Alaina Presley

If you're navigating trauma, grief, substance use, or the way those things tangle together, you've found someone who specializes in exactly that. As an LCSW and LCASA based in North Carolina, I've spent my career working with people in the hardest chapters of their lives — and I've seen firsthand that healing is possible, even when it doesn't feel like it. I bring training from Baylor University and evidence-based tools that actually work, alongside a genuine belief in your capacity to get through this.

I draw primarily on Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for trauma and PTSD, and Seeking Safety — a structured, evidence-based approach designed specifically for people managing trauma and substance use at the same time. I also use CBT and strengths-based techniques to help you build practical skills you can use between sessions. My approach isn't one-size-fits-all: I follow your pace and your goals.

In therapy, you can expect me to be curious, direct, and genuinely invested in what matters to you. During our first session, we'll talk about what brought you in, what you're hoping for, and what feels most urgent. Once we're clear on direction, I'll start offering practical tools you can use between sessions — not just in the room. We'll build from there at a pace that works for you.