Ready for a change?
Counseling services in Wilmington, NC to help you get unstuck and moving forward in your life. Everybody needs a helping hand sometimes.
When it comes to feeling better, have you ever asked yourself...
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, our therapists have helped thousands of people in Wilmington, NC & beyond, feel better and become the best version of themselves.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO HELP YOU TOO!
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. Jim Hembree will call you to set up your Intake Appointment and answer all your questions.
Step 2: Set your Goals
At your first appointment, your therapist will help you make a customized plan and during upcoming appointments, you'll work together to execute it. Your therapist will 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
Therapy Clients
I have referred more than one person here and I will continue to do so. Professional, personable, empathetic. They definitely care more than larger more corporate establishments in the area and it shows. Love them and everything that they do.
Sarah G.
Worthy of one million stars. Hands down the best therapist and mental health care in the area!!! I would highly recommend to anyone in need. They helped me through the hardest time in my life. I owe them the world.
Laura E.
I have been receiving therapy from Helping Hand with Stephanie for over 2 years now. All the employees are very professional, kind and are truly there to serve our community! Excellent group of people and I highly recommend them.
Shannon R.
THIS PLACE IS TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!
Joseph C.
I cannot speak highly enough of the Helping Hand of Wilmington! This organization truly lives up to its name, providing invaluable support when it's needed most. During a challenging time, I found myself in need of assistance, and from my very first interaction, I was met with understanding and genuine care.
A huge part of my incredibly positive experience was thanks to Steph. She is an absolute gem! Steph consistently went above and beyond, offering not just practical help, but also outstanding positive support that made a world of difference. Her empathetic approach and unwavering encouragement helped me navigate complex challenges with a sense of hope and confidence. She was always there to listen, offer sound advice, and provide the reassurance I needed to keep moving forward. Thanks to Steph I felt truly supported and empowered.
If you're looking a somewhere that genuinely cares and provides impactful assistance, look no further. They have Steph who is a beacon of light in our community, and I am so grateful for the dedication and the wonderful help I received.
Katelyn S.
If I could give 10 stars I would!! I started seeing Deborah S. a couple months ago , & I must say , she is the BEST therapist I've had my entire life! 🥰 She makes me feel so validated & heard ! I feel incredibly safe, and I feel I can express my feelings without the need to hide anything! Like finally someone is validating what I've been dealing with my whole life , finally I feel understood in dealing with my mental illnesses that I can't explain to anyone !! She actually gives me some hope !! Which has not been a thing with past experiences... she's always giving me new, important information that no other therapist or doctor ever explained to me!! She actually listens & understands! I'm just super grateful for her, and for A Helping Hand of Wilmington 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 thank you a million times over!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️
UPDATE!‼️‼️‼️‼️
I'm still seeing Deborah S. As my therapist , and I'm still loving her !!! She has helped me in ways that no other therapist ever has ! It's been about a year now that I've been going to "A Helping Hand " and while my condition is very complex, I'm definitely improving thanks to Deborah! All of the staff are super nice , Jim , at the front desk is awesome! He's very on top of things , and always making sure patients are comfortable & feel welcome while in the waiting room , offering us coffee , water , ect.. and he's always a pleasure to talk to ! I can't say enough good about the staff & the care that I get there!! Still recommend 10/10!! ♥️♥️
Jessica L.
I can’t thank the staff at A Helping Hand of Wilmington enough for all the help and resources they provided to me recently and to our community everyday!! They are kind, patient, understanding, and always there to help with whatever you need to accomplish your goals.
Amy M.
5 stars isn’t enough! There isn’t a rating scale high enough for this establishment. There’s businesses and then there’s A Helping Hand. These people strive and are beyond committed to embodying the “Hand Up” gesture in every fashion fathomable. They are courteous, professional, respectful, understanding, and astute in their practice. The acuity this particular installation promotes within its ranks is unmatched, unparalleled and can only be found within the confines of their walls alone. I will never not recommend this teams’ expertise in this field to anyone seeking a service like this and have unwavering faith that expectations would be met and exceeded! You guys are simply the best; cannot be contested.
Tyler R.
I have been seeing Khristine for about a year and a half now and she is truly the best therapist I have had! The people who work in the admin here were also wonderful when helping me get set up at this practice. I have recommended this practice to multiple friends because I feel like there is a great focus on meeting future goals while improving your coping skills.
Riley B.
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.
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 TALK 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.
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.
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.
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 occurring over a period of time.
I DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION. CAN I STILL GET THERAPY?
Absolutely. Our virtual therapy sessions mean you can get the support you need from anywhere—home, work, or wherever you feel safe.
WHAT IF I'M TOO NERVOUS TO OPEN UP?
That’s okay. Many people feel that way at first. Our therapists are trained to create a safe, judgment-free space where you can go at your own pace.
WILL THERAPY ACTUALLY HELP ME?
Yes, it can. Our licensed therapists use proven methods like CBT and DBT to help reduce anxiety and build real, lasting change. Many of our clients start feeling relief sooner than they expected
Let's Connect
