Steve Taylor

I know what it’s like to wake up feeling afraid to get out of bed and face the day. I’ve told myself, “Today I’m not going to drink”, only to drink again. I know what it’s like to feel worried all the time, unable to fully relax.  I’ve experienced plenty of my own pain, and I believe that overcoming that pain has helped make me an effective counselor.

 

In graduate school, I learned, “Don’t self-disclose!”  There are some good reasons for this. Coming to counseling is about you getting well, It’s not about me.  What worked for me may not work you, and you don’t need to know “my story” to get well. However, healing takes place when there is trust and connection. It’s hard for you to trust me if you don’t know anything about me as a real person.

 

So a little about me…I’m a transplant to the Outer Banks, NC from Minnesota. I grew up on the west coast playing sports like basketball, baseball, and soccer. I still love the game of basketball, and play in leagues as often as I can. When I’m playing basketball, much like mindfulness, I’m totally in the moment. I love my wife; who made the journey with me to North Carolina in 2016. She’s a private person, so I won’t say too much about her other than she’s amazing and keeps me grounded. Together we have a young daughter who was born here in Dare County.  As a family we love being outside and enjoying the natural beauty of the OBX.

 

Professional Background

I received my undergraduate degree in Social and Behavioral Science before going on to receive my Master’s Degree in Addiction Studies. I’ve worked in addiction and mental health since 2012 both in outpatient and inpatient settings. The early part of my career was focused on treating people with severe substance use disorders. Through that experience I began to see how trauma is so often at the root of addiction and other mental health challenges like anxiety. While I’m still very much interested in treating substance use and addiction, I’ve developed a passion for healing trauma.  I’m trained in various approaches and prefer to blend them in a way that meets your needs.  With that said, I’m most excited to use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) with my clients. ART is an evidenced based practice I’ve found to be the most effective treatment I’ve come across for traumatic stress. ART excites me because it usually produces rapid relief for clients in an average of 3-5 sessions (often times one session), and offers something new and different for people who have found little results from traditional “talk therapy.”

 

Credentials

• Licensed Professional Counselor Associate A14580
• Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist  #22638
• International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy- Certified Practioner ID# B1129