Individual Therapy - Fit & Scope

Licensed Individual Therapy in South Carolina & North Carolina provided via secure virtual sessions.

Provider Identification & Licensure

I’m Stacy Albarran, a licensed therapist providing virtual therapy to adults in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Licensure

  • LISW-CP (South Carolina)

  • LMFT-S (South Carolina – approved supervisor)

  • LPC-S (South Carolina – approved supervisor)

  • LCMHC (North Carolina)

I also provide LMFT and LPC supervision in South Carolina.

Who I Help

I help adults who carry a lot of responsibility—many of them healthcare professionals, therapists, or entrepreneurs—who are exhausted by ADHD and the effects of childhood trauma, with anxiety often showing up as overthinking, self-doubt, or constant internal pressure, stop seeing themselves as the problem, understand the patterns that make life feel so hard, and rebuild self-trust so they can live with more steadiness, clarity, and grace instead of constant burnout.

You may look like you have it together on the outside, but inside you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or chronically behind—despite working hard and caring deeply.

Many of the people I work with are used to being the reliable one, the helper, or the person others depend on, while quietly struggling themselves.

A formal ADHD diagnosis is not required. Some clients are diagnosed later in life, some are questioning ADHD, and others notice long-standing difficulties with follow-through, overwhelm, or emotional regulation. My work focuses on treating symptoms and lived experience rather than labeling.

This page is meant to clarify fit and scope. More detailed descriptions of ADHD therapy and childhood trauma work are available on their respective pages.

How ADHD, Anxiety, and Childhood Trauma Often Show Up Together

For many of the adults I work with, anxiety may not be the core issue—it’s how ADHD- and trauma-related patterns show up in high-responsibility adult life.

This can include:

  • persistent overthinking or mental looping

  • pressure to hold everything together

  • harsh self-criticism when things don’t get done

  • difficulty resting without guilt

  • feeling on edge, shut down, or emotionally depleted

When these patterns have been present for years, it’s easy to assume you are the problem.
You’re not.

When Therapy With Me Is a Strong Fit

This work may be especially helpful if you experience:

  • Chronic overwhelm or mental clutter

  • Difficulty following through despite strong effort

  • Burnout from over-functioning or people-pleasing

  • Anxiety driven by pressure, responsibility, or self-doubt

  • Harsh inner criticism (“Why is this so hard for me?”)

  • Relationship patterns that repeat—such as conflict, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, or feeling unseen—even when you’re trying hard to do things differently

  • A sense that what used to work no longer does

Many clients come to therapy not in crisis, but at a turning point, when pushing harder no longer feels sustainable.

When My Practice Is Not the Right Fit

My practice may not be the right fit if you are:

  • In an active crisis or experiencing suicidal ideation requiring immediate or emergency care

  • Seeking treatment for severe or unmanaged substance use as a primary concern

  • Looking for court-mandated therapy, custody evaluations, or legal documentation

I do not provide crisis or emergency services.
If you are in immediate danger or feel unsafe, please call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

My Therapeutic Approach

My approach is warm, grounded, and non-shaming.

Therapy with me is not about fixing you or pushing you to do more. We start by slowing down and understanding why patterns of overwhelm, shutdown, or self-criticism developed in the first place.

My work primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based approaches, informed by my training as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a systemic, relational perspective. This means we look not only at symptoms, but at how patterns developed over time and within relationships, roles, and environments.

 Rather than treating anxiety in isolation, we focus on the underlying patterns—attention, nervous-system regulation, relational dynamics, and self-expectations—that keep anxiety and overwhelm stuck.

Because these patterns often develop in relationships, individual therapy frequently leads to meaningful changes in how clients show up with partners, family members, and others—even when the work remains focused on the individual.

Together, we identify patterns in thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and routines that are no longer working and gently shift them in ways that are realistic and sustainable.

Depending on your needs, our work may include mindfulness practices, behavioral strategies, relational exploration, and DBT-informed skills—always grounded in compassion and practicality.

Experience & Perspective

With over 35 years of experience as a licensed therapist, I bring a steady, grounded perspective to my work—one that prioritizes understanding patterns, honoring lived experience, and meeting people with respect rather than urgency or judgment.

Clients often share that they feel understood in a way they haven’t before—especially if ADHD or childhood trauma have been minimized or misunderstood in other settings.

My work is particularly supportive for adults who are competent, responsible, and exhausted from carrying too much for too long.

Practical Details

  • Format: Virtual therapy

  • Location: South Carolina & North Carolina

  • Population: Adults

  • Payment: Private pay

  • Insurance: I do not accept insurance. I can provide a superbill for clients who choose to use out-of-network benefits. Clients are responsible for verifying coverage with their insurance provider.

  • Consultation: A free phone consultation is available to explore fit and next steps.

Signs We May Be a Good Match

Clients who tend to do well with me often:

  • Carry significant responsibility at work or home

  • Feel stuck in cycles of self-blame or over-functioning

  • Want understanding rather than quick fixes

  • Are open to exploring patterns with compassion

  • Want therapy that feels steady, respectful, and human

Over time, many clients describe feeling more grounded, more self-trusting, and more connected to themselves—moving from chaos toward joy and grace.

Next Step

If this sounds like a potential fit, the next step is to schedule a free phone consultation to talk about what you’re experiencing and whether working together makes sense.