Dr. Andrea Hayes, LPC, LCMHC

Dr. Andrea Hayes began her career as an educator and later moved into counseling work. She holds a Master of Arts in Community Counseling and a Ph.D. in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior (Counseling). She practices as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina and brings nine years of counseling experience to her work.

She has worked in a range of settings including correctional facilities, juvenile justice, military facilities, community agencies, and private practice. Those roles involved helping people with depression, anxiety, attention concerns, oppositional behaviors, substance use, and trauma. Her background gives her a broad view of how life stress and past experiences shape behavior.

In sessions she focuses on building trust and a warm atmosphere. She uses a person-centered stance so people feel heard, and she often draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Solution-focused techniques are used when clients want concrete steps and short-term goals.

Treatment plans are tailored to the individual. Dr. Hayes adjusts methods as needed and discusses alternatives when different approaches may help. She emphasizes collaboration and practical steps that can fit into everyday life.

People come to her for a wide range of concerns, including stress, anger, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, parenting struggles, compassion fatigue, bipolar mood concerns, and recovery from trauma and addiction. She also focuses on themes such as forgiveness and self-love while addressing veteran and armed forces issues when relevant.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Dr. Hayes commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people notice and challenge unhelpful thoughts and then try different behaviors. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes because it focuses on clear, practical skills and short-term goals.

She also uses a person-centered approach that emphasizes listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship. That style helps clients feel understood and sets the tone for collaborative work. Solution-focused techniques are used when someone wants quick, actionable steps to address a specific problem.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit the client's needs, and adjust the plan over time. Clients help shape which techniques are emphasized so therapy matches their preferences.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face interaction when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be a good choice when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging offer flexibility for brief updates, reflections between sessions, or those who prefer typed communication. These options make scheduling easier and let people fit therapy into busy lives.