Michele Deinish (she/her)

When I decided to become a therapist, I knew that I wanted to be trained to help clients integrated their spiritual beliefs into our sessions and feel comfortable discussing any spiritual concerns they were experiencing. In addition to my traditional clinical training, I am a Certified Pastoral Counselor. Over the past 17 yrs I've created a safe space for clients to bring the spiritual aspect of themselves into our sessions. This is always voluntary and the client's choice.

We will all experience grief and loss in our lifetime, but are often unprepared for it. Over the past 17 years, I have journeyed with numerous clients as they grieve. I have engaged in post-graduate trainings on grief, including those offered by hospice organizations. My experience has been that clients want their grief to be witnessed and supported. Our culture expects us to "get over" our grief rather quickly, which is impossible. I feel honored to help those that are experiencing a loss.

For the first 7 years in practice, I treated a wide range of women from ages 16-85. For the past 10+ years I've focused on college-age women and women returning to college. I enjoy working with women in their various stages of the lifespan. As we go through life, our priorities, our identitities, and our bodies change. Helping women to navigate these changes while feeling empowered and resilient is my privilege.

I enjoy teaching my clients about mindfulness practices...ways they can bring their mind back to the present moment and be more aware, curious, and open to their daily experiences. I've engaged in numerous mindfulness trainings over the past 17 years taught by some of today's mindfulness experts such as Dan Siegel, M.D., Sharon Salzberg, Ph.D., and Ron Siegel, Psy.D. In addition to my private practice, I also teach The Art of Mindful Living at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Energy Psychology has been around for decades but has now become more mainstreamed and accepted as a form of psychological intervention. I am trained in EFT, the Emotional Freedom Technique; sometimes referred to as Tapping. Tapping is a form of psychological accupressure that is evidenced-based & well researched. This intervention is used at the VA to help veterans with PTSD. It is also being used as psychological first aid in areas of the world without access to mental health services.

I often use a CBT approach in my clinical interventions. I am CBT trained and enjoy helping clients learn how and why their brain is working as it is. We can then get to work on making cognitive and behavioral changes that support the client's goals. CBT is a non-judgmental intervention. I often encouraged my clients to look at their thoughts and behaviors like a scientist; just observing without judgment. They can then decide, from this neutral place, how best to respond.

Change is hard for most of us. Sometimes the changes we are experiencing are planned, and other times they are thrust upon us. Either way, it's usually a stressful time. The adjustment can still be difficult even if good things are coming from the change such as going to college, getting married, having a baby, starting a new job, or leaving a relationship that is unhealthy. For the past 17 years I've supported and helped my clients through numerous life changes, and I can help you too.