Courtney Clement Bowles

In the session, Courtney's goal is to provide a warm and nurturing environment where clients can begin to approach issues or situations with curiosity, work to find insight, and create sustainable solutions to life struggles. Courtney believes strongly in providing copious amounts of empathy and gentle pushing towards cultivating more compassion for yourself. At her core, she is a person-centered therapist and her space reflects that. She will be authentic and genuine in session and hopes her clients feel safe doing the same. She always considers the biopsychosocial model when treating mental health concerns and utilizes techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance, and commitment therapy, and shares an understanding of polyvagal theory with clients.

Courtney received her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she also pursued a certificate in play therapy. Over the past decade, she has spent time working in public and private schools and within families to support the healthy growth and development of children and family systems. Because of this, Courtney specializes in working with children and parents. She enjoys empowering parents through positive parenting skills and utilizes play therapy to address childhood mental health struggles. She is also certified to hold Child-Parent Relationship Therapy classes, which brings the skills of play therapy into the hands of the parent and into their home.

Additionally, Courtney is extremely passionate about being a neurodivergent affirming therapist for all ages and enjoys examining systems or "rules" that exist but don't serve the individual. She also enjoys working with adults on getting in touch with their playful side - whether that be playing with sand or fidgets while in session, or working to create space in their lives for hobbies outside of session.

In her counseling sessions, Courtney enthusiastically listens to her clients and believes an equal and collaborative relationship to be crucial in eliciting change. She believes that every individual holds the power within themselves to work through life’s turbulence and upset. Her role is to help her clients uncover this power while also working to acquire the skills and strategies that will aid them in achieving their goals. The sacred nature of therapy is not lost on Courtney, and she holds the relationship highly. She is honored to be part of someone's life journey.

One of Courtney’s favorite quotes comes from Mr. Fred Rogers, “There is no normal life that is free of pain. The very wrestling with our problems can be the impetus for our growth.”