"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
I am incredibly grateful to have served the Triangle area as a licensed counselor since 2005.
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I studied psychology at NC State and was trained as a counselor at Penn State with a focus on Rehabilitation Counseling. My training was rooted in Person-Centered Counseling and the work of Carl Rogers. I wouldn't be where I am without all the wonderful teachers who have shared their wisdom with me along the way.
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Read more: Earlier Work, Private Practice, Mindfulness & Meditation, Theoretical Orientation, Personal Life
EARLIER WORK
Much of my clinical experience came from working at the Alcoholism Treatment Center in Raleigh. I served as an inpatient counselor and worked closely with a multidisciplinary team helping people recover from addiction and mental health issues. I later worked for Triangle Family Services, where I continued to provide individual counseling on an outpatient basis. I also contracted with local agencies to provide in-home counseling.
After leaving Triangle Family Services I joined TPC Counseling, where I immersed myself in Narrative Therapy and the integration of spirituality and counseling.
PRIVATE PRACTICE OPENING
I opened my private practice in 2014, and provide counseling services in the Hillsborough area. While working in private practice I decided to become certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher. I discovered Tara Brach in 2009, started attending retreats with her and other teachers, and eventually completed a 2-year teacher training program taught by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION
I have found the practice of meditation to be incredibly helpful in my own life. I really enjoy working with individuals who are interested in meditation as part of the counseling process.
PERSONAL LIFE
THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
I consider my counseling style to be kind and direct, practical and infused with a healthy dose of humor. My training was rooted in Person-Centered Counseling. This theory trusts that you have the answers within you. I offer awareness and compassion practices in my work to help you see this for yourself. Our own wisdom can be obscured by cloudy, negative thinking.
I am familiar with and have experience in using a variety of counseling approaches (Existential, Cognitive-Behavioral, Narrative, Solution-Focused, Mindfulness-Based, 12-Steps), and will tailor my approach to suit your needs. My approach is also influenced by my interest in contemplative spirituality.
While originally from California, I have lived in Texas, Rhode Island, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. North Carolina has been my home since 1993.
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Meditation (or simply sitting quietly) is a regular part of my day. I also enjoy a good cup of coffee, hiking and backpacking, reading and writing, live music, and playing in a local adult ice hockey league.
My spouse and I are happy to call Hillsborough, North Carolina our home.