Ben Pruitt, EMDR Specialist, LCSWA, ASDCS

With dual master's degrees from UNC Chapel Hill's School of Social Work and Duke Divinity School, Ben (he/they) brings a unique perspective that integrates clinical expertise with a nuanced understanding of spiritual and existential concerns. Ben is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate and Autism Clinical Specialist who has previously worked in schools, non-profit settings, and community clinics alike supporting children, adolescents, and adults. He honed his education and previous work to develop a trauma-informed approach to therapy that prioritizes cultivating a relationship with the wisdom of the body. Ben incorporates a client-centered approach while utilizing various clinical modalities tailored to client needs, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness-based interventions. He also welcomes use of metaphor, imagery, music, Tarot, and more in the clinical space. In his spare time, Ben enjoys playing Disc Golf, video games like Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda, Magic the Gathering, TTRPG’s like Avatar Legends and Dungeons and Dragons, reading romance and fantasy novels, and much more.

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FAQ:​

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What is my approach?

• Informed by Somatic practice, ACT, CBT, EMDR - and primarily focused on building relationship and connecting with clients to identify the nuanced ways in which each client seeks support. 

Is it direct?

• I have noticed that I tend to do best with clients who are interested in receiving feedback and providing feedback. I think feedback is a function of respect and clients who are able to receive feedback about what they bring in the room do well - especially if they are able to provide feedback about their impressions of the process as well. Whether that is direct or not depends on your perspective I suppose. 

What would a session with me look like?

• Largely what client’s make of it. However, sometimes clients bring specific events into the room for processing, sometimes clients aren’t sure what to bring into the room and want me to ‘drive.’ Either way works and have efficacy, but I tend to find it more productive when the client brings something they are interested in exploring. Therapy works best when both the clinician and the client are invested in the process. 

What are my niche areas?

• My education and experiences have led me feel especially confident navigating various trauma, especially complex trauma. I work primarily with queer communities, poly/kinky communities, and those who are deconstructing and reconstructing their spirituality. I also really enjoy working with those deconstructing and reconstructing gender, sexuality, and other binaries rooted in social justice, etc. 

What does authenticity look like?

• For me - I am hoping to bring my whole self in the room with clients. It means I am going to laugh with you, cry with you, and disagree with you when I feel it appropriate to do so. My hope is that by wearing what I want to wear, caring about what I care about - I can give you permission to exhibit that same vulnerability. 

What makes me stand out as a clinician?

• I stand out because I combine relational depth, emotional/nervous-system insight, narrative meaning-making, and intellectual nuance while still remaining practical and grounded.

Why is working with a clinician with less experience better than working with one who has more experience?

• One potential advantage of working with a clinician earlier in their career is that we are often deeply engaged in continued learning, integration of newer research, and thoughtful reflection about our work. In my own practice, I try to approach therapy collaboratively and with curiosity, rather than assuming I already know what a client’s experience means based on pattern recognition alone. I tend to adapt approaches to the individual in front of me and remain open to complexity and nuance, particularly around identity, neurodivergence, relationships, and trauma. While experience absolutely matters, I also believe there can be value in working with a clinician who is highly invested, reflective, and actively evolving in their clinical approach.

 

From Ben To future clients,

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While our sessions will focus primarily on you – I find that sharing about myself in the beginning of our relationship can help create a better sense of the lenses through which I approach the world and therapy. I believe my training is only one of the lenses that helps me understand and work with problems and clients. My personal experiences also inform my vision – what I see and what I do not see. It is possible that my personal identities may be helpful or a limitation in our work together – so I think it is helpful to learn your thoughts about this too. I think it is important to be able to discuss this now and throughout our journey together if either of us perceives we may have hit an obstacle related to this. 

 

With of this in mind, I identify as a white, queer, single, middle-class person with no children. I am deeply informed by a spirituality that draws from sources ranging from Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism to Indigenous spirituality. I am from North Carolina, with ancestors from across Europe and the United States. My practice is informed by a focus in trauma, the wisdom of the body, and spirituality. Much of my education has centered on queer communities and communities of color. I am a student of womanism and employ a feminist pedagogical framework aimed to dismantle sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. 

 

My identities and particularities may present as differences or similarities with you. While differences tend to be the primary concern, I contend that similarity can also pose limitations. Holistically speaking, it is my hope that we can work together, however, should any of this become a barrier – my genuine hope for you is that you find greater wellness and if that is with another person, I support you.   Ben