Connie Kretchmar , LPC, LCMHC

Connie Kretchmar is a licensed counselor with 18 years of clinical experience who helps people clarify goals and move toward more fulfilling lives. She holds a BS in Human Development and a Master of Arts in Counseling from East Tennessee State University, and maintains professional licensure as an LPC and an LCMHC - titles that signify her training and authorization to provide mental health counseling in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Connie works with adults, adolescents, families, and caregivers across a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family difficulties, self-esteem, career and life transitions, and caregiving stress. She approaches each person with respect for their unique background and identity, and she welcomes clients of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations.

Her clinical style blends cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment strategies, and person-centered principles to create an individualized plan for each client. Connie emphasizes building a caring, empathic, nonjudgmental relationship and believes that most people who seek counseling are temporarily stuck rather than fundamentally flawed. By identifying what matters to the client and teaching practical coping skills, she supports relief, growth, and renewed momentum toward meaningful change.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) invites clients to clarify their values and take committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. This approach can be helpful for anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions by promoting psychological flexibility and meaningful behavior change.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and coping with everyday stressors by teaching practical skills and strategies to manage symptoms.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, empathic therapeutic relationship in which the therapist listens attentively and supports the client's own capacity for growth. This approach can be especially useful for people seeking validation, stronger self-understanding, and a collaborative space to explore personal concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Connie works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts interventions based on what the client finds most helpful and works together to refine the plan over time.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage in care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and maintain continuity during life changes, while allowing licensed professionals and therapists to deliver consistent, meaningful support.