Therapists for college students near Duke University

Hi! I'm Heather, and I have been supporting young adults navigating life transitions for the past 11 years. I have worked with college students from many different colleges and universities and I know there can be a lot of challenges to face during this season of life! I find this work to be incredibly rewarding and would be honored to be a part of your journey toward empowerment and overcoming.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hey and Welcome! As a therapist, my goal is to create an emotionally safe space, that is intersectional and inclusive, to pursue personal healing and self-discovery. Through our work, we will identify how the experiences you have had in your life have impacted who you are in this world and how you relate to others. We will explore the emotional, mental, and systemic barriers that get in the way of evolving into the person you'd ideally like to be, while simultaneously developing a deep respect and reverence for the various versions of you over time that were forced to be resilient through difficult and challenging circumstances. I support clients who are seeking coping tools to create and maintain a sense of emotional stability. My clients are often pursuing healing from trauma, whether it be attachment based childhood trauma or a specific and recent traumatic experience. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ folx, women, and various issues that impact folx of the global majority. Therapy invites us to take up space, prioritize caring for ourselves, and create a life that feels worth living. Seeking support is not an easy decision and the fact you've made it this far is significant. If you'd like to learn more about me, the work I do, and my approach to therapy, please reach out to schedule a consultation appointment.

Hi, I’m Monica Fields, LCSW, PMHC. I work with multicultural and first-generation young adults, as well as new and expecting parents, helping them navigate identity, relationships, and life transitions such as adjusting to college. Using Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), ACT, and mindfulness-based tools, I support clients in understanding relationship patterns, managing emotions, and reconnecting with their values. My approach is warm, collaborative, and down-to-earth—I create a space where you can feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward in your life with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re adjusting to parenthood, balancing cultural expectations, or exploring who you want to be, I’m here to help you navigate these challenges with self-compassion and practical strategies.

I am a sport and performance psychologist specializing in helping high achievers overcome performance anxiety and injury. Do you play better in practice than in games? Does fear, doubt or lack of confidence hold you back from being your best? Are you feeling burned out or have lack motivation to train and compete? As a Certified Mental Performance Consultant I can help you overcome slumps and obstacles to excellence. I can also provide mental training to help you be your best when it matters most to reach your potential. I work with athletes and other high achievers in academics, music and the performing arts. *My website says I am not accepting new patients due to my in-season schedule with Charlotte FC and the 23XI Racing Team - but please call the office and check availability particularly during the summer months as my third location (Queens University) schedule opens up.

All of us face times when life brings more than we can manage alone. Asking for help—even when asking is hard—is the first step toward a different experience. I have faced my own struggles, and I find deep joy and fulfillment in walking with others on their journeys toward healing, connection, and reawakened hope. As a mental health therapist, I support my clients to grow and thrive, to move toward what wellness means to them, and to deepen their connections both to others and to their own strengths and resources. Above all, I prioritize building a safe therapist-client relationship in which clients feel seen, respected, empowered, and welcomed as their full and authentic selves. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, attachment-based, and experiential. In our counseling sessions, we will work together collaboratively to identify your goals for therapy and agree on strategies to move toward them. We may explore your thoughts, beliefs, and stories, your emotions, your body’s wisdom, and your creativity during our time together. We won’t just talk about what’s wrong—we’ll actively practice ways of making it better. Throughout it all, we’ll make sure our work together feels safe, supportive, and truly helpful to you. Whether you are facing the challenges of everyday life, navigating change and uncertainty, healing from deeper traumas and self-protective patterns, or seeking greater safety and security within relationships, I would be honored to support you.

As a therapist practicing for over 15 years, I thoroughly enjoy working with students as they learn to navigate life. Many times, it can be incredibly challenging to balance school, social relationships, jobs and other responsibilities. My goal as your therapist is to allow you to express your feelings in a non-judgmental and safe space, as well as provide you with skills to improve your overall quality of life. I work with adolescents, adults, as well as couples and families. Additionally, I specialize working with all aspects of eating disorders from anorexia to binge eating. Licensed in Arizona and North Carolina.

The students I work best with are often motivated, thoughtful, and used to doing well. They may be successful in school, involved in activities, or working hard toward their future, but underneath that success they may be struggling with anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, or OCD. College can bring a lot of pressure. Students may worry about grades, relationships, their future, making mistakes, or whether they are “doing enough.” Some find themselves stuck in cycles of checking, seeking reassurance, avoiding situations, or trying to get everything exactly right. Others may feel overwhelmed by a major life transition, loneliness, low mood, or the expectations they place on themselves. I especially enjoy working with students who want to understand what is happening and are ready to make meaningful changes. My goal is to create a comfortable, judgment-free space where students can be honest about what they are experiencing while learning practical ways to handle anxiety and move forward. For students struggling with OCD and anxiety, I have specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I also work with perfectionism, depression, life transitions, relationships, and the challenges that can come with being a high-achieving student. You don't have to figure everything out on your own. Therapy can be a place to slow down, gain perspective, and develop the confidence to move forward with greater freedom.

Avela Health offers comprehensive virtual autism evaluations and tailored therapeutic programs for young adults — with no waitlists and no commute. Our Master's- and doctoral-level providers build individualized care plans designed around what you actually need to thrive. From evaluations that deliver clarity without the wait to therapeutic programs for everyday life, every service is built around you as an individual, never stretched to fit a default protocol. We use only leading, evidence-based approaches, and we track outcomes continuously to make sure care is genuinely helping you make progress. 97% of clients say Avela made their world — and their everyday life — better. We're in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield in NJ, PA, and SC, and expanding.

Are you trying to keep up with classes, deadlines, work, relationships, and family expectations while quietly feeling like you are falling apart? Maybe you cannot turn your thoughts off. You keep procrastinating, missing assignments, losing motivation, or feeling anxious about your future. Maybe your romantic relationship has taken a turn and it has you feeling down or unlike yourself. You may look fine to everyone else, but inside you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, lonely, or unsure of yourself. College is supposed to be exciting, but right now it may feel like too much. I’m Teinesha Smallwood, LCSW, owner of Whispers of Serenity Counseling and Consulting PLLC. I provide online therapy for college students and young adults throughout North Carolina. I help students work through anxiety, depression, academic stress, burnout, trauma, grief, relationship problems, family conflict, low self esteem, difficult life changes, and more. Therapy with me is not about being judged, lectured, or expected to have everything figured out. It is a space where you can be honest about what is really happening. Together, we can work on calming your thoughts, managing stress, setting boundaries, rebuilding confidence, and finding practical ways to feel more in control of your life. Virtual sessions make it easier to receive support without traveling or adding another task to your schedule. Whether you are struggling to adjust to college, questioning your direction, or simply tired of pretending you are okay, you do not have to handle it alone. **Schedule a free 15 minute consultation. You don’t have to do college or life alone.**

Welcome! I strive to hold a safe and authentic space for my clients where they can feel supported. During my Masters program, I completed practicum and internship at Appalachian State Counseling and Psychological Services. In that time, I discovered my passion for working with college students, young adults, and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, grief, major life changes, and other mental health concerns. Creating a therapeutic relationship is vital to fostering a space of mental healing, and I strive to make that with my clients. I strive to hold a safe and authentic space for my clients where they can feel supported. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and I can provide support and encouragement to assist you in meeting your chosen goals and process your experiences without judgment. I look forward to hearing from you!

I work with people who think A LOT, like, all the time. You're overwhelmed with...it all. You're the one others come to, but you don't always get the same in return. You're questioning your choices, abilities, relationships. You want to feel more peace, appreciation, connection, and fulfillment. You want to find ways to stop overthinking while continuing to be successful. Balancing relationships, work, family, and fun is complicated. Maybe you need help better understanding yourself or the dynamics in the important relationships in your life. Perhaps you spend too much time and energy worrying. It could be that you feel like things in your life are just out of alignment. If any of this sounds familiar, let's chat to see how we can help you gain the tools you need to restore balance to your life.

Join me in learning the tools and skills to intentionally create the life that you desire. I work with clients who are looking to strengthen trust in themselves. My overarching goal for every client who comes to see me is for them to have a more loving, compassionate relationship to themselves, others, and their past. I use a holistic collaborative approach to counseling that recognizes our unique multidimensional nature, and honors the connection between mind, emotions, energy, and body. Birdie, my office puppy, is a gentle presence who offers passive emotional support to clients who enjoy animal companionship. I work with adults, college students, teens, adolescents, couples, and families, to: 1. Identify harmful thought and behavior patterns, 2. Understand what's at the root of these patterns, 3. Cultivate tools and behaviors that encourage, rather than inhibit, growth. I offer compassionate, honest feedback, providing an outside lens that will allow you to see yourself more clearly. I believe everyone has the tools within them to heal and grow. You can reconnect with your authentic and confident self. Let's rekindle the spark within you and heal the past that is holding you back from the life you desire. I would be honored to assist you in opening up paths to trusting yourself and healing your past in your journey to wholeness.

We can all benefit from gaining insights, learning skills, and having “tune ups” along the way. If you’re feeling stuck, struggling with how you feel about yourself or in relationship with someone, experiencing unwanted or intrusive thoughts or memories from a past experience, ruminating on negative thoughts or beliefs, or feeling anxious or depressive symptoms, you don’t have to walk through it alone! Our therapists use various counseling approaches that include evidence based treatments like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Because we are out of network, we can also get creative within our work with you. We’ll utilize appropriate techniques such as music or walk-and-talk therapy and can even take “field trips” with you if we deem it beneficial in your treatment (ie- restaurant outings, exposure therapy for certain phobias, home visits, etc.)

Many of my clients feel overwhelmed, anxious, or simply “not like themselves.” They’re often balancing work, family, school, or major life transitions while trying to keep everything together. You may be experiencing mood changes, sleep concerns, or mental exhaustion, and you’re ready to feel more balanced, confident, and in control again. I provide compassionate, culturally responsive care to help you gain clarity, stability, and peace. I’m currently accepting new clients and would be honored to support you on your healing journey.

"The world breaks everyone, but some are strong at the broken places." -Ernest Hemingway. We all encounter challenges from time to time that seem to break us but with support we can strengthen the broken places to become whole again. If you are facing challenges in life with PTSD, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges or parenting needs I will help come alongside you to find the strength to heal and become whole again. I work with individuals of all ages (0-adult) as well as families. I take a holistic client centered approach to therapy. I have a passion for working with clients who are struggling with trauma, depression and relationship/family stress. I have learned over the years that having many tools to offer clients is very important as each individual has unique needs. I devote myself to ensuring that we find the right tool to aid you in your specific path to healing. Therapy is a gift you give to yourself. I believe that you as the client possess the wisdom needed to heal. It is my mission to help you find this wisdom within yourself and walk the journey of discovery with you. I look forward to connecting with you and joining you on your path to healing and wholeness.

Are you looking for a partner in your journey to a healthier mind, body and spirit? I can help you to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and improve your sense of personal and relational well being. Prefer the privacy and convenience of therapy from the comfort of your own home? I provide flexible online therapy. Are you open to collaboration as you look for effective solutions and willing to cooperate with implementing new strategies for living well? My versatile and creative approach to therapy could be a good match for you. As a marriage and family therapist, I believe exploring systemic issues can contribute to therapeutic success. I am committed to developing a collaborative relationship and will work with you to identify the interventions or approaches that match your needs and you reach your unique goals. I am committed to helping you explore and incorporate your faith perspective, whatever that may be, in your pursuit of wellness. I support your freedom especially with regard to whether or not to address spiritual issues or include spiritual interventions in the work we do together.

Navigating the transition to college and early adulthood can be exciting, but it can also be incredibly stressful and overwhelming. Are you struggling to manage the pressures of academics, relationships, or being away from home? Do you find yourself constantly worrying, feeling down, or having difficulty sleeping? Are you experiencing conflict with parents, peers, or even professors? Are you questioning whether college is the right path for you, or if you're pursuing it due to external pressure? Everyone experiences some level of stress during this time, but if these feelings are persistent and impacting your daily life, or causing significant relationship strain, it might be helpful to talk to someone. Counseling provides a safe space to explore these challenges, develop coping strategies, and clarify your own goals and values. Our virtual sessions offer the flexibility to meet before, between, or after classes, making it easier than ever to prioritize your mental well-being as you navigate this new chapter. Visit my website below to learn more about me and the counseling process.

I provide individual and family therapy to adolescents & young adults (ages 13-30). I treat anxiety, depression, ADHD, anger, family conflict, mild substance use disorders, and oppositional defiant disorder. I have found tremendous success in working with resistant clients and the resulting family conflicts.