Licensed to practice in 2 states and accepts 38 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions and 8 more.
(she/her)
🌼 Feeling Stuck or Overwhelmed? Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or anxious? You don’t have to face it alone. I help people navigate life’s toughest challenges—trauma, grief, anxiety, and big transitions—so you can find clarity, calm, and confidence. I’m a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate life’s toughest moments. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, or big life changes, I provide a safe, supportive space to help you heal, grow, and regain balance. My approach is compassionate, down-to-earth, and practical. Together, we’ll create tools that work for your life—so you can feel more confident, calm, and in control. I’m a North Carolina licensed clinical mental health counselor with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals through some of life’s toughest challenges. My work focuses on helping people heal from trauma, manage anxiety and depression, rebuild after divorce, and navigate complex emotional issues such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, grief, and chronic medical illness. I also provide support for those struggling with self-esteem, sleep issues, and life transitions. ✨ Take the first step toward your well-being today. Let’s talk. I bring a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy and believe in creating a space where you feel safe, understood, and empowered. Whether you’re facing something recent or carrying pain from the past, I work with you to build practical tools for healing and growth. A proud North Carolina native, I hold a B.S. from Western Carolina University, an M.S. in counseling from Webster University, and a doctorate in psychology from Liberty University. I’m passionate about helping you find clarity, strength, and hope—one step at a time. ✨ You deserve a safe space to heal.
🌸 What to Expect in Your First Session Your first session is all about you. It’s a relaxed, supportive space where we’ll get to know each other and talk about what brought you to therapy. We’ll explore any challenges you’re facing, what you’d like to work on, and the goals you hope to achieve. There’s no pressure to share everything at once-this is your space, and we’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable. My aim is for you to leave feeling heard, understood, and a little more hopeful about the path ahead. ✨ Think of it as the first step toward clarity, calm, and growth - you don’t have to do it alone.
🌸 My Strengths as a Therapist With over 26 years as a licensed clinical therapist, I bring both experience and genuine compassion to every session. I support individuals through life’s challenges—including stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, sleep difficulties, chronic illness, and major life transitions like divorce. I also have specialized experience in: Relationships and family dynamics Eating disorders and body image concerns Anger management and emotional regulation Career stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue Bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, and other mood-related concerns Support for caregivers, first responders, and veterans Women’s issues, aging, and self-esteem work I understand the emotional toll of trauma, chronic illness, and high-pressure careers. Clients often describe me as down-to-earth, supportive, and practical. I meet you where you are, helping you move toward clarity, healing, and resilience—at your pace, in your way. ✨ My goal is to create a safe, empowering space where you feel heard, understood, and supported every step of the way.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $125 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter Health
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
NC State Health Plan
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications. (APA)
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that aims to increase psychological flexibility – the ability to stay in contact with the present moment.
Compassion Focused
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), or Compassion Mind Training (CMF), is the concept of incorporating compassion training techniques into psychotherapy to induce kinder thinking habits.
Grief Therapy
Grief is a personal journey, and I am happy to help
Psychoeducation
I will help you understand what is happening in your thoughts, and physical responses to them.
13 ratings with written reviews
June 16, 2026
Dr. Carla is AMAZING!!! She is a gift and Im so grateful to have found her!!
June 15, 2026
I felt like my feelings were heard and valued. She made me like I mattered when speaking with her.
April 26, 2026
I enjoyed my first session with Dr. Carla Horton Gray. I thought that we made good progress despite it being our first session.