Ready for a change?
Counseling services in Wilmington to help you get unstuck and moving forward in your life. Everybody needs a helping hand sometimes.
Overcome Depression
Conquer Anxiety
Control Your Desire to Use Substances or Unhealthy Behaviors to Cope
Nationally Accredited by
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
When it comes to feeling better, have you ever asked yourself...
Why do l feel so unmotivated and ineffective?
Why can't I stop worrying about everything?
How can I get control over my use of alcohol, drugs, or my overspending or overworking?
You CAN find relief and live the life you deserve!
Unlock The Change You Desire
We understand the hopeless feeling of not knowing HOW to feel better.
We know how paralyzing fear can lead to feeling constantly overwhelmed.
We recognize the self-loathing that can come from believing you are out of control.
Since 2007, we have helped thousands of people feel better and become the best version of themselves.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO HELP YOU TOO!
How We Can Help
Feeling Better Doesn't Have to Be Out of Reach
Take Control of Your Life
Know how to cope with depression so you can move forward in your life and feel hopeful again.
Gain the communication skills needed to reduce
conflict and feel more connected with others.
Enhance your problem-solving abilities so you can manage day-to-day life stressors and be more effective.
Get Back to Living
Reduce your desire for substances or behaviors that numb your feelings so you can trust yourself again.
Control your urges so you can keep your promises to yourself and others and be able to depend on yourself.
Don't Let Life Just Happen to You
Step 1: Schedule
Fill out the Contact Form. We will call you to set up your Intake Appointment and answer all your questions.
Step 2: Set your Goals
At your first appointment, we will help you make a customized plan and during upcoming appointments, we'll work together to execute it. We'll eliminate obstacles and you'll always know what to do when.
Step 3: Feel Better
You'll go from being distressed on a daily basis to taking control over your emotions and your life.
Don't Take Our Word for It -
Hear It Directly from Some of Our Clients
"Without the staff at A
Helping Hand, I would not be the woman I am today...I thank you all. It's not just a job for all of you! I know you care about me, my family, and everyone else you help with their lives now and years to come!"
AG - Wilmington, NC
"Miracles in abundance here...get one they got plenty!"
JF - Carolina Beach, NC
"A Helping Hand and entire staff, they have been absolutely crucial in my continuing recovery. My deepest gratitude and thanks goes out to them."
SR - Wilmington, NC
"I keep coming back because it's real here. We are not just another number, ya'll really want to help people."
FD - Leland, NC
Let's Connect
Counseling FAQs
WHAT IS COUNSELING?
Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Counselors work with clients to provide therapy on a wide range of issues. They may include life changes, including divorce, career changes, empty nest, adapting to college life, and returning from military deployment. Grief after a traumatic experience, such as losing a loved one. Substance abuse and addiction. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and processing past traumatic events. Relationship issues; sexual orientation and gender identity issues, and much more.
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DOES GOING TO COUNSELING MEAN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME?
Your decision to engage in counseling means you are strong and goal-oriented. Just like a surgeon cannot operate on themselves, we need assistance sorting through what is going on in our minds and someone else to teach us the skills we were never shown.
SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO TALKE TO MY FRIENDS ABOUT THIS STUFF?
Talking with our friends is very therapeutic, but what we are offering is the chance to learn the skills needed to make the changes you want to see permanently.
WHAT IS INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING LIKE?
Individual counseling allows you to develop a trusting relationship with one of our counselors so that you feel comfortable in exploring the issues that concern you. You will never be judged and can feel free to be as open as you want to be. You will decide what it is you would like to work through and what coping skills you may want to learn. Individual counseling sessions typically last between 45 and 50 minutes but can be as short as 20 minutes. The frequency and duration of counseling sessions is up to you. We offer in-office or virtual appointments.
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WHEN IS COUPLES COUNSELING A GOOD IDEA?
People often come to couples counseling to work on issues related to communication, an affair, loss of connection or sexual intimacy, blended family or infertility issues and more. It’s not about blaming or finding fault. During your first joint session, the therapist will get to know each of you and find out what are the issues of concern. The therapist and the couple will then get to work uncovering the sources of conflict. Couples therapy is about helping you to learn and practice the tools that help you achieve a better relationship, and restore trust. The counselor will also work to remove the idea that being in conflict is bad or that you are doing something wrong because you disagree.
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WHAT IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM?
Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program (SAIOP) is an alternative to inpatient treatment for substance use disorders. SAIOP includes group therapy three times per week that is primarily education driven. Participants learn about addiction, the path to recovery, and relapse prevention. In addition, topics include co-occurring disorders, depression, anxiety, dealing with negative emotions, anger, resentment, disappointment, guilt, shame, grief and loss, rejection, apathy, and trauma. Participants learn to let go, use mindfulness, re-wire their brains to cope with and diminish urges and cravings, deal with barriers to recovery, restore self-respect, self-esteem, and develop emotional intelligence. Once a month individual and family counseling are available, if wanted, as a part of this service as well as any referrals to local resources.
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IS IT BETTER TO SEE A THERAPIST OR A PSYCHIATRIST?
Psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists/counselors all work with individuals to improve mental health symptoms and substance use disorders. They talk with individuals, uncover what is wrong and help people improve their thoughts and behaviors to live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. The difference is in how these three professions go about it. While psychiatrists use medical treatments, including prescription drugs, to treat mental health and substance use disorders; psychologists are focused on testing to provide accurate diagnosis particularly for the educational, social security, and legal systems; while therapists/counselors focus on talk therapy, coping skills and behavioral changes.
The best place to start is to begin a relationship with a therapist/counselor. That professional will know if additional expertise needs to be brought in and will make the appropriate referrals for you and collaborate with those professionals in your care.
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WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF TRAUMAS THAT WOULD NEED COUNSELING?
Types of traumas are grouped into Acute, Chronic and Complex traumas. All types of traumas would benefit from counseling when a person needs help coping with the experience. Examples of acute trauma are natural disasters, accidents, or the sudden death of a loved one- the event happens once. Examples of chronic trauma are childhood abuse or intimate partner violence where the event is repeated. A complex trauma is something life-threatening and long-term, such as experiencing a war zone/ combat zone, or human trafficking – events were life-threatening, emotionally challenging and occuring over a period of time.
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