Bethany

Welcome! I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor that hails from the mountains of West Virginia, but have called Wilmington home since 2014. I attended West Virginia University for both my BA in Psychology (2012) and MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2018). I found my passion for mental health after becoming involved with the local organization paws4people. Having three Marine brothers, I saw first-hand the impact military experience and trauma can have on a person's relationships and overall functioning. I have been part of the paws4people team since 2015, and have been fueled by the impact service dogs have in helping to mitigate symptoms and bring meaning back into people's lives. In 2022, I pursued my own service dog and was chosen by GILLIGAN to help manage my own mental health issues that arose after having children. He is a great asset not only to my life, but my clinical work and the Be Well Wilmington office!

I began my career in 2018 working in community mental health as an Intensive In-Home therapist, and then stepped into private practice in 2019 before opening my own practice in 2020. I have extensive experience working with trauma and PTSD, but have shifted my clinical focus in recent years to allow more work-life balance after welcoming three amazing babies into the world.  Currently, I work primarily with clients experiencing life transitions, college-aged issues, sexuality and faith incongruence and interest in self-image work. I am a strong advocate for the inclusion and love of all, period. My mission is for every client that comes into my office to feel accepted, understood, and worthy of all the best things in life.

I take a person-centered approach, recognizing that each individual should be treated as such, and thus cannot fit into a modality box. I consider my approach and eclectic gathering of tools and techniques that are tailored to each person's specific needs, goals, and personality. I prioritize the right fit of our working relationship above all else, and am the first to jump into the trenches with my clients to help them navigate their way to better functioning and goal attainment as a team. GILLIGAN has proven to be an additionally welcome asset to help clients feel more loved, grounded, and accepted in our time together.