We are a dedicated group of professionals striving to achieve excellence in providing trauma-focused, culturally competent, inclusive care for all.

Paula Lavocat LCMHC LCAS EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist NCBLCMHC supervisor

Paula Lavocat, LCMHCS, LCAS, NCC (she/her)

Clinician & Practice Owner

Licensed in North Carolina

Licensed for Telehealth in South Carolina

Telehealth Only; accepting clients for waitlist

Education:

Paula earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Campbell University and her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from North Carolina State University. Her EMDR therapy training was completed through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, a premier EMDRIA Approved EMDR therapy training program.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHCS)

  • Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS)

  • National Board Certified Counselor (NCC)

  • EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

  • EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Populations Served:

Paula welcomes individual clients 16 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD including Complex trauma and dissociative experiences

  • Addiction - chemical and behavioral

  • Weight and body image

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

  • United

  • UMR

Blaise Harris, LCMHC, LCASA, NCC (he/him)

Clinician

Knightdale Office & Telehealth; accepting new clients

Education:

Blaise earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina Central University and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University. Blaise is an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist. His EMDR therapy training was completed through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, a premier EMDRIA Approved EMDR therapy training program.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

  • Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCASA)

  • National Board Certified Counselor (NCC)

  • EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

  • EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training (CIT)

Populations Served:

Blaise welcomes individual clients 16 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD including Complex trauma

  • Cultural and racial identity

  • Addiction - chemical

  • First responders and military personnel

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

  • NC Peer Support Member serving First Responders

  • Speaker/presenter on Mental Health and related topics

  • Social Media Content Creator on Mental Health and related topics

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist at a local large group practice

Blaise Harris LCMHC Certified EMDR Therapist

Valerie Gottula, LCMHC (she/her)

Clinician

Wilson Office & Telehealth - currently accepting new clients

Education:

Valerie earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Barton College. Her EMDR therapy training was completed through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, a premier EMDRIA Approved EMDR therapy training program.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Populations Served:

Valerie welcomes individual clients 16 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Women’s mental health

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • EMDRIA-trained EMDR Therapist working toward EMDRIA Certification

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient therapist at community mental health agency

  • School-based individual counseling

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

  • United

  • UMR

Valerie Gottula
Tyshaundra Wallace LCMHCA LCASA

Tyshaundra “Ty” Wallace, LCMHCA, LCASA (she/her)

Clinician

Knightdale & Wilson Offices, as well as Telehealth - currently accepting new clients

Education:

Ty earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Mount Olive. Her EMDR therapy training is through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, a premier EMDRIA Approved EMDR therapy training program.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA)

  • Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCASA)

Populations Served:

Ty welcomes individual clients 12 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Addiction

  • LGBTQIA+ populations

  • Gender identity

  • Cultural and racial identity

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist - adolescents and young adults

  • Individual, group, and family therapy

  • EMDRIA-trained EMDR Therapist

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Group Therapist at inpatient facility

  • Community Mental Health

  • Outpatient Therapist

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Lauren Arney LCMHCA

Lauren Arney, LCMHCA (she/her)

Clinician

Telehealth Only - currently accepting new clients

Education:

Lauren earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Central Florida.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA)

Populations Served:

Lauren welcomes individual clients 16 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Women’s mental health

  • Perinatal mental health

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • EMDRIA-trained EMDR Therapist

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • School-based individual and group counseling

  • Intern in Women’s residential program

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Janier Barton, LCMHCA, LCASA (she/her)

Clinician

Knightdale & Wilson Offices, as well as Telehealth - currently accepting new clients

Education:

Coming soon

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA)

  • Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCASA)

Populations Served:

Janier welcomes individual clients 18 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • Complex trauma and PTSD

  • Substance use and recovery

  • Midlife transitions

  • Grief and loss

  • Sexual trauma

  • Cultural and racial identity exploration

  • Women’s mental health

  • Military families

  • Relationships

  • Spiritual integration and meaning-making

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist - mental health and addiction

  • Individual therapy

  • EMDRIA-trained EMDR therapist working toward EMDRIA Certification

  • DDS in private practice

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • Private dental practice owner

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Alexa Hahs, LCMHCA (she/her)

Clinician

Telehealth Only - not currently accepting new clients

Education:

Alexa earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary and her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education with a minor in Psychology from Appalachian State University. Alexa is also a Prepare and Enrich facilitator for couples. Her EMDR therapy training is through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, a premier EMDRIA Approved EMDR therapy training program.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA)

Populations Served:

Alexa welcomes individual clients 11 years+ and couples

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Supporting Military families

  • Family and couples

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • EMDRIA-trained EMDR therapist

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Community mental health

  • School-based counseling

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Lauren Duerson, LCMHC, LPCC (she/her)

Clinician

Telehealth Only - not currently accepting new clients

Education:

Lauren earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Clemson University and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona. Her EMDR therapy training was completed through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, a premier EMDRIA Approved EMDR therapy training program.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) (California)

  • EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

Populations Served:

Lauren welcomes individual clients 16 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD including Complex trauma

  • Addiction

  • Women’s mental health

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • Certified EMDR Therapist

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

  • United

  • UMR

Start your journey today.

**All Clinicians, with the exception of Paula Lavocat, are contracted to provide services for Advocate Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. Independent contractors are not employees of Advocate Counseling and Consulting, PLLC.**