"Being human is not about being any one particular way; it is about being as life creates you—with your own particular strengths and weaknesses, gifts and challenges, quirks and oddities."
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- Kristin Neff
Joe Gilbert
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor &
Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
​Since 2005, I've been honored to serve the Triangle area as a licensed counselor. I studied psychology at NC State and earned my counseling degree from Penn State, focusing on Rehabilitation Counseling. My work is deeply rooted in person-centered principles and inspired by the teaching of Carl Rogers. I'm profoundly grateful for the wisdom and guidance of the many teachers who have shaped my path.
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Read more: Earlier Work, Private Practice, Mindfulness & Meditation, Theoretical Orientation, Personal Life
EARLIER WORK
I gained much of my clinical experience at an alcoholism treatment center in Raleigh, where I worked as an inpatient counselor alongside a multidisciplinary team, supporting individuals in their recovery from addiction and mental health challenges. I later provided outpatient counseling at Triangle Family Services before joining TPC Counseling, where I deepened my practice through narrative therapy and the integration of spirituality into counseling.
PRIVATE PRACTICE OPENING
I opened my private practice in 2014, creating a space for compassionate, client-centered counseling. Along the way, I became certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher, inspired by Tara Brach's teachings since discovering her work in 2009. I've attended retreats with Tara and other teachers, and have completed a 2-year training program led by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION
Meditation has been a deeply meaningful practice in my own life, and I love supporting individuals who are curious about incorporating it into their counseling journey.
PERSONAL LIFE
THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
My counseling style is kind yet direct, practical and often lightened with a healthy dose of humor. Rooted in person-centered counseling and contemplative spirituality, I trust that the answers you seek lie within you.
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My role is to offer awareness and compassion practices to help you reconnect with your own inner wisdom, which can sometimes be clouded by conditioning and habitual patterns.
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Drawing from a variety of approaches, I tailor our work to suit your unique needs.
Originally from California, I've called North Carolina home since 1993 and currently live in Hillsborough with my spouse.
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Meditation is a meaningful part of my daily life. I enjoy hiking, camping, reading, writing, live music, and the occasional fantasy novel.
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In the past, I also enjoyed playing recreational hockey and soccer.