Etta "Serena" Faison, LCSW

Etta "Serena" Faison is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood challenges, and midlife transitions. She works with concerns like self-esteem, motivation, relationship strain, grief, addiction, and many everyday pressures. Serena describes therapy as a joint effort where the client is the expert on their own life. Serena values a straightforward, strengths-based approach. She listens for what is working, then helps people build on those strengths. Sessions focus on practical steps, clearer thinking, and small behavioral changes that fit into daily life. Her background includes 14 years of professional experience in North Carolina as an LCSW, or licensed clinical social worker. That experience has included helping people manage mood shifts, cope with loss, and navigate major life changes. She draws on several therapy styles to meet different needs. In the room she often blends acceptance- and mindfulness-based ideas with cognitive tools. This means noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, and then testing small changes to behavior. The work tends to be direct, collaborative, and paced to the clients comfort. Serena aims to support each person as they try new ways of handling stress, set clearer priorities, and rebuild confidence. She encourages doable steps and honest conversations about what the client wants to change next.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, helps people notice thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them. It focuses on identifying personal values and taking small actions that move life in those directions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and uses practical experiments to shift unhelpful patterns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist listens and reflects so clients can find their own solutions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Decisions about technique are collaborative and can change as progress is made.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Therapists and licensed professionals can tailor pacing and interventions for remote work, focusing on practical strategies you can use between sessions.