About Mariel, lcmhcA
Why I love this work.
Therapy gives people the opportunity to slow down and better understand themselves, their relationships, and what matters most to them. I enjoy helping people navigate life’s inevitable challenges while staying connected to what gives their lives meaning. Sometimes that means working through grief, anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties. Other times it means exploring larger questions about identity, purpose, and how to build a life that feels more fulfilling.
A Path Shaped by Diverse Experiences
Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a manager for a fashion brand, led a touring band that performed throughout North America and Europe, and volunteered on a suicide prevention hotline.
These experiences exposed me to people from a wide range of backgrounds and life circumstances. Along the way, I developed a deep appreciation for the role that connection, communication, and empathy play in helping people navigate challenges and create meaningful change.
Finding Meaning in Difficult Times
People often seek counseling during periods of loss, uncertainty, relationship struggles, or significant life change. While therapy can help reduce distress, it can also provide an opportunity to gain perspective, clarify what matters most, and decide how you want to move forward.
I believe that even difficult experiences can become catalysts for growth, deeper self-awareness, and a greater sense of direction. Therapy provides a space to explore those possibilities and move forward with clarity and intention.
My Approach To Therapy
I work with adolescents, adults, and couples facing concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and personal growth.
My approach is grounded in person-centered and Existential therapy. I believe people are more than diagnoses or symptoms, and that therapy works best when it is collaborative. Together, we will identify goals, revisit them as needed, and work toward meaningful and lasting change.
Why I Love Couples Therapy
Relationship distress is often about more than communication problems alone. Many couples find themselves stuck in patterns shaped by attachment needs, past experiences, and family-of-origin dynamics. Understanding those patterns can create empathy and open the door to change.
In couples work, I integrate the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy to help partners better understand one another, strengthen emotional connection, and develop healthier ways of navigating conflict. I believe relationships can be catalysts for growth, and I find it meaningful to help couples overcome challenges and deepen their connection.
Background and Education
I earned my bachelor's degree from Duke University and my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. I completed my clinical internship at Lewisville Family Counseling and currently practice as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) in North Carolina.
We are a good fit if —
You are open to exploring patterns in yourself, your relationships, or your life.
You value a collaborative approach to therapy.
You are looking for more than a quick fix and are willing to engage in the process of change.
You are interested in building a more meaningful, connected, and fulfilling life.
We are not a good fit if —
You are looking only for advice or quick solutions.
You are not interested in examining your role in recurring challenges or relationship patterns.
You are unwilling to make changes outside of therapy.