Therapists for college students near Duke University

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.)

Are you feeling stuck in your life? Unsure of how to change things for the better? Are you struggling with perfectionism, self-esteem, anxiety, adjusting to new or difficult life experiences? It can be overwhelming and isolating when you’re struggling emotionally. If you can relate to these experiences, there is hope. As a therapist I have to come to understand my clients needs and believe in the following: you can increase Self-acceptance, create positive change through your own Wisdom and begin to heal with the support of an Authentic and Nurturing therapeutic relationship. S.W.A.N. is more than just a name.

Hi there! My name is Christie Cutshall, LCSW located in Eastern Tennessee with my husband, three bonus teenagers, and two dogs. When I'm not working, I enjoy hiking, spending time with my family, gardening, and cooking. As a graduate of East Tennessee State University, and a practicing social worker for the last ten years, I have gained valuable experience as a mental health clinician. In my experience, I believe growing requires changing and improving the environment in which we grow; only then can we truly thrive! In order to help clients live my best lives, I am passionate about helping them achieve their full potential.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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 specialize in working with anxiety disorders and OCD. My goal is to help you build confidence in handling anxious thoughts, reduce avoidance and reassurance seeking behaviors, and feel more in control instead of stuck. My approach is warm, person-centered, and strengths-based, using cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure-based work, and mindfulness strategies to reduce anxiety and OCD patterns over time. I offer virtual sessions across North Carolina. Feel free to reach out to see if we are a good fit! I'm excited to connect with you!

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.

Hi, I'm Brianna (she/hers)! I specialize in working with college students experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain, and/or managing life transitions and relationship issues. Typical concerns can include adjusting to college, managing academic or athletic stress (including injuries), health anxiety including complex or chronic illnesses, and relationship stress, as examples. I work with individuals seeking to better understand themselves, develop healthier coping strategies and discover ways to improve their overall well-being, feel less anxious or stressed, and feel better in their day to day life. My approach is warm and collaborative to foster a trusting relationship. Using a blend of relational, attachment-based perspectives and skill building as needed, I help clients explore new ideas, challenge negative patterns or ways of thinking, and build resilience. You can expect me to share feedback, gently challenge ideas, and use humor in sessions. I'm also trained in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), an evidence-based treatment for chronic pain, and provide this therapy as well. If you’re interested in exploring new ways to manage life's challenges, improve your well-being, and feel more resilient please feel free to reach out to set up a free consult call. I look forward to speaking with you!

I honor the opportunity clients provide during their most vulnerable state by providing a warm, nonjudgmental and affirming space. I believe in the power of connection when building a therapeutic relationship with children, teen and adult clients. I strive to empower clients by assisting them with creating insight of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contributing to current emotional and behavioral symptoms while also supporting the development of holistic coping skills. I have experience in providing therapy in areas of anxiety, depression, teen issues, women’s issues, college students and life transitions.

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 believe in meeting you exactly where you are. Guided by a commitment to collaboration, I seek to walk beside clients as they forge and discover their own path towards healing. My goal in therapy is to be fully present with clients as we explore their emotions, experiences, truths, hopes, challenges, and strengths, with the aim of helping folks build a life they truly desire. I seek to hold intentional space for processing intersecting experiences of oppression and privilege that impact clients’ lives. Whether facing challenges at school, in family or elsewhere in community, I work with clients to weave, unweave, and reweave the ways they hold their past, create presence in their present, and construct achievable goals for the future. It is my delight and priority to support clients in reconnecting with joy, strength, internal and communal power, as well as their role in individual and joint liberation. Some approaches to therapy that we could use together include but are not limited to: Anti-Oppression & Liberation Frameworks, Creative Arts & Play-Based Therapies, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness & Somatic Based Therapies, Narrative Therapy, Parts Work (influenced by elements of Internal Family Systems and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Therapy), and Person-Centered & Strengths-Based approaches. Some areas in which I have experience supporting individuals includes but is not limited to Neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism, etc.), Complex Trauma, and Identity.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Big changes have a way of shaking loose questions you thought you had already answered-about who you are, where you belong, and who you want to be. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. I work with students and young adults who are navigating these in-between phases that can be confusing and overwhelming.

I work predominantly with students who are navigating the change of college, interpersonal dynamics, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. I hope that through our work together, we can find ways to help you thrive and reach your goals.

I believe that therapy is a collaborative journey where you and I work together to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. My approach is rooted in empathy, active listening, and a non-judgmental environment where you can openly express yourself. In our therapist-client relationship, I see myself as a supportive guide, here to help you gain insights, develop coping skills, and set achievable goals. Together, we’ll create a safe and trusting space for you to work through challenges and find a path towards personal growth and healing. Ultimately, success in therapy is about empowering my clients to lead more fulfilling, balanced, and purposeful lives by applying the insights and skills gained during our therapeutic journey.

My primary goal as a counselor is to create an open and non-judgmental space in which clients can express their thoughts and feelings freely. None of us are without our struggles, and I find it beneficial for each of us to have a space where we can explore these struggles reflectively and creatively. I aspire to gain a holistic understanding of my clients, their life experiences, and their issues, so that we might collectively explore opportunities for growth through evidence-based practice. I find great value in person-centered, cognitive behavioral, acceptance & commitment, and existential therapies. However, perhaps the greatest determinant of success is a relationship built upon mutual trust and understanding between counselor and client. I believe that sound counseling practice is an active, and at times difficult, process for the client. However, take comfort in the fact that it is my mission as a counselor to walk with you through trial and tribulation. I would be honored to join you on your journey.

Maybe you feel like you don’t quite belong anywhere or struggle to trust your own worth. Perhaps you’re carrying the weight of systemic oppression, intergenerational trauma, or the pressure to fit into a world that wasn’t built with you in mind. You want to heal, to feel at home in yourself, and to build a life that feels authentic and meaningful. I’m here to hold a space where you can show up fully and be met with care, empathy, and non-judgment. I love working with LGBTQ+ & BIPoC folks and folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers from a strengths-based, neurodiversity affirming perspective. My therapeutic approach is guided by a commitment to fostering dignity, resilience, and empowerment, with a focus on practical strategies for personal growth and self-care. I am EMDR trained and use this as well as other therapeutic approaches to support clients in healing from trauma and cultivating a sense of personal sovereignty. As a mixed race-Black, trans-masculine, and nonbinary practitioner, I understand the importance of being seen and affirmed. I approach therapy with a commitment to creating a secure, affirming space where clients can unfold into their most authentic selves. If you think we might be a good fit, I invite you to reach out and schedule a free consultation.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Matt is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate and uses his therapy gifts to provide sound counsel for those who are in need. He graduated from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis and attended UNC-Chapel Hill for his undergraduate degree. Matt believes therapy should be a safe place for children, teenagers, adults, couples, and families to explore more about themselves. Matt specializes in treating anxiety and depression, relationships and marriage counseling, life transitions, addiction, trauma, mood disorders, and spiritual discernment.