Therapists for college students near Durham, NC

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College can be exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between—and you don’t have to figure it all out alone. As someone who’s been through the college journey myself, I understand the pressure to succeed, the weight of family expectations, and the struggle to balance mental health with everything else life throws at you. I’m here to support students who are feeling stuck, anxious, burnt out, or unsure of who they are or where they’re headed. With a background in health systems, early childhood development, and clinical training across diverse settings, I offer a space where you can be yourself—no judgment, no pressure. Whether you're processing past experiences, adjusting to a new environment, or just need someone to talk to, I’ll meet you with empathy, tools that work, and a deep respect for your lived experience. Let’s make space for you.

Welcome, I'm glad you are here. If you need a safe space to talk it out, I am here to listen. If you need to cry, yell, lament, or laugh I am here for it! I find it is beneficial, for those that I work with, to talk and to do. I often incorporate creative experiences, outdoor therapy, and movement as integral parts of the counseling process. I consider myself informal, personable, often humorous, and accepting of others. I'm looking forward to meeting you soon.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Here at Rachel Wakeford Therapy, I realize that no two people are the same, and tailor my therapy to meet your specific needs as an individual. I love helping people understand the things that are holding them back with an in-depth approach. After recognizing underlying problems, clients can fully realize their strengths and adjust certain behaviors and thoughts to see things in a different, healthier way.

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I like helping individuals explore and achieve their goals to be their best self. I am a flexible thinker and embrace all people. I feel we learn from one another. I enjoy supporting individuals who have concerns with managing their anxiety. I am passionate about helping those with experienced trauma. I am also experienced in providing support to individuals with substance abuse concerns. I use many evidenced best practices to support those I serve. I am always willing to have a conversation to explore if I'm a good fit. If not, I promise to assist you with finding an individual who can best support you!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

You push yourself to meet expectations—at work, in relationships, in every aspect of life—because failure isn’t an option. But no matter how much you achieve, that nagging voice in your head keeps telling you it’s not enough. You overanalyze your mistakes, replay conversations in your head, and wonder why you can’t just relax and feel good about where you are. The pressure is relentless. You feel like you’re sprinting toward an invisible finish line that keeps moving. The weight of expectations—your own and everyone else’s—presses down on you. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that if you can just work harder, be better, prove your worth, you’ll finally feel okay. But deep down, you’re exhausted. And you’re starting to wonder: Does it really have to be this way? It doesn’t. Therapy can help you step off the hamster wheel of perfectionism and self-doubt. Together, we’ll identify what’s fueling the pressure, challenge the patterns that keep you stuck, and help you build a life that feels authentic, balanced, and actually fulfilling—on your terms. I help young adults and teens break free from perfectionism, self-doubt, and external pressures to build confidence and live authentically.

I specialize in working with folks with impulsive patterns, anxiety, difficulty communicating, relationship struggles, trouble regulating emotions, executive function challenges, as well as supporting folks through transitions. I love working with neurodivergent (ASD, ADHD, OCD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, or other neurodevelopment differences) folks and their families. My clients tend to be people who don't sit still well. My office is full of puzzles, games and fidgets and I'm happy to walk-and-talk and offer more experiential sessions as well. I have over a decade of specialized clinical experience with neurodivergent young people and their families. I offer an experiential approach that is playful and warm yet direct. I am strength based and solution focused and will cater my approach to the interests and needs of my clients.

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I have been working in North Carolina for the past 34 years. I work with clients ages 12 and up, focusing on depression, anxiety, grief, and career development. I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and my Master's in School Counseling. I worked as a counselor in the school system for 28 years before deciding to practice therapy full-time. I believe that the foundation to all therapy is to develop a trusting and non-judgemental relationship. I use a variety of approaches based on client's needs that we both feel will be the most effective.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next? Struggling to manage those negative thoughts? Looking for new ways to cope with your stress? Whether you are trying counseling for the first time or you’ve met with a therapist before, I work to establish a warm and affirming space in our therapy sessions. I recognize that the therapy process looks different for each person, and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide the support that can make this process a little less scary. While I have worked with people of various walks of life, I most enjoy serving folks coping with anxiety, adjustment, stress, and navigating marginalized identities. If you are looking for a space to connect with yourself more and be challenged with compassion, I may be a good fit for you. Click my website link to schedule a brief consult.

When you're struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety, or depression, the idea of opening up and trusting another person can be HARD. I know that you've likely heard so many messages throughout your life about what you should do and who you should be, but I don't think that "shoulds" have a place in therapy. Who do you WANT to be? How do you WANT to feel? That is way more important than any shoulds, and I would be honored to walk alongside you as you start to find answers to these questions over time. Together, we can unravel those expectations - what you've been told it means to be healthy or successful or fill in the blank - and get to the heart of what really matters to you and what you need. Being a human is messy, and as your therapist, I'll be right there in that space with you as a human first, therapist second. Let's explore what it means to be humans in a world that expects perfection (which doesn't exist!) and pushes you to grind until you're too burned out to do the things you actually want to do. Whether you realize it today or not, you deserve peace. I have many tools in my toolbox to support you, but to me the most important thing I can do is to provide you a safe space to explore your experience in its entirety at your own pace - to build a connection that is strong enough for you to know that I won't judge you or make you bad or wrong for how you are feeling or for using certain behaviors to cope. It's what you've known to do up to this point, so let's put our heads together and find the ways that this has made sense so we can look at it from a place of compassion instead of judgment. This is a shame-free space! I hold a special place in my heart for those who are working towards eating disorder recovery who feel like they aren't sick enough because their body size, race, sexuality, or gender identity don't match what they are seeing on social media under the eating disorder hashtags. All identities are welcome here, and no matter what your circumstances, your concerns are valid, you ARE sick enough, and you deserve compassionate, equitable care. If anything I've said here makes you think "I like her vibe," please don't hesitate to reach out. I would love to chat further about what it would look like for us to work together.

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You pride yourself in having it together, but now you feel like everything is falling apart. You were looking forward to college and worked hard to get here, but now that you’re here, you feel like you just can’t get your bearings. Am I good enough? Is all this stress worth it? Will I ever feel fully competent? You feel guilty and wonder if you are ungrateful because of these questions. You want your confidence back but don’t know where to begin. Feelings of isolation and doubt are more common than you think. I've been there and I can help you regain the excitement you once felt. Therapy is a space where you can speak your fears and share your apathy. It is a moment in time that is all about you. Together, we will find your footing again. I offer online therapy sessions so that you can get the support you deserve at your convenience. Call today for a free 15 minute consultation. Take your first step towards feeling like yourself again.

Hello, I am Melina! I worked for many years as a school counselor and have supported people on their journey from kindergarten on through their high school and college years, and beyond. In an inviting and supportive space, I offer creative pathways for verbal and non verbal expression. Such a container provides the safety and acceptance you need to uncover and express deep feelings, heal any difficulties standing in the way, and more confidently open yourself to each life transition as it comes. I offer you my experience and wisdom from decades of working with people from all walks of life.

Hello students! Do you need a medication provider with immediate availability that you can see virtually? Are you struggling with symptoms of ADHD and are looking for resources? Are you experiencing anxiety or depression that is interfering with your ability to thrive? Come see us at HQ Psych. We have therapists, medication providers, and an executive functions coach to help you on your journey. We offer free consultations so you can get to know us and see if we are the right fit. We look forward to meeting you :)

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.