Hello

Hi, I’m Lela (pronounced Lee-luh). I’m originally from Oklahoma and have rambled all over: undergrad in Waco, TX (long before Chip and Joanna made it a destination spot), an internship year in Bangalore, India, and most recently, grad school and city life in Chicago. After six wonderful years in the Windy City, I decided I was over the long winters and ready for new adventure in the mountains. Since moving to WNC in 2017, I’ve settled in Black Mountain and established my private practice here in town, living my best Gilmore Girls small town life. I love commuter biking and my town’s farmer’s market. I devour books like I devour dark chocolate, often at the same time. I love to antique and explore new places, which also go hand in hand nicely. My favorite conversations are where science and the mysteries and magic of life meet. In our work together, that’s where we’ll focus our attention: holding the both/and of the particular mysteries and magic of your life with what we know about neuroscience, the function and nature of emotions, behavioral change, and trauma. Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is the primary mechanism of change and so I am thrilled to get to know you and walk beside you in whatever you’re going through. My hope is that you and I can create a space where you can learn to wade through the pain keeping you stuck and begin to confidently step into a life bursting with meaning.