As a licensed professional counselor for over a decade, I consider it an honor to create a sacred space with a client in the therapeutic relationship. As clients are able to unravel developmental traumas, process relational difficulties, and dispel long-held cognitive beliefs, true healing emerges within. Over the years, I have found that I am most helpful in the treatment of trauma, building healthy attachments between people, and using a number of well-researched methods for more complex issues related to emotional development. In my free time, I love to visit the shores of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina with my husband of 31 years and our mini-Australian Shepherd, Brodie . I also enjoy our three grown children make their mark on this world!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
From our first connection, we'll explore those issues that are causing you difficulty and pain and we will together decide possible paths for exploration. In our subsequent times together, we will work on a collaboratively crafted treatment plan to help resolve negative belief and relational patterns.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I believe my clients find me to be a safe place, which has always been my goal as a counselor. It is within a safe place that one can their authentic self, learn and grow, and master new ways of being.
About Dana Wilkerson
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Attachment-based
The relationship between counselor and client is the most important part in achieving personal goals and outside the room changes in therapy. Being seen, understood, and accepted is foundational for all changes, so an attachment-based model approach is the most important aspect of my therapeutic approach.
EMDR
With nearly ten years of experiencing using EMDR, I have witnessed first hand clients "go inside" and do the most vulnerable and courageous work using this well-researched approach. It is a valuable tool for single incident trauma and when used in combination with a well-established therapeutic relationship, it can be helpful in reworking complex PTSD.
Couples Counseling
Couples Therapy requires an "eye for the side of the marriage". Many times couples are faced with their attempts to get their unmet needs fulfilled inside this once hope-filled relationship. Untangling patterns of hurts, childhood wounds, and personality differences (once found to be the attraction between partners) can be better understood and navigated through improved communication and skills offered through the Gottman method.