Jennifer Cook, MA, LCMHC, NCC

Hello! My name is Jennifer Cook and I'm a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, having graduated from Wake Forest University with a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I completed my Clinical Practicum, as well as Clinical Internships I & II at Pride in North Carolina, a community mental health facility in Wilmington, NC. I worked there as an Outpatient Therapist for several years before joining PORT Health Services, also in Wilmington, NC, as an outpatient therapist. While working through my graduate program, I was also a mental health technician on the acute adolescent unit at a local mental and behavioral health hospital. Currently, I work as a private practitioner in Wilmington, NC. The search for a therapist can be intimidating, as you are choosing someone with whom to share your most intimate thoughts and feelings. It's not easy to choose, but I wanted to share a bit about myself to help you see if we might be the right fit. I'm probably not exactly what you think of as a therapist, as I am a former airborne soldier with the United States Army. I'm not the prim and proper, super put together therapist who holds your hand and tells you everything will be alright. Instead, I'm the a therapist who walks beside you on your journey to see things differently, make changes in your life, and advocate for yourself. While I strive to create a safe and empathetic place to share your innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears, I will also challenge you, as well. I have years of experience working in community mental health, where I worked with clients with almost every category of DSM diagnosis, and have also worked on an Acute Unit for a Behavioral Health Hospital. While I know that at times, I will see clients who are at an urgent place in their life, my specialty is working with clients who are at an impasse in their lives, or feel "stuck," and are ready to make changes. Though I enjoy working with kids and teens, my case load is currently full for that age group and I am currently only taking on new adult clients. In addition to being a therapist, I'm also a United States Army veteran, having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently, I live on a small farm in Pender County and I love to be outdoors. I enjoy backpacking, mountain biking, soccer, and scuba diving.