to define them. It hurts to see the people we love upset or struggling. I can offer the tools, skills, and support for your journey.

I am here to help people who feel stuck in anxiety and depression to find their way through these challenging emotions to a sense of ease in a more authentic and satisfying relationship with life and themselves. My holistic practice is rooted in building a safe, supportive relationship and trusting your inner wisdom as we work side by side exploring life's challenges. Working together we'll discover your unique needs and strengths in developing our goals for treatment. I am committed to empathy and open-mindedness while utilizing therapeutic techniques with proven effectiveness.