About Jake, lcmhc
Why I love this work.
Therapy isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about doing the sometimes difficult work that leads to real change. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, I help clients untangle challenges with anxiety, depression, and relationships, guiding them toward clarity and connection. My approach combines mindfulness and trauma-informed care with ACT principles, encouraging clients to lean into discomfort as a path to growth. From my time in HR to 27 months serving in Indonesia with the Peace Corps, I’ve seen how resilience is built through showing up in hard places—and that perspective shapes how I work with every client.
I left a career in HR to focus more on people.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in human resources. What I loved most wasn’t the business side, but the chance to sit with people and talk about what mattered to them. Eventually, I realized I wanted a career that focused fully on that kind of work. I knew I needed experiences that would challenge me on a deeper level, both personally and professionally.
My time in the Peace Corps was a turning point.
Living in Southeast Asia meant stepping into a world where everything was different—language, culture, even how people saw me. It stretched me in ways I never expected and planted the seed for the kind of counselor I wanted to become: someone willing to sit in the unknown, to listen, and to grow alongside others.
Mindfulness gave me clarity and a better marriage.
During this time I also had the opportunity to immerse myself in silent meditation retreats which helped me slow down enough to see my own patterns clearly, and to notice how much of life’s struggle comes from automatic cycles we don’t even realize we’re in.
Mindfulness helped me reclaim responsibility for my own inner world—and that shift changed my marriage and my work. Now it shows up in therapy too, where I help clients create the same kind of space to step back, notice, and find a different way forward.
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Every relationship faces cycles of distance and closeness. In our work together, you’ll find a space to slow down, break out of old patterns, and rediscover connection with your partner.
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Therapy gives men a place to drop that weight, make sense of emotions, and build healthier ways of showing up in life and relationships.
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Trauma leaves its mark in ways that words don’t always capture. Together, we’ll use gentle, evidence-based approaches to help your mind and body heal, so you can reclaim peace and a sense of safety.
My specialties
My focus areas grow out of my own journey as much as from the work I’ve done with clients. I understand the courage it takes to lean into conflict, stay with pain, and challenge the patterns that keep us stuck.”
Why I Love Couples Therapy
There’s something raw and real about the energy in the room when two partners show up ready to do the hard work together. Couples counseling can be incredibly vulnerable, but also incredibly hopeful.
In my personal life, I’ve seen how relationships can be a powerful vehicle for self-growth and fulfillment. For me, it’s not just about solving problems, it’s about helping couples find new ways to connect and to build something meaningful together.
Being present in those moments, guiding two people toward truly seeing and being seen by each other, is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
My Philosophy of Therapy
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: change often starts by doing something different. Insight matters — I value the moments of clarity that come when someone finally names what they’ve been feeling. But insight alone isn’t enough.
Sometimes the most powerful shift happens when we step into a new experience, whether that’s having a different kind of conversation with a partner, setting a boundary, or trying something outside our comfort zone.
Therapy with me is both practical and compassionate. We’ll explore the deeper patterns at play, but we’ll also look for real-world steps that move you toward the life and relationships you want.
Working with Men
As a male therapist, I’m passionate about walking alongside other men. Too often, we are told that strength means silence, or that emotions are weakness. I see it differently.
Our emotions are some of the best data we have for understanding what’s happening inside us. Anger and frustration might be the easiest to access, but there’s usually so much more beneath the surface — sadness, fear, hope, desire.
When we learn to recognize and work with those emotions, we don’t just “get softer.” We get clearer, stronger, and more grounded in our lives and relationships.
We are a good fit if —
You’re open to looking honestly at yourself and your patterns, even when it’s uncomfortable.
You’re willing to do the hard work of showing up in your relationships, not just hoping they’ll change on their own.
You value depth and authenticity over quick fixes.
We are not a good fit if —
You’re looking for someone to hand you surface-level tips without exploring the deeper issues underneath.
You want change without being willing to practice new ways of engaging with yourself or others.
You’re committed to staying in old patterns rather than testing out new perspectives.
Therapy with me is —
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where honesty matters more than perfection.
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grounded in real-life growth, not just theory or quick fixes.
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about leaning into discomfort when that’s where growth is hiding.
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I’ll bring my presence and tools, and you’ll bring your willingness to show up.
My Background & Training
Education
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, Wake Forest University
Training
Phase 1 Brainspotting certified
Phase 2 Gottman certified
Phase 1 Emotion Focused Therapy certified