Courtney Surigao

Courtney Surigao is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) based in North Carolina. She brings 18 years of experience helping people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or deeply tired. Courtney focuses on practical steps clients can take to move toward hope, peace, and renewed purpose.

She centers sessions on the client and uses clear tools to make progress. People often come for help with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting challenges, trauma and abuse, and career questions. Courtney also addresses issues like body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and end-of-life concerns.

Courtney blends Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused ideas. She works with each person to clarify values, identify strengths, and set realistic goals. Homework tasks, worksheets, or real-life practice may be part of the plan to help change take hold.

Her background includes long-term experience with adoption and foster care situations, blended family dynamics, and communication problems that strain relationships. She describes counseling as hard work that pays off when a person stays engaged and committed to change.

Courtney draws on her life, faith, and family experience to inform her approach while keeping the focus on the client’s priorities. Her aim is to help people create achievable plans and take steady steps toward the life they want.

How therapeutic approaches fit into online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters most to the person. It helps people feel heard and supported while they decide what change they want to make.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves spotting patterns of thought and behavior that keep problems going and practicing small changes to interrupt them. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating concerns, and stress management.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people understand and shift emotional responses that affect relationships and intimacy. It can be useful for managing strong emotions and improving communication in close relationships.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will work with the client to match methods to needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine different practices as appropriate. That collaborative process includes checking in and adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example by removing travel time or allowing appointments during a work break. Different formats have different practical benefits, so confirm the session options before booking. The focus is on using the chosen approach in ways that fit the client’s schedule and everyday context.