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.
