Aliya Saulson, LCSW

she/her/hers

 Areas of Expertise:                                                                   

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Heartbreak
• Emerging Adulthood/College Students
• Grief & Loss
• Identity & Growth
• Life Transitions
• Self-Esteem & Self-Love
• Trauma
• LGBTQIA+ Identities

Modalities:                                                                   

• ACT—Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• CPT—Cognitive Processing Therapy
• CBT—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Mindfulness

Part of choosing to engage in therapy is choosing to understand yourself more and to seek other perspectives to do so.  I engage clients in collaborative processes to assist you not only in improving your relationships with others, but also enriching your relationship with yourself.  I collaborate with you to cultivate an intentional life by asking questions you’ve never thought about before. I take great intention in creating a space where you feel supported and accepted, because we must feel a certain level of safety and trust in order to have the courage to change, grow, and be vulnerable.

I am a welcoming therapist with a warm energy committed to providing a client-centered approach that takes into account every aspect of your identity.  I particularly enjoy working with young women in emerging adulthood (ages 18-30) but I have experience working with adults of all genders and all ages.  I aim to provide LGBTQIA+, sex-positive, affirming services while incorporating a social justice anti-racist framework.  In my clinical work, I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy modalities and mindfulness approaches to meet clients “where they are.”

Rupi Kaur writes “What is stronger than the human heart which shatters over and over and still lives?”  I consider psychotherapy to be one way that clients strengthen their hearts, and I am continuously inspired by the resilience I see in therapy sessions every day.  It is an honor to be a part of my clients’ journeys towards living more meaningful lives.

Experience:

• Charlotte Trans Health Member https://www.charlottetranshealth.org
• Extensive experience counseling adults and young women at Duke Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
• Clinical Internship Placements at Duke Hospice Bereavement Services and Duke University Medical Center Inpatient Psychiatry
• Involvement in multidisciplinary consultation/didactic teams focused on trauma treatment, multicultural concerns, and clinical triage processes
• Master of Social Work, Smith College School for Social Work
• Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, The University of Georgia
• In addition to providing counseling services to clients in North Carolina, Aliya is registered to provide telehealth services to clients living in South Carolina. Interested parties may view details on the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website: https://llr.sc.gov/TeleHealth/SocialWork.html