Family Therapy in Wilmington, NC - Heal & Grow Together
Licensed therapists serving families in Wilmington, Leland, Hampstead, and Surf City - offering compassionate, effective counseling for communication breakdowns, parent-teen conflict, divorce, grief, and every season of family life. In-person and telehealth available.
Request an Appointment
Free 15-min consultation - no commitment needed.
Therapy That Brings Your Whole Family to the Table
At Fresh Breath Therapy, our Wilmington therapists provide a warm, non-judgmental space where every family member - parents, kids, teens, and stepparents alike - can be heard. Whether tension at home has been building for months, a big transition has thrown your household off balance, or you simply can't get through dinner without an argument, your family deserves real support.
In family therapy, no single person is treated as "the problem." Our licensed LCSW, LCAS, and LCMHC clinicians look at the patterns between family members - communication, roles, and boundaries - and help your family build healthier ways of relating that last long after sessions end.
We believe deeply that your family already holds the strengths it needs to heal. Our therapists are here not to assign blame, but to walk alongside you as you rebuild trust, connection, and calm at home.
Begin Your Family's Healing Journey →
Common Reasons Wilmington Families Seek Therapy
Your family doesn't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many families come to us simply wanting to communicate better, argue less, and feel like a team again.
Parent-Teen Conflict
Power struggles, slammed doors, and constant arguing between parents and teens - we help both sides understand each other's needs and rebuild respect at home.
Communication Breakdowns at Home
When family members stop truly listening, tension builds fast. We teach practical communication tools that reduce misunderstandings and rebuild trust between every member.
Blended Family Adjustment
Stepfamilies face unique tensions - loyalty conflicts, role confusion, and differing parenting styles. We help blended families build mutual respect and a shared sense of identity.
Divorce & Co-Parenting
Separation shakes the entire family system. We help families navigate this transition with minimal harm to children, supporting co-parenting communication and healthy adjustment.
Sibling Conflict
Constant rivalry and fighting can drain the whole household. We help families understand the roots of sibling conflict and give parents tools to foster cooperation and fairness.
Major Family Transitions
Relocation, a new baby, remarriage, job loss, illness, or a child leaving home - big changes that leave the whole family feeling unsettled and out of sync.
Grief as a Family
When a family loses someone, each member grieves differently. We help families process loss together - honoring individual experiences while rebuilding collective strength.
Behavioral Challenges in Kids & Teens
Acting out, school refusal, defiance, and emotional outbursts - we work with the whole family to understand what's driving the behavior and respond in ways that actually help.
Addiction's Impact on the Family
When a loved one struggles with substance use, the whole family carries it. With an LCAS addiction specialist on our Wilmington team, we help families set boundaries, heal, and support recovery.
Proven Methods, Personalized to Your Family
No single approach fits every family. Our Wilmington clinicians are trained in multiple evidence-based methods so we can adapt to your family's unique dynamics, history, and goals.
Family Systems Therapy
Looks at your family as an interconnected system - examining roles, boundaries, and patterns across generations to shift the dynamics that keep conflict repeating.
CBT for Families
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy adapted for family work - identify the thought patterns and reactions that fuel conflict at home, and replace them with healthier responses.
Communication Skills Training
Practical, teachable skills - active listening, "I" statements, and de-escalation - that your family practices in session and takes home to everyday conversations.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Explore how early bonds shape the way your family connects today - and build more secure, trusting relationships between parents, children, and partners.
Coping Skills & Mindfulness
Grounding, emotional regulation, and mindfulness tools that help kids, teens, and parents stay calm in heated moments - approaches our clinicians use with all ages.
Strengths-Based Approaches
Build on what's already working in your family. We highlight each member's strengths and use them as the foundation for lasting, meaningful change.
Your First Family Session: What to Expect
Why Wilmington Families Trust Us With Their Relationships
Whole-Family Approach
We work with the family system, not against any one person. Every voice - including kids and teens - is genuinely heard, and no one is treated as "the problem."
Addiction-Informed Family Support
With an LCAS-licensed addiction specialist on our Wilmington team, we're equipped to support families navigating a loved one's substance use and recovery.
Licensed Clinicians Only
Every therapist on our Wilmington team is licensed - LCSW, LCAS, LCMHC, LCSWA, and LCMHCA credentials - and committed to ethical, evidence-based family care.
Insurance & Self-Pay
We accept major insurance plans including BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, and United Health. Call us to verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.
No Long Waitlists
Family struggles can't wait. We work hard to offer rapid access - often same-week or within a few days of your first inquiry.
Telehealth Statewide
Not near our Cinema Dr office? Your family can connect from anywhere in North Carolina via our secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.
Serving Families in Wilmington, Leland, Hampstead & Surf City
Our Wilmington therapy office is located at 140 Cinema Dr, Unit E - easily accessible for families across Wilmington, Leland, Hampstead, and Surf City. Telehealth available statewide.
Our Wilmington team - Catherine (Cay) Fulop, LCSW, LCAS; Kailyn Mattingly, LCSWA; Lisa McCormick, LCMHC; Shelby Paske, LCMHCA; and Jenna McGinnis, LCSWA - offers care spanning trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, child and adolescent needs, life transitions, and family relationship challenges.
Each therapist is licensed, supervised, and committed to the highest standards of ethical, compassionate care. Sessions are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM.
Book Your Appointment →Meet the Wilmington Team
Our licensed Wilmington clinicians bring clinical expertise, warmth, and genuine investment in your family's healing journey.
Catherine (Cay) Fulop
Extensive expertise in trauma, addiction, and complex mental health. Brings evidence-based, compassionate care to families navigating life's most difficult challenges.
Kailyn Mattingly
Creates warm, welcoming environments for clients working through anxiety, depression, and personal growth - helping individuals and families move forward together.
Lisa McCormick
Helps kids, adolescents, teens, and adults navigate worry, fear, trauma, and life challenges using CBT, mindfulness, and practical coping strategies.
Shelby Paske
Offers a supportive space for adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, life transitions, and interpersonal challenges.
Jenna McGinnis
Works with children, teens, families, and young adults through family conflict, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions with a collaborative, strengths-based approach.
Serving These Needs Across Wilmington & Nearby Communities
Frequently Asked Questions
How does family therapy work at your Wilmington office?+
Family therapy focuses on the relationships and patterns between family members rather than any one person. Your therapist meets with your family, listens to each member's perspective, and helps you identify the cycles driving conflict - then teaches practical skills to communicate and relate in healthier ways. It starts with a free 15-minute phone consultation at (919) 300-6717.
Who should attend family therapy sessions?+
It depends on your family's needs. Some sessions include the whole household; others may involve just parents, a parent and teen, or siblings. Your therapist will guide who attends and when, based on what's most helpful at each stage of therapy.
Does insurance cover family therapy in Wilmington?+
Coverage for family therapy varies by plan. We accept major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and United Health, and self-pay rates are also available. Call us at (919) 300-6717 to verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.
Can we mix online and in-person family sessions?+
Yes. Many families alternate between in-person sessions at our 140 Cinema Dr office and secure telehealth sessions from home - helpful when schedules are busy or a family member lives elsewhere in North Carolina. All you need is a private space and a reliable internet connection.
What if one family member refuses to come?+
Family therapy can still be effective even if one member won't participate at first. We can begin with the willing members - and as things start to change at home, reluctant family members often become more open to joining later.
Is what we say confidential - even between family members?+
Sessions are protected under HIPAA, and nothing is shared outside therapy without written consent. Within the family, your therapist will discuss clear ground rules at the start - including how information from any individual sessions is handled - so everyone knows what to expect and feels safe to speak openly.
Your Family Deserves to Feel Like a Team Again
Wilmington families are resilient - and with the right support, yours can grow even stronger. Our therapists are ready to help you rebuild the communication, trust, and connection that makes home feel like home. Start with a free 15-minute consultation, no commitment required.