Hi, I'm Tessa!
education + training
I hold a Master's of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Vermont. I am licensed as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (#16044) in North Carolina.
I am a Yoga Alliance certified yoga and prenatal yoga instructor. I have completed additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Mindful Self Compassion, and Mindfulness Meditation. I have led trainings on yoga and mindfulness in the treatment of substance use disorders.
I'm a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who works with adults and adolescents (age 16+) in individual and group therapy. My areas of focus include anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, grief, self-esteem, life transitions and identity development.
My primary therapeutic modality is acceptance and commitment therapy. Acceptance and commitment therapy is focused on helping clients to learn and practice new skills that support well-being, determine what truly matters to them, and commit to practical steps towards a rich and meaningful life. In addition to this, my clinical work draws on the principles of mindfulness, self-compassion, person-centered, exposure and response prevention, somatic, feminist, and narrative therapies.
My therapeutic style is rooted in connection, mindfulness, and empathy. I believe that the therapeutic relationship should be grounded in a shared understanding of intention, genuine curiosity, and active engagement. In session with me you may laugh, cry, practice, mess up, and explore. The thread that weaves together my therapeutic work is my compassion for her clients and the human experience as a whole.
Outside of her therapy practice, I enjoy spending time in nature, reading, practicing yoga, gardening, drawing, and spending time with my husband, young daughter, and our dog Maggie.