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, 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 (LCMHC)

  • Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS)

  • National Board Certified Counselor (NCC)

  • Qualified Clinical Supervisor (QCS)

  • 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

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • EMDR Therapy Consultant

  • EMDR Therapy Training Facilitator with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, Inc.

  • Clinical Supervisor for LCMHCAs

  • Clinical Consultant

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Clinical Director at a large group psychotherapy practice

  • Intensive Outpatient Program for substance use disorders in community mental health

  • Outpatient treatment program for DWI offenders

  • Intensive in-home team lead

  • Documentation and compliance auditor

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

  • United

  • UMR

Paula Lavocat LCMHC LCAS EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist NCBLCMHC supervisor

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

  • United

  • UMR

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

Clinician

Raleigh Office & Telehealth; accepting new clients on a limited basis

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)

Populations Served:

Blaise welcomes individual clients 16 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD including Complex trauma

  • Addiction - chemical

  • First responders and military personnel

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

  • NC Peer Support Member serving First Responders

  • 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 LCASA EMDR therapist

Valerie Gottula, LCMHCA (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 Associate (LCMHCA)

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

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient therapist at community mental health agency

  • School-based individual counseling

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Valerie Gottula
Tyshaundra Wallace LCMHCA LCASA

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

Clinician

Raleigh & 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.

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

  • Culture and ethnicity

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist - adolescents and young adults

  • Individual, group, and family therapy

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Group Therapist at inpatient facility

  • Community Mental Health

  • Outpatient Therapist

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

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

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • School-based individual and group counseling

  • Intern in Women’s residential program

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Alexa Hahs, LCMHCA (she/her)

Clinician

Telehealth Only - 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.

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

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient 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 - accepting new clients on a limited basis

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 Associate (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

Alicia Snell LCMHCA EMDR therapist NCC

Alicia Snell, LCMHCA, NCC (she/her)

Clinician

Telehealth Only - not currently accepting new clients

Education:

Alicia earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University and her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the United States Naval Academy. 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 Associate (LCMHCA)

  • National Board Certified Counselor (NCC)

Populations Served:

Alicia welcomes individual clients 12 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:

  • Outpatient Therapist

  • Counseling Military families

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

Allissa Marquez, PhD (she/her)

Clinical Psychologist

Raleigh Office & Telehealth - not accepting new clients

Education:

Dr. Allissa earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from San Diego State University and her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Credentials:

Licensed Psychologist in the State of North Carolina

Populations Served:

Dr. Allissa welcomes individual clients 17 years+

Clinical Interests:

  • General mental health concerns including depression and anxiety

  • PTSD/trauma

  • Problematic sexual behaviors

  • First responders

  • Military personnel and veterans

Current Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist utilizing CBT-based therapies including mindfulness for depression, anxiety, and trauma

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Mental health services within a federal agency, as well as EAP services to agency staff

  • Group therapy for depression/anxiety, trauma, anger management, and problem sexual behavior

Allissa Marquez PhD Psychologist Forensic Psychology

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • Cigna

  • MedCost/Contigo

  • Aetna

  • United

  • UMR

Lynne Daack, LCMHC, NCC (she/her)

Clinician

Telehealth Only - currently accepting new clients

Education:

Lynne earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University and her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of Colorado at Boulder. 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)

  • National Board Certified Counselor (NCC)

Populations Served:

Lynne 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

Previous Clinical Experience:

  • Outpatient Therapist at a local large group practice

  • Counseling Military families

Lynne Daack LCMHCA EMDR therapist psychotherapist

Insurance Plans Accepted:

  • BCBS

  • MedCost/Contigo

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**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.**