Brandy Shott, LCMHCA, NCC, Transforming Touch® Level 1 Practitioner
Welcome, I’m Brandy! I am committed to building a relationship with you in order to navigate your story. My counseling style is conversational and direct, balanced with genuine care in order to collaborate and assist you with rewriting your story and achieving your goals. I love working with adults, adolescents, children, families, and couples. Some of my specialties include trauma, anxiety, codependency, attachment, and life transitions. I believe that each of us has a wisdom within to heal; together we will help you connect with your own inner wisdom to experience wellness.
LIFE TRANSITIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS
Life is hard and acknowledging that you want a change and are looking for support is courageous and vulnerable. Transitions or changes in life can often bring about new challenges, uncertainties, and emotional shifts. I goal is the help individuals navigate these changes and adapt to the new circumstances in a healthy and effective manner. My therapeutic approach focuses on creating a sense of safety and support so that you can process your thoughts and emotions.
TRAUMA
Unfortunately, we have all experienced trauma, and our body holds the memories. Trauma is a biological response to a distressing event or situation that breaks your sense of security. A traumatic experience can be a direct threat to life or safety, but also anything that leaves you feeling overwhelmed or isolated. Two individuals who experience the same event may have different reactions and outcomes; what might be traumatic for one person may not be traumatic for another. One of the ways I help clients work with their trauma is with Somatic Experiencing (SE). SE is a unique body-awareness approach to healing trauma. SE helps the nervous systems renegotiate awareness from dysregulation to effective self-regulation. To learn more about SE click here.
CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, YOUNG ADULTS & FAMILIES
It is a joy and honor to work with people of all ages in a family system. I have three children of my own, so I understand the high and lows of parenting and helping children grow, develop, and shine! When working with children 5 – 12 years of age I utilize child centered play therapy, child- parent relationship therapy (CPRT), and Somatic Experiencing (SE) in a holistic and personalized approach. I am in the process of being certificated as a Registered Play Therapist and SE practitioner. I also have a passion for working with adolescents and teens and will incorporate activities and expressive arts therapy into our work together. My focus is to support families with children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and transitions. My therapeutic style is one that emphasizes empathy and understanding, but also utilizes a loving, yet realistic approach that helps facilitate change. And humor! I think humor is essential to the therapeutic process; however, my kids would call it “mom humor”.
HOW I HELP
Prior to entering the field of mental health, I spent 20 years in various leadership roles in Higher Education work with college students. I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Appalachian State University, a Master of Education in Higher Education from NC State, and a Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health from University of North Carolina - Charlotte. Through my work with students, I realized that my true calling was to help people grow, develop, heal, and be their true selves. I am also committed to my own transformation. I believe when life events are understood in the larger context of a journey for the soul toward wholeness, then you can consciously use these occurrences as a gateway to your own transformation.
MORE ABOUT ME
Outside the office you will find me spending time with my husband and three kids. Our three kids keep busy with travel sports, band concerts, and fun experiences. As a family we love to travel, especially to Disney; but also cruises, beaches and any amusement park. I also enjoy yard work, cooking, shopping, and playing sports.
FAVORITE QUOTE
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” -Maya Angelou