LCMHC, 9 years of experience
Welcome! I’m April, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina. Congratulations on taking the first step towards reaching your goals. Don’t discount the decision you’ve made to search for help, because many people never do so. I see counseling as a partnership between the therapist and the client; I have the mental health expertise while you’re the expert of you! For this reason I'll spend our earliest contacts getting to know you better. Choosing a therapist is a very personal decision and therefore, I want to give you information so you can choose for yourself if you’d like to work with me. I would describe my counseling style as warm, but professional. I love to use strength-based approaches as much as possible, also incorporating your values into our work. I find myself using an integrative approach, incorporating different theoretical frameworks and techniques that I will tailor to fit your needs. Two approaches I use most often are Person-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Person-Centered counseling uses a lot of reflection to help you process your thoughts and feelings, which is often the first step towards solving your problems. CBT helps us examine your thought patterns and whether they are helpful or harmful. If a particular thought is harmful that could trigger issues like a depressed mood, for example. We’ll work together to replace the harmful thoughts with more helpful ones. There are many other approaches to potentially integrate into our sessions, and I’d be happy to explain anything I believe may benefit you. I once read a quote online (source unknown) that rings true for me: “A counselor isn’t someone you pay to pretend they care about you. A counselor is someone you pay to teach you how to care for yourself.”
We’ll focus on getting to know one another and building trust. I’ll invite you to share what brings you to therapy, and I’ll ask thoughtful questions to better understand your history, values, and goals. From there, we’ll create a plan that feels both supportive and realistic. I want your first sessions to feel comfortable, collaborative, and tailored to you.
Clients often tell me that my thoughtful questions help them discover their own solutions and feel empowered in the process. I’m supportive yet challenging in a way that helps you grow. My approach is non-judgmental and flexible, whether you want to include faith and spirituality, explore cultural identity, or focus on practical strategies for daily life.
I especially enjoy working with mothers of young children, as I understand firsthand the challenges of balancing parenthood with self-care. I also work closely with clients experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as women navigating late-diagnosed ADHD or autism. No matter your background or stage of life, I strive to create a space where you feel seen, supported, and capable of creating meaningful change.
Upon client request, I can incorporate Christian/biblical principles to our clinical counseling sessions. Please note that these sessions may look different from pastoral or nouthetic counseling.
This is evidence-based approach has a lot of clinical research backing up its efficacy. CBT explores the intersections between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
This method, at first glance, seems like basic conversation but there are significant neurological benefits. Most people, when their thoughts and feelings are reflected and validated, can more effectively learn to solve their problems with the guidance of their provider.
This cost-effective method is ideal for self-paying clients or for people with insurance that does not cover more than 6-12 sessions. It is a strengths-based approach that can be very empowering!
Information empowers clients to make the best choices for themselves and their loved ones. It demystifies the therapy process and can decrease anxiety.