Your Path to Healing and Wellness begins here.
Welcome to Essential Continuum!
We now accept Aetna, BCBS and State Health Plan (SHP) as
in-network providers.
Here is what makes us different, but better, than your last therapy experience(s):
We are Neurodiverse-affirming clinicians with lived experience.
We are educated in LGBTQIA+affirming care.
We are Autism/ADHD Specialists who have done the research into evidence-based therapies and love to customize them to your own personality and learning style.
We affirm that we all live in a screen and technology filled world and have helped many clients navigate and manage that reality in a way that makes their lives better and more fulfilled.
We are true advocates for the “true you”.
Essential Continuum offers a range of counseling and therapeutic services to support individuals through their personal journeys. Our dedicated team provides both in-person and telehealth options to ensure accessibility and immediate support for those in need.
What if
you could feel better
and still be you?
Healing happens here.
Healing happens when you feel nurtured, heard, and respected. At Essential Continuum, our experienced professionals combine traditional counseling techniques with innovative therapeutic practices to create a supportive environment tailored to you.
Our Services
Comprehensive Support
Explore our diverse range of counseling services designed to promote mental well-being and personal growth. Each service is customized to address your unique challenges, ensuring a holistic approach to your healing process.
Individual Counseling
Personalized Therapy
In our safe, sensory-friendly therapy spaces, your chosen individual counselor will begin by getting to know the authentic you. Together, the two of you will co-create grounding techniques and creative expression that lead to better communication and resilience. Both telehealth and in-person options are available.
Community Connection
Group therapy offers a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences and learn from one another, fostering connection and growth. We offer groups that support the authentic life our clients are seeking. Our current groups include Table-Top Role Playing (including, but no limited to, Dungeons and Dragons.
DBT Skills Mentorship Programs
Customized DBT Skills practice on a 1:1 basis with our Masters Level intern clinicians from UNC.
In these weekly sessions, you will learn coping skills designed to bring out your inner superpowers. Upon completion, you will have a better handle on effective communication, emotional resilience and the ability to handle distress. The mentorship program generally takes around nine months to complete.
Meet Our Therapists
Dedicated Professionals
Essential Continuum team is made up of compassionate and skilled professionals committed to providing high-quality counseling and therapeutic services tailored to your wellness journey. Our Neuroaffirming and LGBTQIA+ allied clinicians will inspire self-confidence and empower you to navigate obstacles.
Client Testimonials
Hear from our clients about their transformative experiences at Essential Continuum, highlighting how our services have impacted their mental health and well-being.
Deborah B.
"Leon Monroe has made an enormous difference in my child’s life. Leon has a very calm presence. He quickly developed a rapport with my child after other therapists had been unable to help. He uses creative strategies to encourage open communication during therapy. The social groups at Essential are designed to engage children playfully through common adolescent interests. This has been a far more effective approach for my teenager (with Level 1 autism) than other groups we have tried. I have seen tremendous growth in my child’s resilience and social relationships since treatment began. We have also received valuable support and guidance from other members of the team. The team’s experience and skill in treating autism spectrum disorder has led us to feeling much more optimistic about our child’s present quality of life along with the future ahead".
Jennifer B.
"I just want to say how lucky we are to have gotten Stephens as our son's therapist! She is kind, attentive, and solutions-oriented. She helped our son with self-harming and within 6 months he was able to stop the behavior and use the strategies she coached him on. As his parents we are so relieved. And our son is mentally in a very good place".
Why Choose Us?
Discover the advantages of partnering with Essential Continuum for your mental health journey. We prioritize individualized care, creating a nurturing environment that fosters healing and personal growth.
Personalized Care
Tailored Approaches
Each client receives a customized treatment plan that addresses their specific needs, promoting effective healing and growth.
Holistic Healing
Mind-Body Connection
We focus on treating the whole person, integrating mental health strategies with supportive practices for overall well-being.
Experienced Team
Compassionate Professionals
Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional care, combining expertise with empathy to guide you on your path to healing and wellness.
How is ADHD changing?
"ADHD is changing in how it is managed, experienced, and understood. We are seeing less hyperactivity and more inattentive features. Symptoms ebb and flow throughout a person's life depending on environmental stress, life transitions, and overall physical and mental health".
Is Autism something that can be fixed?
"Autism cannot be fixed or cured, as it is a lifelong, neurological difference rather than an illness. However, it is highly treatable. Evidence-based therapies and early interventions can significantly improve life skills, communication, and independence, helping individuals thrive.
What is PDA and why do I keep hearing people say it?
Simply put, PDA is a child or person's desire for autonomy. The need for a sense of agency over one's life is a quite natural preference and is often considered vital in order for true emotion regulation to occur.
How do I stop over-thinking?
1). Set aside some time to think, maybe even think out loud in a therapy session.
2). Change your focus from inward to outward. You can start by naming 3 things you can see, 3 things you can hear and 3 things you can touch. Repeat as needed.
3). Brain Dump: Write it all out on paper or in a phone note.
How do I stop a panic attack?
The AWAVE method developed by Leon Monroe, states:
A: Accept that you are having a panic attack.
W: Watch and Witness Without action and without judgement
A: Act calmly. Fake it till you make it. Put your body in its most comfortable position to signal to it that you are going to be okay.
V: Verify. Verify or check that you are able to use your senses. Name 3 things, you can see, hear and feel.
E: Easy. Go easy on yourself. Imagine the wave of anxiety moving slow and easy. Just like a gentle wave, all panic attacks have an end. Most panic attacks are 5 minutes or less when we get comfortable and let them pass. Remember: you have survived every panic attack you have ever had.
What is autistic burnout and how is it different from regular burnout?
Autistic burnout is a state of profound physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by the chronic stress of navigating a world not built for neurodivergent minds. Unlike regular burnout, Autistic burnout is a culmination of too much masking, sensory overload and life transitions.
How do I schedule and appointment with a clinician who understands autistic burnout, panic attacks and ADHD?
Click here to SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT today
All of our clinicians at Essential Continuum Counseling are highly experienced in ADHD, Autistic burnout, Panic attacks, Anxiety, Depression, Executive Functioning and much more.
How do I contact Essential Clinicians to come teach or speak where I live or work?
Feel free to send us an email with any requests at:
Hours of Operation
We're Here for You
Monday - Friday:
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday: Closed