Thank you for choosing me to embark on this journey with you! “To get thru the hardest journey, we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping” Hi, my name is Kandace Graves, I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of North Carolina. I received a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University in 2016. I am currently licensed in North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. (13510). My graduate experience includes a 12-month internship counseling men and women within an urban community in Ohio. As your counselor my aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment where we can collaborate and work at your own pace to help you reach your goals. I work with men, women, children, teens, couples and families whom have experienced trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety. People who have difficulty transitioning into a new chapter in life and provide reunification therapy to families of divorce. I also provide couples counseling. The theoretical approach I use include but are not limited to Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Rational Behavior Therapy. Though each person will experience hardship and difficulty, I believe that the problem with emotions and behaviors are generally a result of how one thinks and feels about a given situation. Person-Centered Therapy emphasizes each person’s uniqueness, value and worth which provide an environment safe enough to share honestly and openly. Dialectical Behavior Therapy emphasizes acceptance of uncomfortable feelings or thoughts rather than struggling with or rejecting them, allowing change to occur. Solution Focused Therapy relies on what was helpful in other situations in which the client was able to cope. All theoretical orientations are helpful in identifying the root of distress. I believe that knowing where you come from is important to know where you are headed. Trauma and other experiences have a way of permeating into other areas of our lives such as marriage, familial relationships and friendships. Along with the many benefits of counseling come risks. Since counseling often involves discussing unpleasant or uncomfortable aspects of your life, you may experience feelings such as sadness, guilt, anger, shame and helplessness, just to name a few. Counseling allows you to process your feelings and often leads to better relationships and relief from feelings of distress. In order to benefit the most from the counseling experience you must be committed, engaged, and do work outside of therapy to meet your goals. I abide by the confidentiality standards set forth by NCBLPC and upheld by the state law. All of our communication becomes part of the clinical record, which is accessible to you upon request. I will keep confidential anything you say as part of our counseling relationship, with the following exceptions: (a) you direct me in writing to disclose information to someone else, (b) it is determined you are a danger to yourself or others (including child or elder abuse), or (c) I am ordered by a court to disclose information. This platform is not to be used for emergency purposes. If you are feeling like you will hurt yourself or someone else please contact the suicide hotline and/or go to the nearest emergency room. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. I am excited to join you on this journey!