We are a dedicated group of professionals striving to achieve excellence in providing trauma-focused, culturally competent, inclusive care for all.
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
In-network with all insurance plans accepted at practice
Insurance Plans Accepted:
BCBS
Cigna
MedCost/Contigo
Aetna
United
UMR
Medicaid
Medicare
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
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
Medicaid
Medicare
Tyshaundra “Ty” Wallace, LCMHCA, LCASA (she/her)
Clinician
Wilson Office & 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
Medicaid
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
Medicaid
Janier Barton, LCMHCA, LCASA (she/her)
Clinician
Knightdale Office & Telehealth - currently accepting new clients
Education:
Janier earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from East Carolina University. In addition to earning her counseling degree at ECU, Janier earned certificates in Addiction Prevention and Treatment, as well as Military and Civilian Trauma Studies.
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
Beth Sprowls, LCSWA (she/her)
Clinician
Knightdale Office & Telehealth - currently accepting new clients
Education:
Beth earned her Bachelors of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee (UTK) in 2021. She was part of the Honors cohort and also earned a minor in American Sign Language (ASL). Beth continued for graduate school at UTK in the advanced standing program. She earned her Masters of Science in Social Work in addition to a certificate in Forensics Social Work in 2022. Beth is an EMDRIA-trained EMDR therapist.
Credentials:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA)
Populations Served:
Beth welcomes individual clients 14 years+, as well as couples and families
Clinical Interests:
General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety
PTSD and complex trauma
Families and Adolescents
Military & First Responders
Current Clinical Experience:
Outpatient Therapist
EMDRIA-trained EMDR Therapist working toward EMDRIA Certification
Previous Clinical Experience:
Outpatient therapist at community mental health agency
Outpatient therapist in private practice
Insurance Plans Accepted:
BCBS
Cigna
MedCost/Contigo
Aetna
Medicaid (pending)
Lauren Duerson, LCMHC, LPCC (she/her)
Clinician
Telehealth Only - 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
Brainspotting Level 1 Trained
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
Brainspotting Level 1
Previous Clinical Experience:
Outpatient Therapist
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Insurance Plans Accepted:
BCBS
Cigna
MedCost/Contigo
Aetna
United
UMR
Medicaid (pending)
Alexa Hahs, LCMHC (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 (LCMHC)
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
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.**