(he/him)
New to Grow
I’m Brad Ploof, MS, LPC, NCC, a warm, down-to-earth counselor serving children, adolescents, and adults in Northeast Alabama. My approach is affirming, trauma-informed, and practical, helping clients address anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, relationship concerns, grief, and life transitions. I believe therapy should be a safe place where you can be honest, feel respected, and work through difficult experiences without judgment. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I understand the importance of finding a counselor who respects your identity, relationships, values, and lived experiences. I work collaboratively with clients to build coping skills, increase confidence, improve emotional wellness, and create meaningful change. Outside of my work, I value chosen and given family, time in nature, and caring for my fur babies. These parts of my life shape the compassion, authenticity, and steadiness I bring into the therapy room. My goal is to help you feel understood and supported while taking practical steps toward healing and a more fulfilling life as you work toward your chosen goals.
Your first visit is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin understanding what brought you to counseling. You do not need to have everything figured out, know exactly what to say, or be prepared to share more than you are comfortable sharing. My goal is to help you feel safe, respected, and at ease from the beginning. During the first session, we will talk about what you have been experiencing, how it is affecting your daily life, and what you would like to be different. We may discuss your personal history, current stressors, strengths, supports, and goals for therapy. For children and adolescents, I involve caregivers as appropriate while also working to create a comfortable and trusting space for the child or teen. I understand that reaching out for counseling can feel intimidating, especially when you have been carrying anxiety, sadness, trauma, relationship stress, or overwhelming emotions on your own. Therapy with me is not about judgment or pressure. It is a collaborative process where we move at a pace that is manageable and focused on practical steps that support healing and growth. You can expect a warm, affirming, trauma-informed environment where your experiences, identity, relationships, and values are respected. Whether you are coming in for yourself or bringing your child, the first visit is simply the beginning of building trust, identifying your needs, and creating a plan to help you move forward with greater support and confidence toward your goals.
My own life experiences have taught me that growth is rarely a straight path. I understand what it means to navigate identity, adversity, physical limitations, major life changes, and the courage required to keep building a meaningful life even when circumstances feel difficult. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I also recognize how important it is to have a space where you do not have to explain or defend who you are before beginning the work of healing. These experiences shape my counseling style. I bring warmth, authenticity, compassion, and a practical understanding that clients may need both acceptance and encouragement. In session, I will meet you where you are without judgment, while also helping you recognize the strengths, choices, and possibilities that may be difficult to see when you feel stuck or overwhelmed. I believe your dreams matter, whether they involve peace of mind, healthier relationships, greater confidence, personal growth, or creating a life that feels more like your own. I do not push through pressure, criticism, or unrealistic expectations. Instead, I gently challenge patterns that may be holding you back unknowingly, helping you clarify what truly matters to you, and support you in taking manageable steps toward your goals. My role is not to decide your path for you. My role is to walk beside you, encourage honest reflection, celebrate progress, and help you move toward the life you have hoped for with greater confidence, courage, and support.
My ideal client is a child, adolescent, or adult who is experiencing anxiety, panic symptoms, depression, trauma-related concerns, adjustment difficulties, grief, relationship stress, chronic pain, or a challenging life transition. I am especially positioned to serve clients who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, misunderstood, or uncertain about how to move forward, but who are open to building insight, developing practical coping skills, and working toward meaningful change. My goal is to provide a safe, affirming, trauma-informed space where clients can strengthen emotional regulation, improve daily functioning, build healthier relationships, and reconnect with hope and purpose.
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use this treatment method within a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to help children, adolescents, and adults address anxiety/panic, depression, trauma, adjustment concerns, relational stress, and emotional regulation needs. I tailor interventions to each client’s age, strengths, and goals, using developmentally appropriate techniques such as coping skills training, emotional processing, cognitive restructuring, play-based interventions, and caregiver involvement when appropriate. I integrate this method with CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and strengths-based care to support meaningful progress and improved daily functioning.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use this treatment method within a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to help children, adolescents, and adults address anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment concerns, relational stress, and emotional regulation needs. I tailor interventions to each client’s age, strengths, and goals, using developmentally appropriate techniques such as coping skills training, emotional processing, cognitive restructuring, play-based interventions, and caregiver involvement when appropriate. I integrate this method with CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and strengths-based care to support meaningful progress and improved daily functioning.
Humanistic
I use Humanistic Therapy as a foundation of my practice by providing a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where children, adolescents, and adults feel heard, respected, and accepted. I use empathy, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and collaborative exploration to help clients process emotional concerns, build self-awareness, increase self-worth, and identify their own strengths and solutions. This approach is integrated with trauma-informed and evidence-based interventions to support clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment concerns, relationship stress, and life transitions.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I use mindfulness-based therapy to help adolescents and adults increase awareness of thoughts, emotions, and physical responses without becoming overwhelmed or reactive. In my practice, I incorporate grounding, breathing exercises, present-moment awareness, self-compassion, and mindful coping strategies to address anxiety, panic symptoms, depression, trauma-related distress, chronic pain, relationship stress, and life transitions. I integrate mindfulness within a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to support emotional regulation, reduce distress, and improve daily functioning.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing to help adolescents and adults explore uncertainty, identify personal reasons for change, and strengthen confidence in making meaningful life improvements. In my practice, I use reflective listening, open-ended questions, affirmations, and collaborative goal setting to support clients addressing anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, substance-related behaviors, lifestyle changes, and life transitions. I integrate motivational interviewing within a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to reduce resistance, honor client autonomy, and support achievable progress toward treatment goals.