Challis Russell, LPC, LCMHC

Challis Russell is a licensed counselor who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationships, and life changes. She speaks plainly and listens closely to understand what each person needs. Her approach aims to make therapy practical and doable for everyday life.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different actions. She also draws on client-centered methods to make sessions feel respectful and grounded in each person's goals. Mindfulness tools and solution-focused strategies are added when they fit the situation.

Challis earned a master's in clinical counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She has five years of clinical experience working with a variety of concerns, including depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, bipolar challenges, and ADHD. Her additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, attachment issues, blended family concerns, and communication problems.

In sessions she prioritizes clear goals and practical skills. People often work on coping strategies for stress, improving communication, managing mood shifts, and addressing intimacy or trust issues. Sessions aim to leave people with doable steps to try between meetings.

Challis is licensed as an LPC and an LCMHC and practices in South Carolina. She offers care in English and accepts international clients. Session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.

How online approaches shape practical therapy

Challis commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes that can reduce anxiety and low mood. She also uses client-centered techniques that focus on listening, understanding your priorities, and building a therapeutic relationship that guides goal-setting.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She will work with each person to decide which combination of methods fits their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life. Sessions begin with clear aims and adjust over time based on progress and feedback.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which let people choose what suits their routine. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can work well with limited bandwidth, live chat is helpful for shorter check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options make it easier to schedule consistent work and apply skills in real life.