- Trauma and abuse support
- Values-driven work
- Mindfulness and CBT
About Etta
Etta "Serena" Faison is a licensed clinical social worker in North Carolina with 14 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, bipolar disorder, depression, and trauma and abuse. She works with clients who are facing big life changes, relationship strains, grief, addiction concerns, and struggles with motivation and confidence. Serena aims to meet people where they are and build on their existing strengths.
She frames therapy as a collaborative process. Sessions focus on clear, practical steps that a person can try between meetings. Clinically informed approaches such as cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness practices, and acceptance-based work guide the sessions while keeping the client's values and goals central.
Serena emphasizes a client-centered style. That means she listens for what matters most to each person and tailors the work to their pace. She encourages small experiments, increased awareness of unhelpful patterns, and clearer choices aligned with personal values.
Over her career she has supported people facing a wide range of concerns including sleep and eating problems, parenting strain, caregiver stress, codependency, and issues around intimacy and body image. She also helps clients sort through career stress, impulsivity, and loneliness.
Her approach blends acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, existential questions about meaning, and mindfulness practices. The goal is to build skills and self-knowledge so people can make lasting changes that fit their lives.
She frames therapy as a collaborative process. Sessions focus on clear, practical steps that a person can try between meetings. Clinically informed approaches such as cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness practices, and acceptance-based work guide the sessions while keeping the client's values and goals central.
Serena emphasizes a client-centered style. That means she listens for what matters most to each person and tailors the work to their pace. She encourages small experiments, increased awareness of unhelpful patterns, and clearer choices aligned with personal values.
Over her career she has supported people facing a wide range of concerns including sleep and eating problems, parenting strain, caregiver stress, codependency, and issues around intimacy and body image. She also helps clients sort through career stress, impulsivity, and loneliness.
Her approach blends acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, existential questions about meaning, and mindfulness practices. The goal is to build skills and self-knowledge so people can make lasting changes that fit their lives.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small, value-guided actions even when feelings are difficult. ACT can be useful for anxiety, depression, trauma-related avoidance, and motivation problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and testing new ways of thinking and acting. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating concerns, and impulsivity. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and grounding practices to reduce reactivity and build present-moment awareness; it pairs well with ACT and CBT for stress, trauma, and self-regulation issues.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, comfort level, and life circumstances. Together they try things out and adjust based on what helps.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports consistent practice of skills learned in session because exercises can be integrated into day-to-day routines. Licensed professionals can use these approaches effectively in remote work when the format and schedule match a client's needs.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Serena commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, self-esteem, parenting strain, and related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and client-centered. She listens for each person's priorities and uses practical steps and experiments to support change.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of professional work experience in clinical settings and community care.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LCSW, licensed in North Carolina, and practices with that credential in that state.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with Serena?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.