Julie Mahoney
Meet Julie Mahoney, LPC, LMHC A Secure Base, LLC was founded on a simple belief: real change happens through connection first, skills second.
Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected in your relationships? Let's move beyond just talking about problems.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, parents, and families. My work spans outpatient, inpatient, school, in-home, and family-law settings, and I bring a warm, direct, and practical, goal-oriented approach to every session. Whether you're navigating anxiety, trauma, big emotions, parent-child conflict, or a difficult family transition, I'll help you build real understanding — and real tools — for lasting change.
First session
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other, understand what brings you to therapy, and begin creating a plan for meaningful change. Whether you're new to therapy or returning after some time away, my goal is to help you feel comfortable, heard, and hopeful about moving forward. During our initial 50-minute session, we'll discuss your current challenges, relevant personal history, what's working in your life, and what you'd like to improve. I'll ask thoughtful questions, listen without judgment, and help you identify clear, realistic goals. My approach is warm, direct, collaborative, and action-oriented. I don't believe therapy should be endless conversations without progress. Together, we'll begin identifying patterns that may be keeping you stuck and explore practical, evidence-based strategies you can use in everyday life. You don't need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. Just come as you are. My hope is that you'll leave your first session feeling understood, encouraged, and with a clearer sense of direction and a plan for moving forward.
Strengths
I bring warmth, compassion, clinical experience, and a direct, practical, goal-oriented approach to every session. I believe effective therapy should go beyond simply talking about problems. My goal is to help clients understand what's keeping them stuck, develop meaningful coping skills, and create lasting changes in their everyday lives. Using evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I help clients challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, improve emotional regulation, strengthen communication, establish healthy boundaries, and build confidence. What sets my approach apart is that I'm an active, engaged therapist. I don't just sit back and listen. I ask thoughtful questions, offer honest feedback, gently challenge patterns that aren't serving you, and provide practical strategies you can begin using immediately. I also believe therapy should have clear goals and measurable progress. My philosophy is simple: Let's identify what's not working, develop the tools to change it, and help you build the confidence to move forward. Therapy doesn't necessarily have to last forever. Above all, I create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take ownership of their growth. I believe in your ability to change, and I'll work alongside you to help make it happen.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is ready to make meaningful changes in their life, even if they're not quite sure where to begin. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression, overwhelming emotions, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or a major life transition. Perhaps you're tired of overthinking, repeating the same patterns, feeling stuck, or knowing what you should do but struggling to put it into action. I especially enjoy working with adolescents, adults, and couples who want to better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, improve communication, develop healthier boundaries, and build practical coping skills. You don't have to arrive motivated, confident, or with everything figured out. What matters most is a willingness to be curious, honest with yourself, and open to trying something different. My approach is warm, direct, collaborative, and action-oriented. I'm a great fit for clients who appreciate honest feedback, thoughtful challenges, and evidence-based strategies they can apply outside our sessions. We'll establish clear goals, measure progress, celebrate successes, and work toward meaningful, sustainable change. Ultimately, my ideal client wants more than temporary relief. They want to feel emotionally stronger, more confident, more connected, and better equipped to navigate life's challenges independently. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to take the first step.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the foundation of my therapeutic approach because it is practical, evidence-based, goal-oriented, and focused on creating meaningful change. CBT helps clients understand the powerful connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge negative assumptions, and explore how certain beliefs and behaviors may contribute to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or feeling stuck. I'm an active, engaged therapist who believes therapy should go beyond simply discussing problems. I teach clients practical CBT strategies, including cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and developing healthier responses to life's challenges. Sessions are collaborative and action-oriented. We establish clear, measurable goals, practice new skills, and identify opportunities to apply what you've learned between appointments. We'll regularly evaluate your progress and adjust our approach to ensure therapy continues to meet your needs. My ultimate goal is to help you become your own therapist—equipped to recognize unhelpful thought patterns, manage difficult emotions, make healthier choices, and navigate life's challenges with greater confidence and independence. I believe lasting change happens when insight becomes action, and I'm here to help you turn that understanding into real progress.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- FloridaLicense MH28570
- South CarolinaLicense 8008