About Josh, lcmhc
Why I love this work.
Therapy, to me, isn’t about seeing rapid results that come from fleeting motivation. It’s about shifting our perspectives, building resilience, and finding ways to make our human experience more gratifying and grounded.
Experience Across the Human Spectrum
From working with teenagers in an inpatient substance use program to seeing clients decades older in an outpatient therapy setting, my experience has been both humbling and rewarding. These roles have shaped how I understand struggle, growth, and the many forms mental health challenges can take across different stages of life.
Seeing the Person, Not the Diagnosis
I view clients as complex humans — not as labels or diagnoses — but as individuals looking to improve their mental wellness, regardless of diagnosis. Therapy becomes most effective when we focus on the whole person and their lived experience, rather than reducing them to a single symptom or category.
My Approach To Therapy
I primarily draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). At times, therapy and psychology can feel overly complicated or “heady.” I don’t believe that complexity is necessary to build psychological flexibility or a meaningful life.
My approach emphasizes real, human connection — two people working together to better understand emotions, build regulation skills, and respond more effectively to life’s challenges. I work with clients from all backgrounds in a way that is collaborative, direct, and non-judgmental.
A question I often explore with clients is whether they genuinely want to get better. Therapy is not only a place to vent or be validated — though those moments do occur — but a space to accept what cannot be changed and focus on what is within one’s control. Habits and fixed mindsets can be difficult to shift, but difficult does not mean impossible.
Background & Education
After earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I returned to East Carolina University to complete my master’s degree in Clinical Counseling, with a focus on drug and alcohol addictions. I have worked in an inpatient residential rehabilitation setting, counseling and supporting adolescents struggling with substance use and co-occurring challenges.
These experiences, combined with a deep respect for the human capacity for growth and resilience, continue to inform my work as a therapist. I currently practice as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate (LCAS-A).
We are a good fit if —
You’re willing to be introspective and honest
You want more than just symptom relief
You’re open to examining habits, patterns, and mindsets
You value a collaborative, straightforward therapeutic relationship
We are not a good fit if —
You’re looking only for validation without change
You want quick fixes without personal effort
You’re not ready to engage actively in the therapeutic process
You prefer therapy to stay purely surface-level