Terri Chester, LCMHC
Experienced LCMHC for trauma and life transitions
- 31 years experience
- Client-centered care
- Expressive arts integration
About Terri Chester
Terri Chester holds a master’s degree in counseling from Appalachian State University (Boone, NC, 1989) and an advanced certificate in expressive arts therapy from the European Graduate School of Expressive Arts Therapy (Leuk-Stadt, Switzerland, 1999). She is credentialed as an LCMHC - Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and has practiced counseling for 31 years.
Over her career she has worked across diverse settings, including public schools, community colleges, a university, community mental health programs, private practice, and wilderness therapy. These varied roles have shaped a flexible, experience-informed approach to supporting people through difficult transitions and life challenges.
Her work is strength-based and client-centered, focused on building from existing skills while helping individuals discover new resources. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, acting as a resource, supporter, and sounding board while helping clients develop tools for coping with and expressing emotions, practicing self-care, solving problems, making decisions, and planning toward new life directions.
Terri often integrates cognitive and cognitive-behavioral techniques for problem-solving and goal-setting, and she complements talk-based work with experiential methods such as mindfulness, expressive arts, body-centered techniques, and Gestalt-influenced practices when appropriate. Her primary areas of focus include anxiety, depression, anger management, grief and loss, trauma processing, and life transitions such as blended families, divorce, relocation, and career change. With a background in outdoor and experiential education as well as expressive arts therapy, she emphasizes self-reflection, increased self-awareness, practical skills, and supportive collaboration to foster positive change and growth.
Over her career she has worked across diverse settings, including public schools, community colleges, a university, community mental health programs, private practice, and wilderness therapy. These varied roles have shaped a flexible, experience-informed approach to supporting people through difficult transitions and life challenges.
Her work is strength-based and client-centered, focused on building from existing skills while helping individuals discover new resources. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, acting as a resource, supporter, and sounding board while helping clients develop tools for coping with and expressing emotions, practicing self-care, solving problems, making decisions, and planning toward new life directions.
Terri often integrates cognitive and cognitive-behavioral techniques for problem-solving and goal-setting, and she complements talk-based work with experiential methods such as mindfulness, expressive arts, body-centered techniques, and Gestalt-influenced practices when appropriate. Her primary areas of focus include anxiety, depression, anger management, grief and loss, trauma processing, and life transitions such as blended families, divorce, relocation, and career change. With a background in outdoor and experiential education as well as expressive arts therapy, she emphasizes self-reflection, increased self-awareness, practical skills, and supportive collaboration to foster positive change and growth.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoachingADHD
Additional Focus Areas
Aging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Existential Therapy Jungian Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Terri Chester have?
Terri Chester has 31 years of experience in the field of counseling.
Is Terri Chester a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LCMHC - Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. License details: NC LCMHC #2389.
In which languages does Terri Chester provide therapy?
Therapy is provided in English.
Where is Terri Chester located?
Terri Chester is located in North Carolina.
How can I work with Terri Chester as my therapist?
You can work with Terri Chester through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Terri Chester work with international clients?
Terri Chester does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Terri Chester cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, just click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Just click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support
Terri Chester often draws on client-centered therapy, which emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental relationship and helps people explore their feelings and goals at their own pace. This approach supports individuals facing life transitions, relationship struggles, and decisions about new directions. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors; CBT is practical and often helpful for anxiety, depression, and problem-solving around daily challenges. In some cases she incorporates elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills for intense emotions and relationship difficulties.
Finding the right fit is part of the process, and Terri approaches treatment collaboratively. She works with each person to assess their needs, goals, and preferences, then tailors techniques and exercises to match those priorities so the work feels relevant and manageable.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to maintain consistency amid busy schedules, travel, or mobility limits, and they allow licensed professionals to provide ongoing support and skills practice without requiring in-person visits.