Therapists for college students near Duke University

I work with young adults (18-30) on anxiety, social anxiety, and self esteem. Does this describe you? You are the lonely one; you feel unseen. You feel deeply, and your emotions are intense. You are jealous of others who find it easy to connect, and you want what they have. When you seek connection, people disappoint you with their lack of authenticity. You love, but don’t know how to be loved. You once thought a romantic relationship or best friend would be the solution; you would feel whole. But you did not feel complete, and happiness started to feel out of reach. Understanding in your relationships feels foreign. Despite your frustration, you are committed to finding understanding, being valued, and connecting with others. You want to shine and thrive. I know your inner world's importance. I am familiar with the challenge of discovering how to fit in the social world. Can you imagine yourself confidently connecting with others? Can you imagine being valued and heard? Together, we will find your confidence. We will explore fears, hang-ups, and insecurities together. Take the first step towards the confidence and connection you want! Contact me for your first free 15-minute phone consultation.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. As a friendly and compassionate therapist, I work with individuals ages 10 to 65, offering support through a person-centered approach and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Whether you're a child, teen, young adult, or adult, my goal is to create a safe space where you can explore challenges, build healthy coping skills, and improve communication in your daily life. I also offer school counseling resources, including guidance on navigating 504 plans, to help students and families feel more confident and supported. Wherever you are on your journey, I’m here to walk alongside you.

Have you or your child been feeling stuck? Have you started to question who you are and what it will take for your circumstances to change? Have difficult memories from the past started to creep back into your mind? Has the voice of outsiders and social media started to make you question your success? Maybe you're in the midst of a major life transition. Holding these thoughts inside while balancing daily tasks can be stressful. Being able to express yourself in a safe space can make all the difference while you begin to view yourself and your circumstances with new lenses. I provide my clients with a space where they can unpack their feelings, express their emotions, and develop strategies to move forward. I am a trauma informed therapist. I am passionate about educating clients on trauma and seeing their progress. I use an integrated approach to allow for an organic therapeutic journey. You can do this! Let's be honest, starting therapy can be a little intimidating. Contact me to schedule a brief consultation!

When life feels overwhelming, you don't have to navigate it alone. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy for anxiety, depression, PTSD, life transitions, and relationship and family concerns. I believe therapy begins with feeling genuinely heard. Together, we’ll create a safe, nonjudgmental space to understand what you’re experiencing, build on your strengths, and move toward meaningful change. Your experiences, values, and goals guide our work. I’ll listen carefully to understand your concerns and collaborate with you on a treatment plan tailored to your needs, using approaches such as CBT, DBT, somatic practices, and strengths-based therapy. Therapy should feel collaborative, supportive, and purposeful. Sessions are structured yet flexible, with room for reflection, skill-building, and honest conversation. I welcome your feedback and regularly check in to ensure our work remains helpful and aligned with your goals.

Katherine is a warm and engaging therapist who values honesty and transparency in her interactions with clients. She is passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals and find joy in their lives. She believes that therapy is a collaborative process and works closely with clients to create a customized treatment plan that meets their unique needs. Having recovered from her own eating disorder, Katherine is able to bring a unique level of empathy and understanding to every session. Clients can expect to feel heard and validated but also pushed to confront their thoughts and behaviors in a supportive environment. Her encouraging approach helps clients feel comfortable opening up and sharing their feelings, and her humor adds a refreshing, lighthearted touch to the therapeutic process. Katherine earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies from Furman University and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina. She has worked in all levels of care from outpatient to residential and most recently was the Program Director of a telemedicine Intensive Outpatient Program for Eating Disorders and the Director of Behavioral Health for a national telemedicine company. Katherine has over a decade of experience treating a wide range of issues including eating disorders, trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, personality disorders and substance use disorders. She holds independent licenses to practice Social Work in 15 states and is currently pursuing her Eating Disorder Specialist certification through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

At Taylor’s Touch of Clarity, we work best with college students who feel overwhelmed, stressed, or uncertain—even if everything looks “fine” on the outside. Many of the students we support are balancing classes, work, family expectations, relationships, and the pressure to figure out their future, all at the same time. You may be experiencing constant stress, anxiety that makes it hard to focus, low confidence, or feeling stuck in your own head. Some students come to us feeling burned out, disconnected, or unsure of who they are becoming. Others are navigating depression, self-esteem challenges, relationship concerns, or major life transitions. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and support is available. Our practice is built on creating a safe, non-judgmental space where students can openly talk about what they’re going through without feeling rushed, labeled, or misunderstood. We focus on meeting you where you are and tailoring care to your individual needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. At Taylor’s Touch of Clarity, counseling is a collaborative process. We believe progress happens best when clients feel heard, respected, and actively involved in their growth. Our clinicians work alongside students to build practical coping skills, increase emotional awareness, and strengthen confidence in both academic and personal areas of life. Using a client-centered and strengths-based approach, we help students identify their values, recognize their strengths, and develop tools to manage stress, anxiety, mood challenges, and relationship concerns. Our goal is not just to help you get through college, but to support you in building skills and self-understanding that will serve you well beyond it.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Life in your teen and early adult years is overwhelming. Figuring out who you are, fielding all the expectations, managing unknowns about the future, and putting yourself out there socially are all demanding your time and energy. It's a lot. Maybe you’re about to give up, feeling ready to stop being disappointed in yourself, or feeling that this is just how life is, and you need to cope however you can. You've done all the things you thought you were supposed to, and it doesn’t seem like it’s enough. You don’t have to keep pushing through. A meaningful, joyful life is possible for you, too. I work with teens, young adults, and their families to address the “never enough,” “what’s wrong with me,” or “why did this happen to me?” In our work, we will slow down and process the beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you while learning behaviors that support the person you are becoming. My approach is warm and compassionate, yet direct. Teen years and young adulthood are hard enough; you don't have to figure it out on your own. Together, we will work through the self-doubt, feelings of hopelessness, and the sense of isolation so that you can be your unique self—truly seen and valued. Strong and confident.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I believe in the quiet brilliance that lives within everyone. A light that may flicker beneath exhaustion, doubt, or the weight of being everything to everyone, but never entirely goes out. You are the steady one, the go-to, the fixer of things. Yet in still moments, the whisper comes: 
"What if they find out I’m barely holding on?" Here, you are invited to lay it all down. 
To exhale. 
To listen inward. My mission is to help you return to your own knowing: the fierce, intuitive, radiant self that may have been buried beneath roles, expectations, and the noise of the world. Through thoughtful, compassionate therapy, I will help guide you, not toward becoming someone else, but toward remembering who you’ve always been.

I'm a Systemic Family Therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families dealing with a variety of challenges including communication, conflict, school and behavior issues, ADHD, identity, and life-stage transitions. I take a collaborative, psychoeducational approach using humor, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, genograms, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and specific interpersonal and communication skills to help you reach the goals you set.

Our approach encompasses comprehensive care that goes beyond what you will find at your average mental health practice. We offer comprehensive psychotherapy services that go beyond the typical weekly appointment to include ongoing coordination with medical providers and stakeholders in your health/wellbeing, advocacy and consultation, connections with local and national resources, assistance navigating the complex system of mental health services, and incorporation of primary supports.  We also offer evaluations incorporating scientifically valid, reliable psychological testing, in-depth clinical interviews, review of medical/legal records, and completion of collateral interviews. Both of our doctorate level psychologists have extensive experience service as expert witnesses in the justice system and are specifically trained to complete clinical, civil, forensic, and psychoeducational evaluations to meet the specific client's needs.

Dr. Carmaletta Zandi provides compassionate, comprehensive care for people of all ages, drawing on her expertise to support a wide variety of needs. Her top practice areas include ADHD Evaluation and Therapeutic Care, Depression and Anxiety Management, Gold Years Wellness, Educators Resilience Therapy, and First Responder Support. Dr. Zandi specializes in thorough assessment and personalized treatment for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan, integrating neuroscience with practical strategies to help clients enhance focus, manage impulsivity, and thrive. With a strong commitment to Depression and Anxiety Management, Dr. Zandi offers evidence-based therapies to help clients navigate challenging emotions, reduce symptoms, and build resilience. Her approach is empathetic and collaborative, empowering individuals to achieve greater emotional well-being and stability. Through her Gold Years Wellness program, Dr. Zandi supports older adults with a focus on cognitive health, emotional balance, and smooth life transitions, enabling seniors to enjoy vitality and fulfillment in their golden years. She also provides Educators Resilience Therapy, tailored to help teachers and school staff strengthen their mental health, manage stress, and boost emotional regulation—so they can sustain their passion for education. Recognizing the unique pressures faced by those in emergency services, Dr. Zandi delivers First Responder Support for law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and other front-line personnel. She offers practical tools and therapeutic strategies to address occupational stress, trauma, and burnout, fostering resilience and overall well-being. Dr. Zandi is dedicated to working collaboratively with clients—whether children, adults, or seniors—addressing ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, emotional regulation, and the mental health needs of caregivers, educators, and first responders. Her client-centered, evidence-based approach ensures each individual is supported, heard, and empowered to achieve lasting well-being and personal growth.

Many of the students I work with are going through times of change, pressure, or uncertainty. You might be trying to balance school, relationships, and future plans, all while dealing with stress, anxiety, or questions about who you are. Maybe you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like no one really sees what you're carrying. I work best with students who are ready to explore those feelings in a safe, honest space, even if they’re not sure where to start. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be open to looking inward and having real conversations. Whether you're dealing with relationship issues, identity questions, trauma, or the day-to-day weight of being a student, you're not alone. I’m here to listen without judgment, help you make sense of what you’re feeling, and support you in moving forward with more clarity and self-trust.

Have you ever felt like you were the only one who feels overwhelmed, anxious, like life is out of control? "What is wrong with me? Why can't I get it together?" Let us help make the whole picture more manageable .We have the therapists to help meet your needs. We are trauma-informed practice and have received extensive training in treating survivors of trauma and other types of therapy including EMDR. Let us help you through your journey.

I can help address needs of clients struggling with anxiety, depression, stress disorder, OCD, mood swings or psychotic symptoms. I have been seeing clients via Telehealth and all my clients like the comfort and flexibility of Telehealth for medication management. I am only running a Tele health based platform at this time and there are no in person visits. I have medical licence for states of Massachusetts and North Carolina.

Accepting new clients for teletherapy, daytime hours only. Please call 919-307-9958 and leave your name and number so we can talk about your need and if counseling will be helpful for you at this time. I look forward to meeting you.

Many of the students I work best with share a common thread: they feel overwhelmed by the transition of college life and want a safe place to sort through it all. Some are managing anxiety, stress, or burnout from balancing classes, work, and relationships. Others are navigating questions of identity, independence, or self-confidence. What they all have in common is a desire for a supportive space where they can be honest about what’s hard and learn tools to feel more grounded. My approach is down-to-earth and collaborative, so if you’re looking for someone who understands the challenges of student life and wants to walk with you through them, you might find a good fit here.

I was born and raised in the Columbia area where I stayed to attend undergraduate and graduate school, graduating with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina. I am independently licensed to provide therapy services and have experience working with children, teens, young adults, and parents to address concerns such as trauma, depression, and anxiety. I accept Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurance as well as private pay. I am currently accepting in-person and virtual clients in South Carolina and North Carolina. Please don't hesitate to ask me about my sliding-scale fees.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.