Therapists for college students near Durham, NC

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Milk + Honey Counseling was founded over 10 years ago by Meredith McDaniel, MA, LCMHC. We are a private practice serving the Lake Norman region and beyond with the goal of helping others taste the land of milk + honey. Located conveniently between Exit 30 (Davidson College) & Exit 31 (Langtree) off I-77, we provide counseling to families, couples, individual adults, teens, and children.

*While I am not in-network with the Dartmouth Student Health Plan, I do bill that plan directly as an out-of-network provider, and students only pay a $30 copay each session.* I have been working with college-age students and young professionals throughout my career, and have previously been employed at both The University of Vermont and Dartmouth College. My goal is to understand my clients' concerns through their lens while reflecting back what seems to be getting in the way of achieving their goals. I am a compassionate provider, who actively engages with my clients making every effort to provide direct and honest feedback. I understand the rigors and challenges of adjusting to college life and the real and perceived pressure that many college students face. I spend time understanding what my clients are hoping to get from therapy, and work hard to help them move from suffering to thriving. As a Mental Health Counselor and Registered Dietitian I consider a client holistically when assessing their needs and focus on the health of the body and the mind.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

The college experience can be both amazing and stressful. Sometimes you might need someone to talk to, someone who won’t judge you or take away your independence. If you are looking for a new perspective on old challenges or a helping hand with new struggles, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

You struggle to connect with your authentic self as you navigate life’s transitions and their impact on your identity and relationships. You notice yourself falling into the same patterns that leave you feeling even more disconnected and overwhelmed. Together, we will explore the stories that shape your inner world. I will support you in letting go of expectations that don't align with your values and building confidence in yourself as the author of your own life. When everything starts to feel like too much, I want you to feel grounded in who you are. My name is Sam, and I believe you deserve to be yourself unapologetically. Finding a balance between honoring your needs, reconciling the past, and fostering relationships is challenging, but you don't have to face it alone. Counseling is a vehicle for promoting holistic health, and you get to decide what wellness looks like for you during our time together. I enjoy using a person-centered therapeutic approach that incorporates theories and interventions from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. Ultimately, I will meet you where you are on your journey and provide support tailored to your concerns.

Of all the relationships we have in our lives, I believe that the one you have with yourself is the most important and impactful. Therapy allows a person to create an authentic relationship with oneself. Through the therapeutic process, a person is able to find and access their own innate ability to heal and grow within a supportive, compassionate, and empowering environment. My passion for this work comes from seeing my clients evolve to feel happier and healthier in their daily lives. What I do: Individual Psychotherapy- I provide both in-person and telehealth treatment for teenagers, young adults, and adults, focusing a wide array of concerns including: life transitions, traumatic life experiences, daily functioning impairment, anxiety, and depression ​Gender and Sexuality Affirming Mental Health Care- I provide a safe space for those of you within the LGBTQIA+ community to process concerns unique to your own lived experiences ​Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)- EMDR is a research-backed treatment developed to help you heal following traumatic events by processing memories and gaining control over the way the trauma history impacts the mind and body. ​Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)- CBT is used to help you understand and learn skills to challenge unhelpful or maladaptive thinking and behavioral patterns ​Mindfulness- Mindfulness techniques are used to teach you how to relate to your thoughts differently and to live in the moment

As a therapist my very first priority is to ensure a safe environment free from judgment and filled with positive regard. Together we can explore varying perspectives and possibilities throughout your life experiences and the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors attached to those experiences. I hope to empower you to engage with life intentionally and with meaning and to care for yourself along the way. Sessions are meant to be your time to invest in yourself, and to learn. In counseling I use a responsive approach, meaning, we will use pieces of different counseling theories that will best fit your goals and needs. The concepts that I use most include theories surrounding CBT (cognitive behavioral theory), systems theory, interpersonal relationship models, neuroplasticity, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy. The space I cultivate is intended to be a laid back opportunity to find what works for you. With recognition that you know yourself and your experiences better than anyone else, that means you run the show at the end of the day. It is with this understanding that I mean to be an ally and resource on your path to knowledge and change.

My work is grounded in the belief that no two people, and no two relationships, are alike in their stories and needs. As a result, therapy with me is highly personalized, and my priority will always be to understand you and/or your relationship within the context of your unique life experiences, beliefs, and goals. I approach therapy as a collaborative, human process and offer a nonjudgmental space for you to be present with yourself, rather than perform. In my experience, this freedom to be you paves the way for the curiosity, insight, and healing needed for real transformation. Though I see clients of all ages and stages, I specialize in working with young adults and couples to build or strengthen their relationships with themselves and others. Anxiety, depression, challenging life transitions, low self-esteem, conflict with friends or family, and issues related to sexuality and intimacy are just a few of the concerns that we can explore and work through together. Using a whole-person, integrative approach, I hope to help you process what’s happening now, while laying the foundation for a more aligned and connected future. If you are looking for a therapist with big-sister energy, you found me! My style is both deeply compassionate and direct, often with a side of dark humor and always underlined by a commitment to ongoing learning. I know I’ve done my job well when you feel both truly understood and gently challenged toward lasting change. If you are considering therapy, I welcome the opportunity to learn more about your story and how I can help you move toward the life and relationships you want.

Do you feel like you are never good enough and that nothing will get better? Do you feel like you are the only one struggling with intense emotions and that there is no one to help you figure them out? Are you struggling with how you look and/or feel about yourself? Do you think everyone else has their life together and you don't? Do you experience highly intense emotions that seem to scare other people away? Are you excessively drinking alcohol, excessively spending money, isolating yourself from others, having sex but immediately regretting it afterwards? Do you ever have shame surrounding how you feel? Do you feel marginalized or are you part of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you wanting something different and looking for an alternative approach to counseling? Have you been dissatisfied with counseling in your past or hesitant to try? Finding the right therapist for you can be an overwhelming and scary task. The fear of not knowing how a therapist will accept your story can sometimes hold us back from reaching out. I want you to know that I will accept you where you are now AND help you get to where you want to go. I find passion in helping break through barriers associated with mental health, addictions, and identities. I believe that in order to treat an individual, the therapist needs to look at the WHOLE person. I'm here to help you to understand your own mental health. Click on the website link to hear my own story and my colleagues stories. When you come to an EXPERT in this area, you will leave with information on how to understand these feelings and how to use skills to manage them. I will meet you where you CURRENTLY are and help you get where you want to go. You can find a safe haven when working with me. I hold the space for compassion, acceptance, and the belief in your ability to thrive as you learn to do the same for yourself. After having a session, wouldn’t it be nice to say “What’s next…” and not “What if…”

You’re up late doom-scrolling Instagram wondering why everyone else seems to have it together. It seems impossible to not compare yourself to others and you think, “if I could just lose weight, I’d be happy.” It feels like you’re doing the “right things” but you still worry it’s not enough. You’ve become your own worst critic, constantly feeling like you aren’t living up to your expectations. You can’t help but notice there’s a tightness in your chest when you realize you have another task to add to your to-do list. Lately, it feels like your anxiety is running your life and your self-esteem is at an all-time low. It’s okay to exhale. Therapy is an empowering space to cope with the “what ifs”, build self-compassion, and discover food freedom. Imagine being able to close your laptop at the end of the day and feel accomplished, even if it means you didn’t “do it all.” Picture yourself grabbing lunch with friends and ordering what you actually want, without the guilt. I support college students wanting to heal their relationship with food and their body, and release the pressure to be perfect. I offer a free 15 minute video consultation call to chat about what's bringing you to therapy, answer any questions you have, and see if we'd be a good fit. Send me an email to get started!

Hi! I'm a therapist licensed in Georgia and North Carolina. I help people who are feeling stressed and overwhelmed to better cope with challenges, change patterns of behavior that aren’t working, improve relationships with friends and family, and increase an overall sense of well being. By providing a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, and welcoming space, I help you explore how social, political, economic, and cultural factors impact your health and wellbeing. My approach is compassionate, culturally-responsive, and identity-affirming, with a social justice perspective. Both my life and work experiences have shaped my work as a therapist. My life experience includes growing up as a child of Taiwanese immigrants, living in Europe as an adult, and advocating for social justice. My work experience includes providing counseling at Duke University Medical Center, Elon University Counseling Center, and multiple therapy agencies. In therapy sessions, I use various evidence-based treatments to help you work towards your personalized goals. You can learn ways to cope with stress, how to not let your emotions overwhelm you, and how to skillfully ask for what you need in your relationships. Sessions are offered online via a secure format. Before beginning therapy with any new client, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to answer any questions and to see if we are a good match to work well together.

Your story is uniquely your own—your therapy should be too. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to begin, you’re in the right place. I provide personalized trauma and PTSD recovery treatment that honors your lived experience and meets you exactly where you are, as well as a space for healing, growth, and emotional wellness whether you’re: -Carrying the weight of past trauma or PTSD that still impacts your day-to-day life -Feeling drained by burnout or chronic stress, like you’re running on empty -Struggling with anxiety or depression that makes even small tasks feel heavy -Navigating a major life transition such as a breakup or divorce, career change, relocation, or identity shift where you are feeling unsteady and need support -Grieving a loss or coping with traumatic grief that feels impossible to put into words -Wanting a supportive space to explore women’s issues, including boundaries, identity, self-worth, or empowerment -Looking for LGBTQIA+ affirming care where all parts of who you are are fully respected and welcomed Your healing deserves a space that feels safe, steady, and thoughtfully tailored to you. I will walk alongside you as a trusted guide, helping you make sense of what’s happened, reconnect with your strengths, and move forward at a pace that feels right for you. You don’t have to navigate any of this alone. Contact me to book a free consultation and let’s take the first step together.

We offer you a safe and compassionate space to explore and address issues such as: ~Managing and overcoming anxiety to regain control of your life. ~Supporting high achievers in finding balance and fulfillment beyond their accomplishments. ~Helping you separate your worth from your work and cultivate self-acceptance. ~Navigating sexual issues, sexual anxiety, or discovering your authentic sexual self. ~Guiding you in creating and nurturing healthy, meaningful relationships. ~Challenging patterns of self-criticism and fostering a stronger sense of self-worth. ~Providing support for those struggling with substance abuse/addiction and seeking recovery. ~Learning effective ways to resolve conflict with empathy and clarity. ~Improving communication skills to express yourself confidently and connect with others. ~Helping you break free from the relentless drive of perfectionism to embrace growth and self-compassion. ~Addressing feelings of imposter syndrome, helping you trust your abilities and own your successes.

You made it to college but you are either overworking or you can't get yourself to do the work and somewhere along the way you started feeling like a zombie. You are physically and emotionally exhausted. You're feeling burned out, overwhelmed, disconnected and on edge. Hopelessness is sinking in or has already sunken in. You're may even be calling out of work or skipping classes. You are terrified that you can't handle life's demands or the needs of those who count on you. Your self-esteem sucks and you fucking sick of it all. Your relationships are suffering. The words "self-care" elicits both a laugh and a sinking feeling in your stomach, but also, you know that at some time something has to give. You are tired of feeling guilty for having your own needs. It is time. You want to feel capable, hopeful, and like what you do is making a difference. You may want to be rid of intrusive thoughts, memories, habits and old or destructive narratives. You need to function and you need to be at peace with what you need to do to get where you want to go. I am a queer, bi-cultural, large bodied, neurodivergent, first generation late college graduate with a lot of experience overcoming obstacles. Clients who enjoy working with me appreciate compassion, humor, secular/non-religious and trauma-sensitive approaches to therapy. If you have scratched and clawed your way to success and feel it slipping through your fingers then call me today for help learning how to get through this thing called adulting so you can meet your goals.

Shoreline Mental Health & Performance, PLLC is staffed by licensed mental health professionals with years of experience working in both private practice and university settings with clients addressing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, and much more. We provide clinical therapy services for a wide variety of clients, including athletes, military and law enforcement personnel, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Our therapists hold a variety of clinical specializations including treatment of anxiety and OCD, trauma, biofeedback, and expertise in work with athletes and performers. We believe that each person is unique in their strengths, goals, experiences, and struggles. Therapy should be just as individualized as you are. We are passionate about providing a safe and productive space for each client to experience growth in the areas of life that matter most to them. As mental health care providers, we feel honored to walk alongside our clients through challenges and triumphs. Working as a team, we want to help you better understand your thoughts and feelings, develop new ways of connecting to yourself and others, and grow towards the healthiest you.

Trauma can be an invisible wound that can affect many parts of our lives we don’t even realize. I work with clients with depression, anxiety, adoption triad concerns, and trauma-related issues. Change can be hard. Having the courage to reach out and discuss your inner pain and anxiety is the first step. I want to help you work through your past painful experiences, feelings of shame, and traumatic events so that you can create a new life path. I believe each person has their own pace, and am willing to find therapies and strategies that work for you. My approach is open-minded, trauma-based, cognitive, and holistic. I started my career in psychology and counseling when I experienced a suicide in my family. It gave me the courage to make changes for myself, and help people around me who were also suffering grief, loss, and depression. I’m an advocate of mental health issues, a proud adoptee, and a supporter of the arts. **I only accept insurance in the state of North Carolina**

Allow me to support as you take the first step toward growth and healing. Work through symptoms and/or trauma to begin healing.

You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, or disconnected in your relationships—especially during times of change. Life transitions can bring up anxiety, uncertainty, and questions about who you are and what you want, even if things look “fine” on the outside. You may be looking for clarity, relief, and a way to feel more grounded and secure in yourself and your relationships. I support adults through relationship and life transitions by helping them understand attachment patterns and regulate their nervous system. Drawing on my experiences, including my time as a veteran, I blend attachment-based therapy with mind–body tools, informed by my yoga teacher training, to support grounding and connection. I'm here to fully understand your situation and assist providing skills, support or relief during these transitions and times in life. Please reach out and let's see if we connect to help on your journey.

To be human is to feel the ups and downs that life has to offer. I'm here to help you overcome and thrive! Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, angry, hurt, depressed, anxious, numb or maybe you aren't sure what you're feeling.. My goal is to give you a conversation that you won't receive anywhere else; to help you feel heard, understood, supported, and validated so that you can do your best work to make progress towards your goals. Whatever we are holding back or we aren't saying has power over us. That's what keeps us feeling stuck, unhappy, and unfulfilled. It's time to take the power back! As your therapist I can help you find solutions to what has been holding you back, make meaning in your life, and co-create a future that helps you thrive! I use a variety of techniques that are tailored to your specific needs including cognitive restructuring, emotion processing and reflection, trauma focused work, use of coping skills, and more. We all experience challenging times at home, work, and in the relationships we share with others. Finding a therapist that understands you and your needs across these areas of life can make all the difference! Take a positive step to build a life you love and reach out today. I return calls and emails regularly. I look forward to hearing from you!