Welcome! My name is Russ, and I’m a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) with an M.Ed. from North Carolina State University. I see adults of all ages, backgrounds, and identities at Three Oaks’ South Durham office or via telehealth. 

My approach is heavily informed by a passion for education I bring from a previous career in academia. Recognizing that I won’t be able to fix every problem (and that some problems just aren’t fixable), I offer a compassionate, judgment-free space where we can work together to increase your knowledge of yourself and others to promote insight and change. This might involve processing difficult feelings to get you unstuck, practicing skills to modify unhelpful behavioral patterns, taking a new perspective on an old challenge, or learning to see and hold opposing truths simultaneously.

I aim to support your growth by bringing my authentic self to the counseling space (including my droll sense of humor when appropriate), enhancing your self-awareness, encouraging personal responsibility, and helping to remove whatever barriers are preventing you from engaging in the activities, experiences, and relationships that make your life meaningful. Because I believe that everyone’s pathway to a meaningful life is unique, I draw on a variety of modalities depending on your individual needs, especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). 

I particularly enjoy working with individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, perfectionism, life or career transitions, burnout, relationship concerns, loneliness, and men’s issues. In addition, I have experience in college counseling and often connect well with college students/emerging adults, high achievers in general, and self-identifying nerds or geeks. 

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, reading, listening to music (mostly jazz and rock) and watching TV or movies (especially baseball, documentaries, classic films, and anything science fiction). 

russm@threeoaksbehavioralhealth.com