Renee D. Murphy Hughes, M.A., LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor State of North Carolina, Master of Arts in Counseling/Ca. Pupil Personnel Services Educational Credential, Certified Family Preservation Therapist, Licensed Multi-Systemic Therapist, B.A. in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude)

I approach counseling in a personal yet up-front style using an integrated approach primarily driven by evidence-based techniques,such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. My work is shaped by a Humanistic-Existential view of mankind. My goal is to help people succeed in life by their own definition, by assisting them to identify and use their strengths in order to pursue this individualized, personalized path which we all must take; which I refer to as "OUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE". I believe that everyone has the ability to overcome their struggles and limitations and actualize their potential. Sometimes professional counseling and guidance is what is needed to give the support and direction to motivate oneself to strengthen our inner core and take action on our goals and aspirations in life.

I have more than 25 years of diversified professional counseling experience working in a variety of settings including as the CLINICAL PROGRAM MANAGER and LEAD THERAPIST in a Non-Profit Community Based In-Home Family Therapy Program using the Family Preservation Model with children, adolescents, and adults; focusing on At-Risk teenagers as both an EDUCATOR and a COUNSELOR. This has been my most satisfying relationship with clients as the in-home environment allows the professional to get a true and full picture of the individual and family dynamics in order to better serve the family system. Furthermore, I have been a TEACHER in both regular and special education in both the public and non-public school systems as well as abroad in La Paz, Bolivia. My professional counseling experience also includes the school setting as an INDIVIDUAL and GROUP COUNSELOR as well as a VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR. I have worked with adult patients requiring long-term treatment and living assistance in residential care facilities due to multiple or co-morbid diagnoses such as Autism, Asberger's Syndrome, Self-Harming Behavior, Selective Mutism, Paranoid Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar Disoder with secondary diagnoses, and several other serious clinical disorders and conditions. I have trained in and have professional experience as a CLINICAL SUPERVISOR for a Community Services Agency which treated a variety of clients but specialized in treating sexually abused juveniles and juvenile sexual reactors/offenders. I have also been the SOLE-ENTERPRENEUR of my own private clinical therapy practice in Western North Carolina where I focused my work on children and adolescents with ADHD, adjustment and transitional issues, behavioral and family issues such as divorce, school failure & bullying issues,and adults with depression, suicide recovery, Bi-Polar and other Mood Disorders, relationship issues, pe-marital and marital counseling, educating in effective communication skills, and assisting clients to manage stress and anxiety including work-related stress. I was also affiliated as a HUMAN SERVICIANS CLINICIAN with a major psychiatric hospital for 2.5 years where I ran group therapy sessions, met with individual patients and led family sessions, conducted Level II psycho-social assessments and offered my clinical opinion on diagnoses and prognosis, made treatment recommendations, worked with patients on short-term and long-term goal-setting, and after-care/discharge planning. Among many diagnoses and mental health issues, I worked with suicide survivors, families of suicide survivors, detoxing and recovering alcoholics and substance abusers, trauma survivors and survivors of abuse, as well as provided education on mental health disorders, psychotropic medication education, taught coping skills, stress management and anger management. I have recently relocated to Eastern North Carolina and have seen such positive results in the clients I have worked with through this venue of therapy that I am currently dedicating myself exclusively to distance counseling services. I am an objective, trained, yet compassionate listener who believes that whatever matters to you is worth discussing. I can be the vehicle to your finding your own solutions to whatever stumbling blocks are in the way of finding your serenity and the actualization of your aspirations for yourself. Sometimes we need to get out of our own way to find it. Change and growth can be a very satisfying and productive, yet sometimes painful experience. However, to get to the core root of our problems, I believe we must go through the pain to get to the other side.