Nina is currently accepting clients with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Medcost, and Self-Pay.

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at West Virginia University. I worked for many years with people with developmental disabilities, now referred to the IDD population. Due to the changing climate, my position was phased out and I had to look for another career path. First, I attended University of North Carolina in 2006 and received a Master’s in Liberal Studies, but it was not as career opening as I would have hoped, so I went back to school in 2009 and received my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2013 from Walden University, a CACREP-accredited university. As part of my requirements, I completed my internship here at Delta Behavioral Health. I was involved in the Partial Hospitalization Program, which works with people with acute mental illness that are struggling with extreme emotions. The program offers Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in a facility program setting. I was involved in all aspects of the program.

After graduation I continued to work at Delta until 2014 at which time, I went to work at RHA, a mental health center and worked in their crisis/outpatient clinic. My responsibilities included Comprehensive Clinical Assessments, group and individual therapy and crisis assessment to a variety of different people, ages and diagnosis.

Since returning to Delta in 2016, I have worked to build a private practice and my own company, Clear Path Counseling, PLLC. My preferred clientele would be ages 19 years old and older. The treatment modalities I utilize are Solution Focused, EMDR and DBT skills training. My specialties are people with depression, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance abuse, trauma and LBGTQI adjustment issues. I am trained intensively by Behavioral Tech for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) which is an institute created by Dr. Marsha Linehan, herself. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) by EMBRIA. I am here to help you on your journey of discovery and healing and I have a passion to help you create a “life worth living.”

For up and coming LCMHC, I provide supervision and follow the NCLCMHC board to help you achieve full licensure.

Currently I am taking BC/BS, United Healthcare/Optum, Medcost, and Magellan.

I bring to counseling a wealth of life experience as well as my education, training, and experience in counseling. I spent most of my previous career in university teaching and in the electronics industry.

I graduated in 2011 from Santa Clara University with a degree in counseling psychology. I have worked as a suicide prevention counselor, senior peer counselor, and as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, all at Family Services of the Central Coast in Santa Cruz, California, as well as a grief counselor at Hospice of Santa Cruz County.

A few years ago I relocated to Wilmington to be near my grandson. I worked at Trinity Wellness Center before coming to Delta. Here I see individual clients, and couples. I especially enjoy working with couples on communication, and with individuals facing life transitions, including career changes, and dealing with grief and loss.

I am currently taking Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance and Medicaid. I will see patients who have other insurance for the amount that they would pay for co-pay, and those without insurance on a sliding scale.

As a Psychological Associate and certified as a Health Services Provider, I can help you to embrace self-acceptance and also empower change. I utilize evidence-based approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for ADHD. Mindfulness is core to DBT and explicitly taught within the therapy, and mindfulness also plays a complementary role in other evidence-based approaches. Whether the issue is depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, trauma/PTSD, ADHD, difficulty coping or adjusting, substance use, binge eating/purging, relationship issues, or self-harm, I have a set of skills and proven techniques that will be helpful. Knowing everyone learns differently, I adapt therapy to your needs and can offer individual DBT skills training for personalized learning.

Education
BA in Psychology – University of North Carolina Wilmington 2010
MA in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Substance Abuse Treatment Psychology – University of North Carolina Wilmington 2012

*Telehealth only*
Experience therapy from the comfort of your home through convenient telehealth appointments. Telehealth is perfect for individuals with busy schedules, geographic restrictions, transportation issues, and health conditions, or who simply prefer the privacy and convenience of remote therapy. I’m here to connect with you across North Carolina. Not sure if telehealth is right for you? Let’s chat and see if it aligns with your needs.

You can contact me via email ([email protected]) or call Delta’s main phone number (910-343-6890) and ask for my voicemail. Let me know if you are interested in a free 15-minute phone consultation. Please leave your name, date of birth, insurance, phone or email, and some days/times you are available.

Insurance

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Self-Pay

To borrow a line from the book, A Purpose Driven Life, “We do not think ourselves into a better way of living, we live ourselves into a better way of thinking.”  That being said, I have great admiration for any individual that shows the courage & willingness required to allow themselves to be vulnerable in the company of another person in an effort to improve the quality of not only their lives, but also the lives of those around them.  As an invited guest on your personal journey, it is my goal as a therapist to provide you with a comforting, safe environment to reap the benefits of self-honesty.  I am a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (2002) and a Master’s degree in Social Work (2007).  Prior to joining the team at Delta, I was a Counselor Supervisor at the Wilmington Treatment Center, an inpatient substance abuse/dual diagnosis facility, where I was consistently reminded of how often mood disorders (depression, anxiety) overlap with substance abuse.  I base my therapeutic approach on Solution-Focused, Strength-Based therapy, and frequently use Cognitive-Behavioral restructuring to address self-defeating patterns.  Utilizing my undergraduate minor in Creative Writing, I am also passionate about the value of narrative therapy and journaling exercises when dealing with grieving and unresolved trauma.  I congratulate you for researching this phase of your personal journey…I invite you to take the First Step.

Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield