I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP) in North Carolina with over 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with sex, sexuality, and intimacy-related issues, stress and anxiety, work/performance stress, relationship issues, MK/expat issues, family relationships, faith deconstruction, postpartum concerns, & parenting issues. I have my Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and my Master's of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNC-Greensboro, and have since pursued further training and education in several areas, including sex therapy, couples counseling, and postpartum issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we'll spend our time mainly gathering information to help us structure our work together, including what brings you to counseling, what your life is like now, and what life has been like for you. We'll start clarifying goals (and how to measure when you've met them), and I may identify a mental health diagnosis, if applicable. Most importantly, you'll start to get a feel for me and my style, and whether or not I may be a good fit for you. Above all else, finding a counselor who feels right for you matters most, so you can consider our first few sessions your chance to determine if I'm a good fit, or if we need to work together to get you switched to another counselor to try.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having grown up internationally, in many different countries around the world, I have a unique understanding of and respect for the ways culture, society, ethnicity, family history, and many other factors play into a person's experience of the world. My experience with sports and athletics enables me to use positive, goal-oriented, strength-based psychology, as well as harness the power of mental training, to empower clients in achieving their goals and shaping the way they navigate life. My graduate school education at one of the top programs in the nation, as well as extensive post-graduate training, have equipped me with the resources to serve clients well in achieving the changes they want to see in themselves.
About Susan Henkel
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Sex Therapy
During Sex Therapy, I work with clients to pinpoint their unique goals, factoring in their biology/physiology, as well as environmental, social, and cultural contexts. We will use research-based approaches and techniques that support a positive, healthy, empowered sexuality and relationship with self and sex.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
When I work with couples, I use the Emotionally Focused Therapy approach because it has been proven to help couples truly understand what is actually driving the challenges in their relationship, and build tools for approaching these challenges in healthier, warmer, more collaborative ways.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT can achieve powerful transformations by focusing on a person's thoughts and behaviors. It is a very structured, goal-oriented approach that uses tools and techniques to help clients achieve a wide variety of concerns and goals.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution Focused Brief Treatment with clients to achieve very specific, defined goals when there is already a high level of motivation. With this approach, we work together to identify specific steps to achieve the goal(s), as well as identifying obstacles, and tactics for optimizing success.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps clients change their relationship to the world around them in a way that relieves angst, stress, fear, and anxiety as the client builds healthy coping tools for navigating life's stressors and moving forward with intention and purpose.