Courtney Surigao

Courtney Surigao is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) based in North Carolina. She brings 18 years of experience helping people cope with grief, major life changes, stress, and relationship pain. Her approach centers on listening first and then working with each person to set realistic steps toward feeling better.

Courtney focuses on practical change. She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused work to identify patterns and try new ways of responding. Sessions often include short, actionable tasks to practice between meetings so progress can carry into daily life.

She also draws on client-centered and emotionally-focused ideas to create space for hard feelings. People are encouraged to name what matters to them and to use their strengths in the work. This can be helpful for grief, hospice and end-of-life counseling concerns, family conflict, and parenting strain.

Courtney has supported people dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, and struggles with self-esteem and intimacy. She also addresses practical issues like sleep, eating, chronic illness, caregiver stress, and career worries. The work blends narrative and solution-focused methods to clarify values and goals.

She emphasizes that change takes effort and time, and that counseling can feel difficult at points. Courtney invites people who are ready to take steps toward hope and steadier days to begin the process and make concrete plans for change.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding what matters to the person. The therapist follows the client's pace, reflects concerns, and helps the person name priorities and values. This approach helps when someone needs a caring space to sort through grief, loss, or personal confusion.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It breaks issues into smaller steps and offers practical tools to try between sessions, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep, and coping during life changes. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people notice and express important feelings and repair strained connections, which can be useful for intimacy and relationship difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then try methods that fit those needs. That lets the process stay collaborative and flexible as progress unfolds.

Confirm available session formats before booking because specific online options are not listed in the profile. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow focused check-ins from a familiar setting. Some approaches, like CBT, lend themselves to short between-session practice, while client-centered work supports more open-ended conversations during online meetings.