I received my Bachelor of Social Work degree from Appalachian State University in 2017. I went on to graduate from the Advanced Standing Program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018 with a Master of Social Work degree. Throughout my education I had the opportunity to complete extensive training through internship programs with Child Protective Services in Wilkes county, as well as a social worker at the Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at Duke University Hospital. Since 2018 I have been working as a psychotherapist in various outpatient settings, working primarily with teens, young adults and adults. During my time as an outpatient therapist, I have had the opportunity to lead several groups geared towards adolescents, teens, and young adults including Middle School Social skills groups, Teen Life Skills groups, and Young Adult Dialectical Behavioral Therapy groups. I have additional certifications in trauma informed care and have obtained and maintain my certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.
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Owner/Founder
About Abby
"It is often the small steps, not the giant leaps that bring about the most lasting change"- Queen Elizabeth II
Owner/Founder
Abby Kalainikas
LCSW, CCTP
Age Focus: Ages 16+
Areas of Specialization: Trauma and Mood Disorders
About Me
Throughout my time as a therapist, I’ve had the honor of exploring and learning many different therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Therapy Approaches, and Polyvagal Theory, to name a few. The one thing I have come to realize and truly connect with throughout this training is the importance and power in the mind-body connection. Our emotions start with our nervous systems, and once we can learn to identify and work with our nervous system responses, it’s a game changer.
I have a passion for working with people of many backgrounds managing a number of life stressors. I enjoy working with individuals who are processing both distant past and more recent traumas, people managing the stress of life transitions, be it exciting transitions or stressful transitions, those who have struggled with anxiety, depression, bi-polar, or adjustment challenges. I believe that the most effective therapy is catered to the individual, so you’ll find that I integrate different therapeutic approaches depending on your unique needs and situations. I value identifying behavioral and cognitive patterns and connecting these patterns to past experiences. I also work with individuals to help them to understand the power of effective communication, boundary setting, adaptive coping, and strong interpersonal relationship skills.
As a therapist it is my goal to provide a safe, supportive space to discuss, process and navigate whatever challenges life presents. I am a strong believer that in order for therapy to be most effective, you must find your therapeutic match. In our sessions together you’ll find that I value strong rapport and authenticity. It’s no secret that life can be messy and I believe that you can either learn from it, laugh about it, or cry about it– all of which can be appropriate responses. I don’t shy away from the hard, or from the messy, so you may find that I too show up authentically to assist with verbalizing and exploring the intensity of the human experience.
Reach out to Abby Directly!
Phone:
(919) 633-9047
Email:
abby@solacetherapync.com
When I'm not in the office
When I’m not providing therapy, you’ll almost always find me somewhere outside. I am a strong believer in the power of the sun and a healthy dose of vitamin D as a way to practice self care and maintain a positive outlook. When I’m not outside, you can find me knitting, completing a fun puzzle, loving on my dog, Millie, or losing myself in a good fantasy series. I value quality time with friends and family, strong competition during game nights, a good glass of wine, comfort reruns of The Office or Schitts Creek, and a strong sense of humor.