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Therapists answer…

For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?

Stacy HuddlestonS

Stacy Huddleston

Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Therapist
Online & In-PersonAccepting New Clients
For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?
I’d want them to know therapy isn’t about being ‘broken’—it’s about having a safe, supportive space to work through challenges, gain tools, and feel less alone. It’s an act of strength and self-care, not weakness.
My path to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. Over the years, I have experienced grief, loss, divorce, trauma, abuse, and major life transitions in my own journey. These experiences not only shaped my understanding of suffering but also deepened my heart for walking with others who find themselves in painful or uncertain seasons. I know firsthand how overwhelming life can feel, and I also see the hope and restoration that can come through faith, healing, and connection. In addition to my personal journey, I have spent many years as a social worker in the hospice field, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life care, loss, and the grieving process. These experiences deepened my calling to create a safe and compassionate space for people in their most vulnerable moments. They also strengthened my belief that healing is possible even in seasons of sorrow, especially when we lean on faith and community. Today, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I specialize in supporting individuals through grief, loss, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions. My approach is warm, collaborative, and faith-centered—grounded in the belief that every person is created in God’s image and deeply loved by Him. At Connect & Restore Therapy, I blend evidence-based practices with Christian values, offering a safe space where you can process your story, rediscover your strength, and move forward with clarity and peace. It is my privilege to walk alongside you, not only as a therapist but also as someone who has walked through valleys and experienced God’s grace and renewal firsthand. Together, we can lean into hope and pursue the healing and restoration God desires for your life. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Maria DimovaM

Maria Dimova

LMFT / Owner of The Ridge Therapy, PLLC
Online & In-PersonAccepting New Clients
For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?
Therapy doesn’t have to be stiff — it’s a collaborative space to explore your challenges, together. I consider it a privilege to help others uncover their resilience, deepen relationships, and reconnect with their most authentic selves. We will use a systemic lens to foster understanding and guide growth that truly lasts.I am so glad you’ve found your way here. I support women through life’s biggest transitions — from young adulthood to postpartum, motherhood, and midlife — helping ease anxiety, perfectionism, and the stress that comes with major life changes. I also work with couples who want to strengthen communication, deepen intimacy, and build more connected relationships. I am here to help. At the core of my work: easing anxiety, quieting perfectionism, and creating space for healthier, more connected relationships. I help women, couples, and adult families navigate life’s transitions with confidence. Trained by Postpartum Support International, I support mothers through postpartum and motherhood. For couples and pre-marital counseling, I use the Gottman Method and Prepare/Enrich to strengthen communication, intimacy, and connection.
Hi - I'm Maria Dimova (She/Her), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Charlotte, North Carolina. I take a no-nonsense approach, with a touch of humor, to life’s challenges and mental health. You may look like you have it all together on the outside, but inside you feel overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted from trying to do it all. Maybe you’re feeling disconnected from your partner, preparing for marriage, or navigating postpartum changes, the demands of motherhood, or a major life transition. Perfectionism may keep you striving without ever feeling “enough,” and the stress can strain your closest relationships. Life can feel like hiking a steep ridge — exhausting, uncertain, and lonely. What you want most is to feel calmer, more balanced, and more connected — both to yourself and with the people who matter most.
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Dr. Tania Alaby-Varma, PsyD, HSPD

Dr. Tania Alaby-Varma, PsyD, HSP

Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Serving 43 States
Online TherapyAccepting New Clients
For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?
If you’re hesitant to start therapy, here’s what I wish you knew: it’s a collaborative space to gently trace the patterns that repeat in your life—ways you’ve learned to protect yourself, feelings that stay just below the surface, and how early experiences and relationships still whisper into today’s choices—so you can understand yourself more deeply and live with greater freedom. We move at your pace, with curiosity rather than judgment, using the therapy relationship itself as a safe place to notice what shows up and to try new ways of being. Alongside this insight work, you’ll also learn practical skills—tuning your nervous system, naming and regulating emotions, setting and keeping boundaries, communicating clearly, organizing attention and habits—so the “why” beneath your struggles is matched with tools that help you do something different. You don’t need to be “bad enough” to deserve support; you’re allowed to come simply to know yourself better and to feel more in charge of your life.
Welcome! I’m Dr. Tania, a passionate and skilled licensed clinical psychologist who provides personalized, knowledgeable, and compassionate mental health services. I weave together my strong clinical experience and my authentic presence with my patient’s desire to make a change, enabling lasting growth and healing to occur. I am an experienced clinician with a strong educational and training background. I have practiced in various settings, treating a broad spectrum of symptoms, concerns, and presentations. My experience and knowledge are well integrated with connection, relationships, and my genuine caring presence.  I am an independently practicing licensed clinical psychologist in Florida (license #PY12013), New York (license # 026156-01), Maryland (license #06995), and Texas (license #40010 ). In addition, I hold a PSYPACT license (APIT #15089), which is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology & telehealth across state boundaries, allowing me to work with individuals who reside in 42+ states across the United States. I offer telehealth services for individuals in the following states: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY. I see all patients exclusively via telehealth at this time.  I am dedicated to helping my patients develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their strengths and helping them understand and discover what drives their actions and behaviors. I take pride in providing high-quality, compassionate, empirically-based care rooted in my extensive doctoral education and extensive ongoing professional development.  Services Offered My experience has equipped me to provide an array of mental health services tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs. These services include individual therapy, couples therapy, psychological assessments—specializing in ADHD—vocational and career assessments, as well as sports psychology and performance enhancement for high-performers, including C-Suite executives, athletes, artists, and medical professionals.   Individual Therapy: I work with adults and adolescents experiencing various challenges, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, phobias, eating disorders, body image issues, internet and social media addictions, relationship and interpersonal difficulties, obsessions, compulsions, perfectionism, burnout, insomnia, and other psychological presentations within the human experience. I also support individuals navigating life transitions, communication challenges, attachment difficulties, relational concerns, and complex family dynamics. Services are rooted in evidence-based approaches and treatment is infused with compassion and care. Couples Therapy: As a therapist trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1 and 2, I offer couples therapy grounded in the most comprehensive, evidence-based approach available today. Psychological Assessments: I provide a wide range of psychological testing and assessments, including comprehensive ADHD/ADD evaluations, documentation for LSAT/MCAT/GRE/SAT accommodations, diagnosis clarification, ESA letters, giftedness/IQ testing, assessments for academic concerns, and career/vocational evaluations. Please note that my practice does not prescribe psychotropic medications. However, I collaborate closely with psychiatrists and can provide referrals if needed.  My Theoretical Orientation I provide high-quality mental health services that are both scientifically grounded and deeply compassionate, fostering a friendly, accepting, and inclusive environment for all patients. My extensive training spans various therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, as well as cognitive-behavioral treatments like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based CBT (MB-CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), and manualized treatments for insomnia, phobias, and PTSD. I also enjoy incorporating Positive Psychology, Interpersonal/Relational Therapy, Existential-Humanistic Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to support meaningful change. I approach mental health from a holistic perspective, recognizing the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual facets. I am committed to providing a compassionate listening space where you are invited to reflect and explore yourself, understanding your deepest challenges and strengths. Through patient listening, reflecting, shared inquiry, and various evidence based interventions, I strive to help you become more aware of your patterns and thoughts, fostering greater self-understanding and clarity. My goal is to support you in making meaningful and skillful choices that align with your true self.  My Therapeutic Style My approach to mental health, in general, is characterized by an accepting and caring environment that is collaborative in nature. I am authentic, down-to-earth, intentional, and spontaneous in session, which lends itself to a truly collaborative and growth-promoting experience. Therapy with me is a collaborative, action-oriented process providing you the opportunity to foster new perspectives, discover your inherent worth, tap into your inner resources, and develop your capacity for resilience and new skills. I enjoy working from a holistic yet evidence-based approach.  I show up authentically for each patient, and I value transparency and provide my full presence. Patients who work with me can expect to explore feelings, beliefs, and behaviors, understand memories, process destructive relationships, and identify dysfunction, which will lead to a better understanding of themselves and others. During therapy, there is an ongoing effort to develop effective coping skills, decrease emotional distress, improve functioning, and resolve symptoms and problems. Each therapy session is a balance of meeting your present needs and long-term goals. Collaboratively, we will deepen your understanding of yourself your reactions to various emotions and, increase your psychological flexibility and create new perspectives.  My Wishes for You I wish you a life full of love, happiness, fulfillment and health. I am committed to helping you build and find it! It is my greatest honor to accompany my patients on their journey toward deeper self-awareness, growth, the emergence from suffering while becoming a meaningful part of my patient’s lives. Warmly, Dr. Tania
Murphy HallM

Murphy Hall

Telehealth Therapist and Clinical Supervisor
Online TherapyAccepting New Clients
For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?
Therapists are just people. We are a safe place for you to share your emotions and talk about things you feel like you cannot talk to your loved ones about. Your therapist will work to help you feel comfortable.
Hello! I am Murphy Hall, LCSW (she/her). Are you searching for extra support, ways to reduce stress and cope with emotions, or ways to feel more comfortable in your own skin? Sometimes the life we desire to have is not the one right in front of us. With me as your therapist, we can work together to help you navigate the changes you want to make in your own life. I have been described as calm, consistent, and compassionate by my clients. My approach is comprised of support, validation, empowerment, and honesty. I value diversity in my work, which is why I specialize in working with the LGBTQIA+ population to navigate gender and sexuality and have extensive experience in treating trauma, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and OCD. I also offer clinical supervision services for LSW and LMHC-A licensure. I am trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and more. If you are interested in working with me, I welcome you to reach out to schedule an appointment. I look forward to walking with you on this journey.
Tammy LeeT

Tammy Lee

Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Online & In-PersonAccepting New Clients
For people hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them, and what advice would you give?
Therapy looks different for everyone. It's rarely like what pop-media shows it to be. Therapy is for self-care, growth/development, self-identity, and because of that, therapists have therapists too. Sessions are tailored to fit the needs of the person as best as possible, and hopefully we can journey together/alongside you, as a team, towards what YOU want in your growth in life.
I wholeheartedly believe in the process of authentic connection. With a multicultural background, I recognizes each person is uniquely multifaceted. My approach to therapy is to meet you wherever you’re at in life, get curious about you, and then serve as YOUR team to journey alongside you. The goal is to provide a safe empathetic space where you are respected and honored, so that internal self-explorations can begin, and to foster creative evolutions towards intentionality, self-discovery, self-empowerment, and healing. The focus is your growth & thriving towards being the best version(s) of yourself that you like to be. With 8 years’ experience in community mental health, psychiatric facility, and prison systems altogether, I have supported youths & adults with assessments, skills training, and therapy for individual, family, and group. I utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, EMDR, parts work, existential & person-centered insights to address a wide range of concerns. I work towards breaking the stigma of mental health one conversation at a time. I also enjoy traveling, reading, tea, video games, and adore hedgehogs.

For people that are hesitant to try therapy, what do you wish you could tell them?