Roots & Branches Counseling

Roots and Branches Counseling

Rooted in Christ. Growing into shelter for others.

An oak doesn’t become sturdy by accident. It grows slowly, sinks its roots deep, and over time becomes strong enough to give others a place to rest in its shade. That’s the vision behind this practice: a grounded, faith-rooted space where you can slow down, be honest about what you’re carrying, and find room to heal and grow.

Individual, couples, and family therapy in Wilmington, NC — in person or online.

Call or text (910) 941-8347 to schedule a free 15-minute consult.

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Hi, I’m Cary.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate with a background that includes teaching, cross-cultural work, and trauma support — which is a polite way of saying my resume has taken a few unexpected turns.

I spent seven years teaching first grade in Wilmington public schools before moving to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I founded an education program for girls, worked on an HIV/AIDS support project, and learned that even the best plans have to bend when real life shows up. After returning to the U.S., I completed graduate work in counseling, coached individuals preparing to move overseas, and spent years walking alongside survivors of trauma and trafficking here in Wilmington.

Somewhere along the way, I realized this was the work I was meant to do: sitting with people in the honest, unpolished middle of their story, and helping them find solid ground again.

Today, I bring that experience — patience from the classroom, clarity from coaching, and a deep respect for the resilience I’ve seen in people navigating hard things — into the therapy room. You can expect warmth, genuine care, and yes, the occasional bit of humor along the way. Healing doesn’t have to be heavy all the time.

My Approach

I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy — every client is different, and your care should be too. My approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and a strengths-based lens, tailored to what’s most helpful for you. That might look like using fidget tools during a hard conversation, mapping out family dynamics together, or simply sitting in the quiet while you find the words. If faith is part of your story, I’m glad to integrate that too — entirely at your pace, and only by your invitation.

Credentials & Training

M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Columbia International University
M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, Columbia International University
B.A. in Elementary Education, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA), National Certified Counselor (NCC)
Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
Trained in EMDR and Trauma-Focused Care (Levels 1 & 2)
Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and SYMBIS for couples

Specialty Areas

Therapy works best when your therapist actually gets your world. Here’s where I tend to do my best work:

Raising a child who thinks, feels, and experiences the world differently is deeply rewarding — and it can also be exhausting in ways that are hard to explain to people who haven’t lived it. As a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, I help parents and caregivers of autistic and neurodivergent kids process big emotions (yours and theirs), navigate schools and IEPs, and hold onto the wins, even the small ones. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need someone in your corner who understands the terrain.

Families of Autistic & Neurodivergent Kids

Missionary. Aid worker. Expat. Repat. If your life has involved packing up everything you own, learning a new language and culture from the ground up, or trying to explain reverse culture shock to people who’ve never left home, I understand — because I’ve lived it. After more than a decade coaching missionaries and nonprofit staff headed to (and coming home from) the field, I know the particular kind of exhaustion that comes with straddling two worlds. We’ll work through the grief, the identity questions, and the very real toll of a life spent in service to others.

Cross-Cultural Workers & Global Nonprofit Staff

Adults Healing from Trauma

Trauma has a way of taking up more space in your life than it deserves. I’m trained in EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy, and I’ve spent years alongside trauma survivors, including seven years supporting survivors of human trafficking. We won’t rush the process. We’ll build safety and real coping skills first, then do the deeper work at a pace that’s genuinely yours. Healing isn’t linear — but real progress is absolutely possible.

Women Over 35 Ready for a Reset

Somewhere between caring for everyone else and holding the calendar together, a lot of women reach a point where they start asking, “what about me?” That question isn’t a crisis — it’s an invitation. I work with women navigating life transitions, self-esteem, anxiety, and relationships, and I’d be glad to help you figure out what your next chapter looks like.

Couples Ready to Reconnect

Every couple gets stuck sometimes — the same argument on repeat, feeling more like roommates than partners, or slowly drifting apart instead of growing together. I primarily use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help you understand the deeper needs and fears underneath your conflict, with a few tools from the Gottman Method woven in when they’re useful. My goal isn’t to referee or take sides. It’s to help you find your way back to each other, whether that means healing after a rupture, navigating a big transition, or simply reconnecting with why you chose each other in the first place.

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