Hi, I’m Holly.

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor serving Chapin, Irmo, Lexington, and the greater Columbia area. I care deeply about this work and consider it a privilege to sit alongside people as they move through what’s hard and begin to feel more present, connected, and like themselves again.

Early in my career, I noticed something important: many people could understand their patterns and tell their story clearly, yet still felt stuck in the same emotional and physical cycles. That’s what led me to shift how I practice.

Today, my work is trauma-informed and grounded in nervous system and neuroscience-based approaches. I integrate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and DBR (Deep Brain Reorienting), which allow us to work with where experiences are actually held — not just in thoughts, but in the body and deeper brain systems that drive automatic reactions.

Rather than only talking about what’s happening, we pay attention to what your system is doing in real time — subtle shifts, tension patterns, orienting responses — and gently support change from the inside out.

How I Work

My style is relational, collaborative, and attuned. You won’t be left on your own to figure things out, and you also won’t be pushed faster than your system is ready for.

Together, we:

• Track what’s happening in your body and nervous system in the moment
• Work with underlying protective and orienting responses
• Create safety and stability before going deeper
• Support integration so changes actually last

This work is often quieter and more precise than traditional therapy, but it tends to create deeper, more sustainable shifts.

Approaches I Use

I draw from several modalities depending on your needs, with a strong foundation in relationship and attachment. 

• EMDR helps the brain reprocess experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity
• DBR works at an even earlier level in the brain’s response to threat, allowing us to gently resolve shock and survival responses at their root
• Trauma-informed care guides everything I do, prioritizing safety, choice, collaboration, and respect for your pace

I also integrate elements of CBT, ACT and solution-focused approaches when helpful, but always through a nervous system-informed lens.

Who I Work With

I work with teens and adults and support a range of concerns, including:

• Trauma and PTSD
• Complex Trauma, Relational Trauma and Early Attachment Trauma 
• Anxiety, overwhelm, and shutdown
• Depression
• Relationship concerns
• Life transitions and identity questions
• Chronic Stress and Burnout

While I have experience across these areas, my work is especially helpful for people who feel stuck despite insight, or who are looking for something beyond traditional talk therapy.

Education and Certifications

B.A. in Psychology – Winthrop University, 2006
M.A. in Clinical Counseling – Columbia International University, 2009

Certified EMDR Therapist – Learn More 

Approved DBR (Deep Brain Reorienting) Practitoner – Learn More