Connie Kretchmar , LPC, LCMHC

Connie Kretchmar brings 18 years of counseling experience combined with formal training in human development and clinical counseling. She holds a BS in Human Development and a Master of Arts in Counseling from East Tennessee State University, and she is licensed to practice as a counselor in both North Carolina and Tennessee. Her credentials include LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor and LCMHC - Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, which reflect formal licensure to provide clinical counseling services.

Connie works with adults, adolescents, couples, and families across diverse backgrounds and identities, addressing concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, and LGBT-related matters. She also supports clients facing life transitions, career concerns, caregiver stress, aging and geriatric issues, and a wide range of intimacy and attachment challenges. Her practice incorporates coaching elements and attention to self-esteem, communication, and coping skills.

Clinically she draws on cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment approaches, client-centered principles, mindfulness practices, and motivational interviewing. Connie emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship and seeks to meet people where they are, helping them clarify what matters, identify obstacles, and build practical skills. She approaches counseling with the belief that many who seek help are temporarily stuck rather than fundamentally flawed, and she aims to work collaboratively to foster resilience and forward movement.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online sessions

Connie draws from several evidence-informed approaches to tailor care to each person. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on identifying personal values and learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful action - it is often helpful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical strategies to recognize and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and mood instability. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship in which the therapist supports the client's own capacity for growth and self-understanding, which can be especially useful for relationship issues, self-esteem, and processing grief.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work; Connie collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies over time as those needs evolve. This collaborative process helps ensure that treatment aligns with what matters most to the individual.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers greater flexibility for people balancing work, family, or mobility concerns. These options can make it easier to maintain continuity of care, fit sessions into a busy schedule, and access licensed professionals from different locations while preserving the therapeutic relationship and continuity of support.