Reviewed by Lauren Vilar, LCSW, LCAS — trauma and addiction therapist with 12+ years of clinical experience
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What makes LMV Counseling unique?
LMV Counseling offers a therapy experience that’s intentional from the moment you reach out. Our in-person offices are designed to feel calming, beautiful, and grounding. Our space helps you settle, breathe, and feel supported as soon as you walk in. Our clinicians are highly trained in evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches and show up with authenticity, warmth, and professionalism.
We’re guided by the values of love, mindfulness, and vulnerability, and those values shape every interaction. You’ll feel it in the genuine connection with your therapist, the care in how we communicate, and the consistency of our follow-through. We also use a streamlined system that helps ensure you don’t get lost in the process. For the moment you reach out, you’ll receive timely responses, clear next steps, and a sense of continuity.
At LMV Counseling, we offer personalized, evidence-based therapy such as CBT, EMDR, IFS, and mindfulness-based therapies.
How do I get started with therapy?
Getting started at LMV Counseling is simple. You can text or call (910) 210-6160, or submit an appointment request through our online form. From there, our Client Care Coordinator will connect with you to learn what you’re looking for and help match you with the therapist who best fits your needs.
Once your appointment is scheduled, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete your intake paperwork. Everything is online, so there’s nothing to print or bring with you. Just follow the link, fill out the forms at your convenience, and arrive for your session.
What can I expect during the first session?
Your first session is an opportunity to get to know your therapist and share what led you to seek counseling. You’ll review confidentiality together and talk through the areas of your life that feel most important right now. Your therapist will ask thoughtful questions to better understand your history, strengths, and current challenges, and together you’ll begin outlining goals and a plan for moving forward.
Most clients start with weekly sessions, which helps build consistency, trust, and momentum—key ingredients for meaningful change. As you progress and gain stability, you and your therapist may decide to taper to biweekly or less frequent sessions. Many people begin to notice shifts within the first few sessions, and your therapist will continue adjusting the pace and focus of your work based on your needs and comfort.
How many counseling sessions will I need?
The number of sessions depends on your unique goals, history, and what you want to work on. Most clients begin with weekly sessions, which helps create the consistency needed for meaningful progress. Many people start noticing improvement within 4–6 sessions, and as you feel more grounded, you and your therapist may decide to shift to biweekly or less frequent appointments.
At LMV Counseling, clients typically attend an average of 10–11 sessions, though some complete their goals sooner and others choose to continue longer-term for deeper work or ongoing support. Your therapist will collaborate with you throughout the process to make sure the pace and length of therapy align with your needs and continue to feel helpful.
How can I see results quickly?
Many clients begin to notice shifts early in the process, sometimes within the first few sessions, especially when they stay engaged and consistent. Three key factors tend to support faster, more meaningful progress:
1. Attending your scheduled sessions
Therapy works best when there’s steady momentum. Weekly sessions help build trust, keep insights fresh, and allow you to move forward without losing traction.
2. Staying focused on your goals
Some clients use sessions to “catch their therapist up” on everything happening in their week. While life updates are completely welcome, therapy tends to be most effective when those updates are tied back to your goals. Staying focused during sessions helps your therapist understand what’s most important to you and keeps your work moving in a clear direction.
3. Applying what you learn between sessions
There are 168 hours in a week, and therapy is only one of them. The small practices your therapist recommends like reflection exercises, skill-building, journaling, mindfulness, or communication strategies, help bridge the time between sessions and reinforce what you’re working on. These steps don’t have to feel overwhelming; they’re simply tools to support your healing outside the therapy room.
Therapy is an investment in your growth. When you show up consistently, stay focused on what matters most to you, and apply what you’re learning, you give yourself the best chance to experience meaningful, lasting change.
Do you offer in-person and online therapy?
Yes! We offer in-person therapy at our Wilmington office and secure online therapy throughout North Carolina, giving you flexibility to choose what works best.
Do you offer a complimentary consultation?
We don’t offer free consultations, but our client care coordinator is happy to speak with you at no cost to help match you with a therapist who meets your needs and accepts your insurance.
How do I pay for therapy?
We keep a credit card on file in our secure electronic health record, Theranest, and charge it at the end of each session.
Do you take insurance?
Yes. We accept the following insurance plans:
- BCBS of NC
- NC State Health Plan
- Aetna
- United Healthcare
- Cigna
- Ambetter Health
- Medicare (with select providers).
If you have out-of-network benefits, we can provide documentation for reimbursement.
What are your rates?
Initial session: $200
Regular sessions: $185
Prompt Self Pay options are available. Ask us about rates when scheduling your self pay appointment.
Medication management: Initial evaluation $350, follow-up $180
What if I don’t connect with the counselor I’m scheduled with?
The cornerstone of effective therapy is your relationship with your therapist. You’ve already taken a significant step towards healing, and at LMV Counseling, we are dedicated to supporting you every step of the way. After your initial session, you will receive a survey to assess how well you connected with your therapist. If you feel that your therapist isn’t the right match, you have the option to explore working with someone else. Our goal is to help you find the perfect fit for your journey.
Will I be in therapy forever?
No. Therapy is designed to help you reach your goals and eventually feel confident on your own. Many clients notice improvements within a few sessions, and together we’ll decide when it feels right to reduce or end sessions.
Reviewed by Lauren Vilar, LCSW, LCAS
Lauren is the founder of LMV Counseling and Go Inward. Her advanced training includes ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and MDMA-assisted therapy through MAPS, Fluence, and Polaris Insight Center.