Our Counselors

Melissa Kemlage is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor located in Wilmington, NC (#S15209). She has worked with individuals, couples and families to find success and happiness in their life and relationships. She does this by working through past trauma and negative experiences, using individuals’ strengths and healthy resources to implement new ways of thinking and behaving. She is a strengths-based, holistic therapist that focuses on the mind-body-spirit connection to incorporate balance in your physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. She also provides supervision for intern and associate level clinicians.

Melissa has a Master of Education in Counseling degree from Bridgewater State University. Post graduate education includes Trauma Informed Certificate and Equine Assisted Therapy Level 1. She has 14 years of experience in the mental health field, which includes working with families and adolescents in the home, school and court, as well as in crisis settings. Experience includes substance abuse focused groups for both adolescents and adults, as well as therapeutic adolescent groups. Her work has included individual, marriage and family counseling, parenting groups, support for substance abuse patients and their families, life transitions, and working in the area of crisis prevention and safety assessment which involved extensive trauma situations. This has allowed her perspective through the trauma lens to be beneficial to treating clients with such history effectively. Melissa’s passion for counseling is based on her belief that each person has great value and can make positive changes in their lives and relationships. This view allows her to provide support and hope in each counseling relationship that she is able to develop.

Kim is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.   Her approach to therapy starts with meeting individuals where they are and building upon their strengths. Kim works with individuals to help them learn to make a connection between thoughts, emotions and behaviors in order to make choices that positively impact their life. Kim has worked in a variety of settings, including residential facilities, schools and a community mental health agency, supporting both adolescents and adults.   Her work over the past 20 years has focused on areas such as anxiety, depression, emotional regulation and mood issues, trauma/abuse issues, adjustment concerns to new environments, life or school transitions, stress management, conflict resolution skills, and social/communication skills.
Do you feel disconnected from those around you, or at times do you put on a fake smile so others don’t really know how you are feeling, or even put others needs before your own? Life around you seems to be moving at a different pace then you and finding your breath seems difficult, even though you can’t slow down to think or make sense of the world around you.  Every day decisions seem overwhelming or simple tasks take longer than expected.
Imagine making the decision to live life instead of just surviving life. Imagine finding a place to build on your strengths and embrace who you are, and look in a mirror and say “I believe in who I am.”   Doing the work can be hard and at times overwhelming, however remember life is a marathon not a sprint.
“If you found yourself connecting to anything said above, I want you to know I am here to listen and I see you.  I want you to see the worth inside yourself and the power to choose your destination.  Making the decision to focus on you may seem scary, but you owe it to yourself and I am here to listen and support you along the way.”

Elisha holds a Master’s in Psychology and has recently completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate and she is offering counseling services on a self-pay sliding scale to increase accessibility for those seeking support.

With a background in education, Elisha brings a deep understanding of the power of community, connection, and access to resources. Her therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and respect for each client’s unique journey. She is passionate about helping individuals define what wellness and “normal” look like for them—and walking alongside them to meet their goals.

Elisha believes healing is not a solo process. She is here to create a safe, affirming space where you feel heard, supported, and empowered. You don’t have to do this alone.

Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going. – Noam Shpancer *The Good Psychologist