LGBT therapists in North Carolina

As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCAS), I love helping adults struggling with addiction or navigating the challenges of early recovery, as well as other mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma and more. My goal is to provide a supportive space where you can feel understood, build on your strengths, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.

I provide therapy for people feeling stuck and overwhelmed with symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders.

I am a licensed clinical mental health counselor and a certified yoga instructor. I love working with clients that are motivated to change and become the best version of themselves! I enjoy working with clients that are ready to break unhealthy habits and unlearn negative thoughts and behaviors that keep us away from our true happiness and identity.

I, Ifeoma Okani, is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). I specialize in working with individuals who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, trauma, PTSD, insomnia, adjustment disorders, OCD, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addiction. Many of my clients are juggling multiple roles and seek a safe, culturally sensitive space where they feel truly heard and understood. Their goal isn’t just to feel better but to reconnect with themselves, heal from past pain, and thrive emotionally. They want personalized, compassionate care that supports meaningful growth, not just symptom relief. I help by providing a safe, culturally sensitive space where you’ll feel heard and supported. Using compassionate, evidence-based care, I offer psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy tailored to your needs. In our early sessions, we’ll build trust, explore your concerns, and create a personalized plan to support your healing. My practice is unique because I focus not only on symptom relief but on helping clients reconnect with themselves, heal deeply, and thrive long-term. I’m passionate about supporting others so they never feel alone in their struggles. I am committed to providing the support, insight, and clinical expertise you need to restore your peace and well-being.

I believe that healthy relationships are at the heart of emotional well-being and personal growth. Seeking support takes courage, and I am honored to partner with clients as they navigate life's challenges and strengthen their connections with themselves and others.

As a counselor educator, researcher, and relationship specialist, my work focuses on helping individuals and couples build stronger, more fulfilling relationships, improve communication, and create lasting positive change. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based practices that support healing, resilience, and relational wellness.

Before I became a therapist, I spent years in the classroom as a 9th grade English teacher and school social worker, as well as in nonprofit, learning how people grow through story, creativity, and being truly seen. That background, along with a lifelong love of dance, writing, and music, shapes how I practice as an LCSW today. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationships, stress, and identity, and I bring the same warmth and directness I developed in education to every session. If you are looking for a therapist who will be both a steady presence and an honest thinking partner, I would love to connect.

My focus is to help you heal, energize, and become aware of how you want to define yourself. This is achieved through providing a client-centered environment while creating a treatment plan to move you toward feeling more self-love. I utilize techniques from solution-focused, cognitive behavioral, and narrative therapies to help you feel more comfortable and capable in your own skin.

My background is in all aspects of mental health and substance abuse.

Welcome! I am so happy you are here. I am looking forward to getting to know you. I have over 20 years experience as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), School Counselor, and Counselor Educator. I enjoy working with children, teens, and adults as they navigate life.

I am a two time graduate from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and I earned my PhD from North Carolina State University.

I specialize in individual, family and group counseling.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading popular and historical fiction, running, and spending time with my husband and three children.

Thanks for stopping by. I believe healing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or out of reach. If anxiety, depression, trauma, identity stress, or patterns in relationships have left you feeling stuck or exhausted, you’re not alone. Many people seek support when everyday life or past experiences feel heavy, when communication with loved ones breaks down, or when coping feels more reactive than intentional. I work with teens and adults across differences in culture, identity, and life experiences to help you find steadier ground and more meaningful connection in your relationships and your sense of self.