Courtney received her Master’s of Arts in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has received advanced level training in play therapy, where she obtained a graduate-level certificate and continues to attend play therapy conferences. Courtney sits on the North Carolina Board for the Association of Play Therapy and is completing her necessary supervision hours to obtain her Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential. Courtney also has experience holding Child-Parent Relationship Therapy groups and enjoys partnering with parents to promote positive parenting practices and address parental fatigue.

Before beginning her journey as a counselor, Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. There she focused her coursework on research, developmental psychology, and neuroscience. Upon graduation, Courtney began working in both public and private schools, primarily working with neurodiverse individuals. Through this experience, Courtney truly learned and recognized the importance in being neurodiversity affirming.

Courtney has also completed basic training in EMDR, which she is able to use to reprocess traumatic experiences and Sand Tray Therapy which helps clients tell their stories through sand tray miniatures and unlock solutions to life’s problems.

play therapy; neurodiversity affirming; families; sand tray therapy; EMDR; trauma; CPRT; sensory integration

Courtney draws inspiration from her environment. Whether it’s tracking the stars, being in the water, reading a book, spending time with family, or creating a Spotify playlist, Courtney describes herself as someone who is especially tuned in to the things around them.

Courtney is consistently challenged to step into her most authentic self in session through the experiences of her clients. Whether it’s rediscovering a sense of self after motherhood, embodying your authenticity through gender transition, or discovering who you are for the first time in your life, Courtney is constantly inspired by the stories of her clients. The sacred nature of therapy is not lost on her, and Courtney holds the therapeutic relationship with the highest regard.

When Courtney is not in the office, she’s likely on the beach, on a walk with her dogs (you are guaranteed to hear about bilateral stimulation in session), baking bread, or challenging herself to a new recipe.

Courtney is also the proud dog mom to a deaf puppy named “Otto” after finding him at Autozone. She is learning some ASL and enjoying having a puppy in the house!

Easy. Ina Garten, Mister Rogers, and Taylor Swift.