Therapists for college students near Duke University

Life can feel overwhelming. You might be carrying past trauma, facing anxiety that won’t ease, or navigating a lingering sadness. Maybe you’re exploring how your identity has been shaped by culture, history, or generational pain—and you’re ready to reclaim your voice. Whatever brings you here, I want you to know: reaching out is a powerful first step. As a therapist with over a decade of experience, I create a trauma-informed space where you feel seen and supported. Together, we’ll face the hard stuff while making room for healing, hope, and growth. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, identity, and life transitions. My approach is rooted in decolonizing therapy—honoring how colonization, systemic oppression, and cultural narratives impact mental health. We’ll gently examine and unlearn internalized beliefs, reconnect with your resilience, and center your wisdom. This work isn’t just about surviving—it’s about liberation. I believe in the power of healing, especially in the face of profound pain. Therapy for me is about coming home to yourself—finding strength, wholeness, and meaning. If you're seeking someone who deeply listens, understands your complexity, and honors your story, I’d be honored to share this space.

We ALL have a purpose! Through exploration of our core beliefs, our thoughts and our emotional responses, we can better understand who we are and how we interact with the world. We can equip our self's to face the challenges life presents. I look forward to guiding you through this journey. My specialties and areas of interest include substance abuse, eating disorders, and anxiety. I have been in clinical practice for 15 years.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, insecure, anxious, or confused as to what you feel? I can help. I am Kristi Cole, a licensed therapist who is passionate about helping others struggling with anxiety, overwhelming emotions, low self-esteem, and school/work-life balance. I can help you learn how to identify and change troubling thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; set healthy boundaries; improve communication skills; and gain confidence. I have spent over 14 years working with people of diverse backgrounds with a wide range of treatment needs. I use a nonjudgmental approach while providing a safe place to process thoughts and emotions. I apply concepts from a variety of research-based theories, such as solutions-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), or interpersonal therapy (IPT). I also like to incorporate humor into sessions when appropriate.

Brittany, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA), is passionate about empowering adult individuals to overcome challenges and achieve emotional well-being. Her experience working with diverse clients from all backgrounds at a college counseling center in New York City has equipped her to address a range of mental health concerns. Anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, interpersonal conflict, self-esteem issues, and life transitions are all areas where Brittany can provide skilled and compassionate support. ​ Brittany strives to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can openly share their experiences and work towards self-discovery. Her therapeutic approach is holistic, trauma-informed, and person-centered, focusing on your unique strengths and goals. She integrates evidence-based methods like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques to create lasting change. Throughout the therapy process, Brittany strives to be authentic, professional, and validating, ensuring you feel understood and supported. ​ Brittany is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in NC (#A17944). She has received a Master’s in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University and her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Winthrop University. ​ Outside of the therapy room, Brittany finds joy in crafting pottery, exploring new destinations with her family, and savoring diverse cuisines of the world. College football is her favorite season. ​ Brittany sees it as a privilege to create a safe space for you, to hear about your lived experience, and to be a small part of your story. You are the expert on your own life and together, we can process your past and collaborate to create helpful goals for the future.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice. I work mainly through insight-oriented psychotherapy, but I also offer diagnostic evaluations and prescribing services. Patients see me for a variety of concerns around self-esteem, trauma, attachment, dependency, boundaries, self-criticism, and childhood abuse/neglect. These issues may lead to shame, guilt, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, perfectionism, self-loathing, or repeated conflicts with family, colleagues, or romantic partners. Therapy is a chance to think carefully together about your past and present experiences to deepen your insight into your situation. As we come to understand your inner world, I hope you will gradually notice a greater sense of flexibility, freedom, and openness to life's many joys and challenges. As a psychiatrist, I am happy to help with diagnostic clarification and medical treatment of most general psychiatric conditions including mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and others. While medications alone often fail to address the deeper conflicts and traumas that cause our symptoms, a thoughtful approach to prescribing can help build a foundation for the personal work that leads to lasting change. I have special experience working with university students and early career professionals in medicine, academia, law, tech, and the arts. I enjoy working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and I welcome and affirm those who may identify as LGBTQIA+ or neurodivergent.

Welcome. I am Dr. Christiane Speed. I am a licensed psychologist in CA and NC. I have been practicing for over 12 years and possess extensive experience working with college and university students both in CA and NC. I enjoy helping students regain a sense of control and empowerment over their life struggles so that they can engage and enjoy life more fully and create a healthier academic and personal life balance. A major part of therapy involves helping students adapt to student life, balance school and personal life. Students come to see for help with how to communicate effectively in relationships, and to learn practical coping skills for stress and time management. We work on identifying and managing procrastination, increasing motivation and goal directed activities and setting very clear, realistic, achievable goals and having a growth mindset. Other areas of work might include managing and resolving interpersonal problems, setting healthy emotional, physical and personal boundaries, improving family, friendship and romantic relationships and overall functioning. My areas of specialty include anxiety (including generalized anxiety disorder, health anxiety, imposter syndrome, OCD, social anxiety, specific phobia), complex stress and life struggles, depression , grief and loss. I take a flexible and individualized approach to treatment and integrate effective techniques from different approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Solution-Focused Therapy. To gain a more holistic understanding, treatment also addresses how cultural, family, medical, physical, social, societal and spiritual factors interact with each client's unique life struggles. My main focus is getting to know each of my client's unique life experiences, difficulties and needs so that I can tailor therapy to best suit what will work best for that client. If you feel that we would be a good fit working together, please contact me to schedule an appointment. I look forward to the potential of working with you.

Do you feel like you’re trying to hold it all together while navigating a major life transition, managing anxiety, or facing relational challenges? Through a strong therapeutic relationship, I provide a safe, supportive space to explore what’s happening beneath the surface, build self-awareness, and create meaningful, lasting change. I am passionate about supporting teens and adults as you navigate life’s challenges. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, confident, and control of your life.

I believe everyone deserves a space to process, heal, and experience empathy and validation. Good outcomes in therapy can be expected if you feel the therapist genuinely cares and has your best interest in heart and mind. Your therapist must also have skill, knowledge, and experience with clinically proven therapy techniques. I provide both to you as my client. I offer an integrated approach that includes EMDR, person-centered, CBT, DBT skills, and trauma focused treatment; however, our time together is not limited to these theories of practice. Together, we can explore the barriers that are keeping you from living the life you want.

Something feels off, and you can't quite name it. You're doing everything you were supposed to do, but the life you're living doesn't feel fully like yours. You look around and it seems like everyone else found their footing, their person, their purpose. And quietly, you've started to wonder: Why not me? What am I missing? The gap between where you are and where you thought you'd be by now can feel like failure, even when, logically, you know it isn't. You're measuring yourself against a timeline you didn't write, comparing your insides to everyone else's outsides, and coming up short every time. The loneliness isn't just about being single or not having the career you wanted. It's the disconnection from yourself, from knowing who you are and what you actually want, separate from what you were always told to want. You don't need to have it all figured out. But you do deserve to feel at home in your own life, curious about where you're going rather than ashamed of where you are. You deserve to trust yourself again. I work with women who are navigating that in-between, exploring who they are, longing for real connection, and untangling the anxiety that comes with feeling behind. Together, we'll loosen the grip of comparison, get clear on what you actually value, and help you build a life that feels genuinely yours, not a performance of what it was supposed to look like. I offer online therapy in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. If this sounds like you, please reach out to schedule a free 15 minute consultation!

Are you a woman struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-expression, or body-image concerns? You're not alone. Trying to fix everything you dislike about yourself can be draining. In my practice, I offer a supportive space where you can explore these challenges without judgment. You don't have to be perfect to take up space in this world. You deserve to feel safe and confident in your own skin. When we face ourselves with kindness and become the compassionate witness to our own stories, we lay the groundwork for profound transformation. As a trauma-informed somatic based therapist, I recognize that true healing involves reconnecting with our embodied selves, where experiences are felt, honored, and integrated. I create a safe space for you to slow down, tune in to the narratives held within your body, and connect with your inner wisdom. I believe that you are the expert on your own life. You harbor the knowledge of what is necessary for your healing and what resonates authentically with you. My role is to help you reconnect with this inner wisdom, empowering you to navigate life with clarity and self-compassion. If this resonates, reach out and let's connect!

Place of Peace was created to help individuals, couples and families in our community navigate the stressful nature of dealing with mental health and other life challenges. We are a group of psychologists, therapists, counselors and social workers who use cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness and meditation and trauma therapy, among other things, with the goal of helping individuals create a peaceful place inside themselves. We know this can be difficult, especially when we are struggling with anxiety, depression or emotional pain. Our therapists use empirically-validated and time-tested treatments to help you identify the cause of your pain, heal the underlying issues that are leading to your symptoms and build new skills for healthier habits and patterns.

Freedom from emotional hijack is found in noticing, naming, and knowing. This can be the gift of psychotherapy. Congratulations on looking for a therapist and trying to figure out what will be best for you! It can seem like it requires endurance, when all you’re trying to do is get your mental health needs met. The good news is there are lots and lots of great therapy practices! And a practice or a therapist that’s a great fit for one person, doesn’t mean that it is for you! All that matters is what works for you. Whether you feel nervous, doubtful, unsure, excited, and/or anything else, let’s chat, when/if you’re ready. Just because we talk, doesn’t mean you have to start therapy!

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the challenges and circumstances in your life? Have you experienced feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, sadness, or a lack of support when you needed someone to confide in? I understand these struggles, and I want you to know that it's perfectly okay to not be okay. I'm here to provide you with the tools and strategies you need to break free from negative thought patterns and self-defeating behaviors. Similar to regular physical check-ups, therapy serves as a preventive measure, equipping you with effective strategies to navigate moments of chaos, uncertainty, and everyday life. Together let's transform emotions, behaviors, and thought patterns for your desired outcomes. I support young adults, college students, and adults particularly those from BIPOC communities, facing depression, anxiety, and life transitions. My aim is to empower you, raise your self-awareness, and break down the barriers of mental health stigma. The first step is daunting yet essential. Therapy isn't weakness; it shows strength and courage to seek support. My priority is a nonjudgmental, safe space where you can freely express yourself. Remember, progress begins with putting one foot in front of the other, and soon enough, you'll be walking towards a brighter future.

I work with individuals to navigate life's many hardships whether those challenges be difficult life transitions, academic stress, overwhelming emotions, depression, anxiety, suicidality, trauma, obsessions and compulsions, attention problems, or social concerns. I support my client's by providing skills and knowledge to build a life they feel is worth living. My therapeutic style is collaborative, empathetic, evidence-based, and non-judgmental. I believe in the power of building a strong therapeutic alliance where you feel heard, understood, and supported every step of the way. Working with me means learning about yourself, developing coping skills, and trouble-shooting those coping skills so that they work for you. We'll know therapy is working when you start your days feeling rested, engaged, and energized and when you end your days feeling relaxed, accomplished, content, and ultimately feel proud of yourself.

Are you noticing changes in your mood but don't know where to start to get back on track? Do you feel burnt out due to struggles balancing multiple roles and responsibilities? Do you struggle with making your needs a priority? Are you noticing issues in your relationships with communication? Are you worried about making a change but know that you can't stay stuck where you currently are? Welcome to Harris Counseling Services, where we will walk with you on your journey to better. Welcome to a safe, nonjudgemental place where you can breathe, rest, be, learn more about yourself, and work to reach healing, balance, and wholeness. We meet clients between where they used to be and where there want to be. I work with clients to set goals that help them develop understanding, create a skill set to manage unhelpful thinking patterns, and create space for joy and connectedness. I also work to infuse spirituality and faith into the therapeutic practice for clients who are interested. Whether you are feeling scared, tired, depressed, or confused in your current situation, you don't have to walk this journey of change alone. We welcome all but have a special passion for serving Black women who desire to be seen, valued, and welcomed into the therapy space. Reach out today and get closer to the life you've been wanting to live. Note: I can accept insurance for clients in NC, but not GA.

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.

Have you or your child been feeling stuck? Have you started to question who you are and what it will take for your circumstances to change? Have difficult memories from the past started to creep back into your mind? Has the voice of outsiders and social media started to make you question your success? Maybe you're in the midst of a major life transition. Holding these thoughts inside while balancing daily tasks can be stressful. Being able to express yourself in a safe space can make all the difference while you begin to view yourself and your circumstances with new lenses. I provide my clients with a space where they can unpack their feelings, express their emotions, and develop strategies to move forward. I am a trauma informed therapist. I am passionate about educating clients on trauma and seeing their progress. I use an integrated approach to allow for an organic therapeutic journey. You can do this! Let's be honest, starting therapy can be a little intimidating. Contact me to schedule a brief consultation!

You came to college with a plan. Maybe you're the first in your family to be here, or the one everyone back home is counting on. You're supposed to have it together. But instead you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and quietly wondering if you even belong here. The pressure to perform is relentless. The anxiety before exams, presentations, or even just speaking up in class. The feeling that everyone else got a manual you never received. You push harder, achieve more, and still feel empty or behind. And underneath all of that hustle, there are older, heavier things: childhood wounds, family expectations, generational patterns, anger, and the grief of watching violence hit people who look like you, love like you, pray like you. That's not weakness. That's not a disorder. That's a lot to carry, and you've been carrying it alone for too long. This is a space for college students who are done pretending they're fine. Whether you're dealing with performance anxiety, depression, burnout, a hard time fitting in, or just a deep sense of not being enough, you don't have to keep grinding through it. Using body and mind approaches, we work with how stress and trauma live in your nervous system, not just your thoughts. We also dig into the stories you tell yourself, where they came from, and whether they're actually yours to carry. We work with college students across North Carolina and specialize in multicultural counseling for BIPOC individuals, first and second generation immigrants, and people from SWANA (South West Asian and North African) communities, including Arabs, North Africans, and people from the Gulf region. We understand what it means to navigate life between worlds, and we meet you exactly where you are. You've carried enough alone. Reach out for a free consultation. We'd love to meet you.

Are you and your partner constantly arguing, stuck in the same loop, and struggling to find connection? Both blaming each other and full of hurts. Are you in a relationship, but you both feel lonely and want to be closer? Or are you an individual that is feeling sad, confused, anxious, angry, lonely, or disconnected from someone? Are you ready for therapy, but your partner isn't? Or are you a parent who needs help repairing the relationship with your adult child? Families go through so many transitions. Sometimes it is difficult to navigate all the busyness of life and find time to connect with one another. As a Certified Emotionally Focussed Therapist, I can help you to make sense of what is happening and help you to step out of negative patterns and find closeness. To feel connected and less lonely. To find healing and repair from hurts in a non-blaming way. To focus on the people that really matter in your life, instead of the busyness of life. Jennifer has a heart for relationships. Being able to sit with people as they walk through their journey is a s gift. It takes a lot of courage to take that first step. Her passion is helping to strengthen relationships and make space for people and families to connect and heal on a deeper level. Jennifer cares deeply, she is approachable and genuine.

We are a holistic group practice located in Asheville, NC. We provide therapy virtually or in our office. Our clinicians have a variety of specialities and we offer free consultations to ensure you find the right therapist to fit your unique needs.