Ready to go from feeling helpless to hopeful and rest easy knowing that everything will be ok?

I believe you have better days ahead.

Parents

Remember when it wasn't the norm…

- To get regular calls from your child’s school
- For them to be on medication
- To worry about them being hospitalized

Teens and Young Adults

Remember when it wasn’t the norm…

- To struggle in school and/or at work
- To get overwhelmed so easily
- To have suicidal thoughts

Do those days feel like a distant memory?
Wish you had the tools to change that?

Then you’re in the right place!

I’m Avery!

I help gifted teens and young adults who are capable of confidently and masterfully tackling any challenges thrown at them, but who just need support and guidance on how to do so without becoming overwhelmed.


I help my clients find confidence, hope, and healing by equipping them with the tools needed to better-understand themselves and regain balance in their lives.

The Process

Before

We will work together to identify and explore the presenting symptoms and concerns.

During

Throughout treatment, I’ll provide education on why those symptoms are occurring, as well as strategies for resolving and preventing them going forward.

After

After our work together, clients and families typically report the following benefits:

- Stronger, closer relationships
- Improved self-esteem
- Improved problem-solving skills
- More-effective communication skills
- The confidence to speak up and advocate for themselves

Approaches

Typical Approach

- Many behavioral therapies are long, drawn out, and take a one-size-fits-all approach.

- Many trauma treatments require repeated exposure to and exploration of the traumatic memories, which can be very triggering and distressing for clients.

- Those approaches can leave you wondering if therapy is actually making things worse, if progress is really being made, and if the symptoms will ever truly go away.

My Approach

- Gentler, yet faster and more-effective than traditional therapies

- Doesn’t require in-depth explanations of past traumas

- Custom-tailored to the specific needs and concerns of each individual/family

- Includes regular, ongoing assessments and check-ins regarding progress toward goals

Looking for Guidance?

I am passionate about and dedicated to helping people face and conquer their fears, rather than just cope with them.

My training and experience with leading outpatient, inpatient, community, and crisis/high-risk treatment programs, as well as collaborating and coordinating care with schools, courts, social services, foster care, and other mental and physical healthcare providers, has equipped me with the expertise young people and their families need and deserve on their journeys of making peace with the past, mending relationships, discovering their voices, and fostering futures worth looking forward to.

At the end of the day, you want to know you’re working with someone who “gets” what it’s like to be you, right?

A gifted young person…

- Suffocated by others’ expectations
- Afraid or unsure of how to ask for help
- Overwhelmed with commitments
- Unable to take a break
- Just trying to survive the day

I get it, all too well.

I have been where you are, and I have devoted my career to making the journey easier for others struggling down similar paths. I strive to be the advocate and guide I wish I had as a young person.

I know how hard it can be to overcome the negative voices in your head telling you…

- You’ll never be good enough
- You don’t matter
- It’ll never get better

So in our work together, you won’t just be getting a trained therapist.

You’ll be getting an advocate and teacher who truly understands what you’re going through and how to equip you to overcome it.

 Training & Education

  • 2012:

    • B.A. in Psychology and Art Therapy

    2016:

    • M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • 2017:

    • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor-Associate (LCMHC-A) in NC

    2019:

    • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in NC

    2020:

    • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in SC

    2021:

    • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in GA

  • 2016:

    • Expressive Arts Therapy

    • National Certified Counselor (NCC)

    2020:

    • Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC)

  • 2021:

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-Trained Therapist

  • 2011-2012:

    • B.A.-Level Art Therapy Internships:

      • Children’s Shelter of the Upstate

      • Glenn Springs Academy (Level 3 Group Home/Residential Campus)

      • SC School for the Deaf and the Blind:

        • Healing & Learning Through Equine Relationships (HALTER) Program

    2015:

    • M.A.-Level Expressive Arts Therapy Practicum:

      • Daymark Recovery Services:

        • Community-Based, Level 3 Intensive in-Home Program

    2016:

    • M.A.-Level Expressive Arts Therapy Internship:

      • Children’s Hope Alliance (Residential Campus for at-Risk Youth with Histories of Sexual Trauma):

        • Residential-Based, Level 3 Group Home

        • Unlocked, Staff-Secure Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF)

        • Locked, Physically-Secure PRTF

  • 2011:

    • South Carolina Early Autism Project:

      • Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Line Therapist

    2016:

    • Children’s Hope Alliance (Residential Campus for at-Risk Youth with Histories of Sexual Trauma):

      • Child/Youth Care Worker for the Following Buildings:

        • Residential-Based, Level 3 Group Home

        • Unlocked, Staff-Secure Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF)

        • Locked, Physically-Secure PRTF

    2017-2020:

    • Carolina Outreach:

      • Outpatient Therapist

      • Parenting Class Instructor

      • Community-Based, Level 3 Intensive In-Home Team Lead

    2020-2021:

    • Thriveworks:

      • Outpatient Therapist

    2021-Present:

    • Healing at Water’s Edge:

      • Outpatient Therapist

Specializing in:

Ready to dive in?

Testimonials

Testimonials

“Avery is one of the finest counselors you'll meet. They are kind, compassionate and an excellent listener. Their work with children is second nature. They are one of the few people I would trust with my daughter.”

- B. E.

“Avery is wonderful! Their patience with children is amazing, as is their knowledge of various therapy techniques!”

- S. H.

“Avery is a great counselor! Kids love them, and they really click together while Avery helps them make behavioral changes. Avery also helps parents connect with their children in meaningful ways.”

- A. B.