Individual therapy for the patterns that keep showing up
You’ve tried to change. You’ve had the same conversations, made the same promises, hit the same walls. And somewhere along the way, you started to wonder if this is just how things are.
It isn’t. The patterns that feel most stuck are usually the ones with the deepest roots — and that’s exactly what individual therapy is designed to reach.
In individual therapy with Beth McErlean, LCSW, you’ll have a private space to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface, understand where your patterns came from, and build the practical skills and insight you need to show up differently — in your relationships, your work, and your life.
Trauma-informed · CBT & ACT · Mindfulness-based · Virtual · NC · VA · WI · BCBS · Optum · Cigna · Aetna
WHO INDIVIDUAL THERAPY IS FOR
You might be a good fit if…
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You keep ending up in the same kinds of relationships, even when you try to choose differently
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You react to conflict, criticism, or abandonment in ways that feel out of proportion — and don’t know why
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You feel emotionally numb, shut down, or disconnected from the people closest to you
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You’re managing anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder and it’s affecting your relationships
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You carry a lot of shame, self-criticism, or the feeling that something is fundamentally wrong with you
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You know your childhood or past experiences are affecting you now, but you’re not sure how to address them
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You’ve been through something difficult — loss, trauma, a painful relationship — and you haven’t fully processed it
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You want to understand yourself better and build a life that feels more aligned with who you want to be
Trauma-informed · CBT & ACT · Mindfulness-based · Virtual · NC · VA · WI · BCBS · Optum · Cigna · Aetna
WHAT WE WORK ON
What individual therapy can address
Individual therapy at The Butterfly Effect covers a wide range of concerns.
Some of the most common include:
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Trauma & its lasting effects: Processing past experiences — childhood trauma, difficult relationships, loss, or prolonged stress — that are still shaping how you think, feel, and relate to others today.
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Anxiety: Managing the worry, hypervigilance, and emotional reactivity that anxiety creates — especially when it shows up in your closest relationships.
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Bipolar disorder & relationships: Navigating the relational complexity of living with bipolar disorder — including how mood episodes affect intimacy, trust, and communication with partners and family.
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Relationship patterns: Understanding the attachment patterns and core beliefs that drive repeated relationship dynamics — and learning to interrupt them.
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Emotional regulation: Building practical skills for managing intense emotions — anger, shame, fear, grief — so they inform rather than control your choices.
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Grief & loss: Processing the loss of relationships, people, identities, or life chapters that didn’t go the way you hoped.
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Self-worth & identity: Rebuilding a sense of self after experiences that left you feeling small, lost, or unsure of who you are.
Trauma-informed · CBT & ACT · Mindfulness-based · Virtual · NC · VA · WI · BCBS · Optum · Cigna · Aetna
THE APPROACH
Evidence-based, trauma-informed, and tailored to you
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to individual therapy. Depending on your history and goals, we may draw from:
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Trauma-informed CBT: Identifying and reshaping the thought patterns and beliefs that difficult experiences created — the ones that tell you you’re not safe, not worthy, or not capable of the life you want.
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ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy): Learning to hold painful thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them, and moving toward what matters most to you.
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Mindfulness-based approaches: Building the capacity to stay present — in your body, in conversations, in moments of connection — rather than being swept away by past pain or future fear.
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Emotional regulation & affect management: Practical tools for managing the emotional intensity that trauma and stress create, so you can respond thoughtfully instead of reacting automatically
Trauma-informed · CBT & ACT · Mindfulness-based · Virtual · NC · VA · WI · BCBS · Optum · Cigna · Aetna
WHAT TO EXPECT
What individual therapy sessions look like
Sessions are 53 minutes, conducted via HIPAA-compliant video — accessible from your home, your car, or wherever you have privacy and a reliable connection. We meet at a regular cadence (typically weekly, especially early on) and adjust as your needs and progress evolve.
Your first session is not a deep dive into trauma. It’s a conversation. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what you’re hoping to change, and what matters most to you. From there, we build a direction together.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out before you start. Showing up is the whole first step.”
Trauma-informed · CBT & ACT · Mindfulness-based · Virtual · NC · VA · WI · BCBS · Optum · Cigna · Aetna
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about individual therapy
Q: How do I know if individual therapy is right for me?
A: If you’re struggling with patterns in your relationships, managing mental health challenges that affect your daily life, or carrying experiences from the past that still feel present — individual therapy is likely a good fit. The free 15-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to explore whether this is the right next step for you.
Q: How is individual therapy different from couples or family therapy?
A: Individual therapy is just you and your therapist — a private space focused entirely on your experience, your patterns, and your growth. Couples and family therapy bring in other people and focus on relational dynamics between them. Many clients do both at different stages.
Q: How long will I need to be in therapy?
A: That depends entirely on what you’re working on and what you want to accomplish. Some clients come for a focused period of 12–20 sessions around a specific issue. Others work longer-term on deeper patterns. We’ll discuss your goals early on and revisit regularly.
Q: Do you treat anxiety?
A: Yes. Anxiety is among the most common reasons people seek individual therapy — particularly when this condition is affecting relationships. I use CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based approaches that are well-supported by research for anxiety.
Q: Can individual therapy help with bipolar disorder?
A: Yes. Therapy doesn’t replace medication management for bipolar disorder, but it plays a vital role in helping individuals understand their patterns, manage relational impacts, build coping skills, and maintain stability. I work with individuals navigating bipolar disorder with honesty and without stigma.
Q: Is virtual individual therapy covered by insurance?
A: Yes — I am in-network with BCBS, Optum, Cigna, and Aetna for individual therapy in NC. Most clients pay only their copay per session once their deductible is met. I recommend calling the member services number on your insurance card to verify your specific mental health benefits. There are other options for VA and WI for insurance coverage, like superbill.
Q: What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?
A: That’s more common than you might think — and it’s usually about fit, not about therapy itself. Different therapists use different approaches, and the therapeutic relationship matters enormously. If past therapy felt surface-level, too slow, or like you just weren’t understood, I’d encourage you to try the free consultation before writing it off.