Terri Chester, LCMHC
Experienced LCMHC for life transitions
- 31 years experience
- Client centered approach
- Expressive arts therapy
About Terri Chester
Terri Chester is a licensed mental health counselor with more than three decades of experience helping people navigate anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. She earned a master’s degree in counseling from Appalachian State University in 1989 and completed an advanced certificate in expressive arts therapy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland in 1999. As an LCMHC - a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - she has worked across a wide range of settings including public schools, community college and university environments, community mental health programs, private practice, and wilderness therapy.
Her work is strength-based and firmly client-centered, focusing on each person’s existing resources while supporting the discovery of new ones. Terri approaches therapy as a collaborative process, serving as a sounding board and resource while teaching practical skills for emotional expression, self-care, problem solving, decision making, and planning for new directions in life. She often combines cognitive and cognitive-behavioral techniques with experiential methods such as mindfulness, expressive arts, body-centered practices, or Gestalt-style interventions to deepen insight and promote change.
Terri’s primary areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, anger management, grief and loss, trauma processing, and developmental transitions like blended families, divorce, relocation, and career change. Her background in outdoor and experiential education complements expressive arts approaches, reflecting a belief in people’s capacity for growth through increased self-awareness, practical skill building, and supportive collaboration.
Her work is strength-based and firmly client-centered, focusing on each person’s existing resources while supporting the discovery of new ones. Terri approaches therapy as a collaborative process, serving as a sounding board and resource while teaching practical skills for emotional expression, self-care, problem solving, decision making, and planning for new directions in life. She often combines cognitive and cognitive-behavioral techniques with experiential methods such as mindfulness, expressive arts, body-centered practices, or Gestalt-style interventions to deepen insight and promote change.
Terri’s primary areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, anger management, grief and loss, trauma processing, and developmental transitions like blended families, divorce, relocation, and career change. Her background in outdoor and experiential education complements expressive arts approaches, reflecting a belief in people’s capacity for growth through increased self-awareness, practical skill building, and supportive collaboration.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoachingADHD
Additional Focus Areas
Aging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Existential Therapy Jungian Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Terri Chester have?
Terri Chester has 31 years of experience in the field of counseling.
Is Terri Chester a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LCMHC, which denotes a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Her license details are NC LCMHC #2389.
In which languages does Terri Chester provide therapy?
Therapy is provided in English.
Where is Terri Chester located?
Terri Chester is located in North Carolina.
How can I work with Terri Chester as my therapist?
You can work with Terri Chester through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Terri Chester work with international clients?
Terri Chester does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Terri Chester cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist’s availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care
Terri integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to meet a wide range of concerns. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients can explore values, emotions, and goals while feeling supported. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and teaching practical skills to change them - an approach often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Terri works collaboratively with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, then tailors methods from these approaches to create an individualized plan. This flexibility allows techniques to be blended with expressive or experiential elements when helpful.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering greater flexibility for scheduling and continuity of care. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or during transitions, support consistent use of skills between sessions, and allow work to continue even when in-person meetings are difficult. Terri adapts her methods to fit the chosen format so therapeutic work remains practical, accessible, and focused on the client’s goals.