Grief counselors and therapists in Durham, NC

Life can pull us in a hundred different directions, and sometimes it takes slowing down, getting real, and having honest conversations to find our way forward. My approach is straightforward and commpassionate - no judgment, no fluff. I meet you where you are, walk beside you through the challenges, and help you rediscover your strength, clarity, and purpose.

I’ve been practicing therapy for 25 years, which has included 12 years in NC and prior practice in both Kansas and New Mexico. I’ve worked in community mental health most of my career so I’ve had the opportunity to serve all ages and provide treatment for a huge variety of mental health concerns. I’m pretty down to Earth, open, honest, and genuine. I can be direct when needed to help bring awareness or light to a potential problem area while at the same time me providing support and encouragement. I enjoy hearing people’s life stories and helping individuals navigate their way through difficult life situations and problematic symptoms. No judgment, just a person available to help you find what you need.

My name is Surayyah James, and I’m a board-certified nurse practitioner in psychiatry. Every person’s story matters, and I’m here to listen, support, and guide you as you work toward greater understanding and peace of mind. My practice is rooted in compassion and respect, offering a thoughtful blend of medication management, therapy, and mindfulness—all tailored to what truly works for you

Taking the first step to find a therapist or meet a new therapist is tricky! I am so glad that you are here! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and have been working in Community Mental Health for the past 3 years. My main focus that I work with in my practice over the past few years have mainly been PTSD and Postpartum.

Get what you need! That is my philosophy! I am pleased to hold space for individuals that is warm, relaxing, neutral, and intentional. My goal is for clients to explore who they are, process as they need to, and become empowered to change as they see fit. With over 20 years of Social Work practice and experience, a few of my specific treatment areas include individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease, Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and Stress.

Hi, I’m Christina. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor who helps teens, families, and adults navigate anxiety, trauma, and life’s high-stress seasons. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable, understood, and supported — a place where you don’t have to hold it all together or figure things out alone.

In addition to private practice, I work in community crisis response, supporting individuals and families during difficult or overwhelming situations. This experience helps me stay calm, practical, and focused on what truly helps when life feels heavy.

I believe therapy works best when clients feel safe, heard, and genuinely supported. I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative environment where clients can show up as their authentic selves. My approach is compassionate, direct when needed, and focused on helping clients build practical tools for everyday life while also exploring deeper emotional patterns and experiences.

I enjoy working with individuals navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship concerns, self-esteem challenges, stress, identity exploration, and emotional overwhelm. I am passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients and creating an affirming therapeutic space where clients feel respected and understood.

I understand that starting therapy can feel vulnerable, and my goal is to meet clients where they are while helping them move toward healing, clarity, and meaningful growth.

Please feel free to call me Sam. I'm originally from North Carolina and received my bachelor's degree in social work at Appalachian State. In 2022, I moved to Southwest Virginia and received my master's degree in social work from Radford University. Overall, I have 13 years of experience as a Social Worker in different capacities, including grief and loss, chronic illness, and burnout. My passion is working with adults and older adults navigating life changes.

As a therapist, my goal is to create a space where individuals, teens, and couples feel safe, respected, and truly heard. Whether you're navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, or just trying to find a clearer path forward—therapy can be a powerful place to reconnect with yourself and your goals.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a unique educational background in Pre-Pharmacy and Bachelors of Science in Biology. This diverse educational background plays a role in my ability to encompass the mind, body, soul approach during therapy. I have a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, biopsychosocial assessments, and culturally competency care. I specialize in working with a wide range of populations, but particularly youth and families impacted by trauma. I have experience helping clients navigate complex medical needs, coping with negative emotional stressors, accessing resources, and overcoming the unexpected.

Partner 1: “I reach for you, but it feels like you’re already gone.” I’m left wondering if I matter to you at all.” Partner 2: “When you come close, I feel the pressure to be perfect, so I pull back to protect us both.” These unspoken messages leave couples lonely and stuck. I help break this anxious–avoidant cycle so partners feel safe, seen, and deeply connected again.

“I don’t understand why I want closeness so badly, yet feel disappointed when I have it. Why do I feel lonelier than others, even when I’m not alone?” Or: “I care deeply, but people say I’m distant or hard to read. When emotions get intense, I shut down—not because I don’t feel, but because it feels like too much.”

These quiet tensions live beneath awareness for many people. Longing and self-protection pull in opposite directions. Needs feel confusing, emotions feel overwhelming or unsafe, and core beliefs quietly form—I’m too much, I’m not enough, connection costs me something.

I help people loosen these patterns, reconcile the Self with more truthful and adaptive beliefs, and move toward self-acceptance and interdependence—where connection no longer threatens safety, but deepens it.

After nine years serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I realized my deepest fulfillment came not from fixing systems, but from walking with people. Leaving the military was not a departure from service—it was a continuation of it. I pursued social work and theological training to better support people in their most important relationships. Today, my practice is devoted to couples counseling and trauma-informed care. Drawing primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR, I help couples slow conflict, understand what drives disconnection, and emotional safety. As a veteran and seminary-trained therapist, I bring structure, compassion, and steady hope—meeting clients with respect, grace, and a belief in lasting change.