Wayne Petersen

I'm Wayne Petersen Jr., a Black male Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 17 years of experience. I've worked with people through some of life's hardest seasons — addiction and recovery, trauma, identity struggles, men's mental health, and the kind of stress that starts to run your life. I know what it means to carry things quietly. A big part of why I do this work is to be someone people can actually talk to, without performing or having it all figured out first. You bring what's real — we work with that.

My approach is strength-based and built around you as an individual. I use evidence-based methods — CBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy — but techniques only go so far. What matters more is building a working relationship where you feel comfortable enough to do the actual work. I don't rush the process. I'll support you, challenge you when it helps, and adjust as things evolve. Progress looks different for everyone, and I follow your lead.

Expect a real conversation — not a clipboard or a checklist. We'll talk about what brought you here, what's been weighing on you, and what you're hoping to feel or do differently. Ask me questions too. By the end of our first session, you'll have a clear sense of what working together looks like and whether it feels right. There's no pressure to have it figured out before we start. That's what the first session is for.