Discover how starting LGBTQIA+ counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
3 therapists available in Wilmington
As a clinical social worker, it's important to me to meet my clients where they're at and offer a warm, empathetic approach to the...
About
As a clinical social worker, it's important to me to meet my clients where they're at and offer a warm, empathetic approach to therapy.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 8 years of experience helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with compassion and authenticity. I’ve supported teens, college students, and adults through stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and major life transitions. I believe therapy doesn’t have to feel formal or intimidating, and sometimes humor and real conversation can make the healing process feel more human and relatable.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from the University of North Carolina. My approach is collaborative and practical, integrating evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy to fit each client’s unique needs and personality.
I view therapy as a partnership where we work together to create meaningful change at your pace and in your style. Taking the first step can feel nerve-wracking, but I aim to create a comfortable, judgment-free space where growth and progress naturally unfold.
Education and training
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You are the expert of your life, and I will work with you to determine the best path toward achieving your treatment goals that is...
You are the expert of your life, and I will work with you to determine the best path toward achieving your treatment goals that is consistent with your experiences, values, and preferences.
I am a dual- and board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with over 16 years of experience. I specialize in supporting individuals facing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, grief, chronic illness, and substance misuse. I understand that finding the right treatment can be overwhelming, so I dedicate time and care to helping each person explore options that best align with their goals and values, ensuring they achieve the most effective outcomes possible.
I received my Master’s and PhD in Nursing from the University of Kentucky and a post-master’s certificate from Frontier Nursing University. My approach combines medication management, alternative therapies, and referrals to supportive mental health care, always tailored to meet individual needs.
My mission is to empower clients with knowledge, tools, and confidence to navigate their mental health. I value open communication, trust, and collaboration, ensuring each person feels supported. I invite you to begin your journey with me so we can work together toward lasting wellness, improved daily functioning, and a higher quality of life.
As a therapist with decades of varied experience, it is my goal to honor the dignity and value of my clients while collaborating w...
As a therapist with decades of varied experience, it is my goal to honor the dignity and value of my clients while collaborating with them to develop strategies for positively responding to life's adversities.
David Hughes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 29 years of experience in the mental health field. He believes that the most important aspect of therapy is a connection with the client. Because of this, he strives to create a therapeutic atmosphere based on trust, care, respect, and humor. He believes being genuine and real with clients is vital in the helping process.
David completed his Master of Social Work degree (MSW) at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999. He has been licensed in Virginia and is currently licensed to practice in North Carolina and Missouri. He brings a client-centered approach to therapy and seeks to have a conversation with his clients about the issues that bring them to therapy. He utilizes multiple treatment approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy.
Life is hard. We all struggle with difficulties, doing so through the lens of our own thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. We all need help sometimes. David believes he will be capable of walking with you while you address life's difficulties and help you develop strategies and skills to help cope with those difficulties. If you are ready to engage in that process, schedule an appointment with him today!
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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LGBTQIA+ counseling is a type of queer affirmative counseling dedicated to assisting individuals and couples in navigating the intricate intersections of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health, with a primary goal of fostering well-being, self-acceptance, and affirming a client’s life experiences as a queer individual. Although not all LGBTQ+ individuals seek specialized counseling, a substantial number discover vital support and empathy within these inclusive and affirming therapeutic settings.
Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Wilmington, NC typically begins with an initial assessment to understand your specific needs. LGBTQ+ counselors aim to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for anyone within the LGBTQ+ community by encouraging self-acceptance and offering an understanding of your identity and experiences. LGBTQ+ therapy addresses issues like coming out, discrimination, mental health challenges, and gender transition, and provides support for LGBTQ+ relationships.
LGBTQ+ counseling is incredibly important because it can help queer individuals accept their identity, learn self-love, and give them important tools for facing the challenges of being a queer person in today’s society, among many other benefits. LGBTQ+-affirming therapists can understand the unique perspective and experiences of queer individuals as they help them process past trauma, address family conflicts, treat issues with anxiety, and more.
Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Wilmington, NC is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The number of sessions for LGBTQ+ counseling depends on the specific needs and goals of the individual. It could encompass a relatively limited series of sessions or extend into a longer counseling plan. The precise quantity and duration of sessions typically emerge through collaborative discussion with the counselor, taking into account the client’s progress and their therapeutic objectives.
Self-awareness and self-acceptance are difficult but important practices for mental health, but LGBTQ+ people often have a more challenging road to these than others. Everyone deserves support and love for being who they are. Everyone deserves a safe place to process their lives, and the mental health professionals at Thriveworks Wilmington, NC are committed to support their LGBTQ+ clients on their journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance. Our office provides LGBTQ+ Friendly Counseling. Reach out today for support.
Many in the LGBTQ+ community and the mental health community are fighting The Dual Stigma. Therapists are educating themselves on the type of care that their LGBTQ+ clients need and giving them competent care. If you are thinking about going to therapy, know that capable counselors are available.
The primary goal of any therapy is emotional and psychological healing. No list could contain all the psychological wounds that may need to be healing or the current challenges that could be resolved in therapy. However, “LGBTQ+ Counseling commonly addresses the emotional and psychological symptoms that occur as a result of the social stigma attached to living in a minority population, like discrimination, rejection, bullying, and victimization,” explains Jaimie Orndorff, a Licensed Psychologist at our Wilmington office. “Counseling can address sexual, romantic, or gender identity issues but these aren’t always an area of concern,” she says.
Here is a longer list of issues that might be addressed in LGBTQ+ counseling:
The foundation of a healing, therapeutic relationship is trust. When clients trust that the therapist will not judge or shame them, they can dive deep into healing. Everyone needs a safe place, and everyone needs to be known and accepted for who they are.
“Anyone experiencing mental health symptoms related to LGBTQ+ issues or negatively affected by those around them facing this social stigma should consider getting help from a counselor,” says Orndorff. “You can also find online sources of support or in-person support groups to connect with others facing similar challenges.”
If mental health care is the right next step for you, know that the therapists at Thriveworks in Wilmington, NC are ready to walk with you. When you call our office, you will not be sent to an automated response or a voicemail. Scheduling specialists answer our phones and help our clients make their appointments. New clients often have their first session within the same week of their first call. Weekend and evening sessions are offered, but we do not keep a waitlist (so you will never be put on one). We also worked with many different insurance companies so that we can accept many different insurance plans. Let’s work together. Call Thriveworks in Wilmington, NC today.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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