Therapy for Women in Wilmington, NC - An Hour That's Actually Yours
Licensed therapists supporting women across the Cape Fear coast through anxiety, depression, postpartum challenges, burnout, trauma, and recovery - without judgment and without needing you to perform being fine. In-person and telehealth available.
Request an Appointment
Free 15-min consultation - no commitment needed.
A Space Built Around Your Experience
Most women who come to therapy are managing a lot: a job or shift rotation, a household, the mental load nobody else seems to see, and often other people's emotional weather on top of it. From the outside it looks fine. Inside, there's anxiety that won't quiet or exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix.
Therapy for women at Fresh Breath Therapy is practical and non-judgmental. You don't have to perform being fine, minimize what's hard, or apologize for needing an hour that's yours. Your therapist works out what's actually driving things with you, then builds an approach around the life you're really living.
You also don't need a crisis or a diagnosis to be here. Plenty of clients come because they're depleted, because something feels off, or because they've been putting everyone else first for so long they've lost the thread of themselves.
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What Women's Therapy Addresses in Wilmington
You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to benefit. If you're running on empty or don't recognize yourself lately, that's reason enough.
Anxiety & Worry
Racing mind, mental load that never switches off, physical symptoms, and the low-grade dread that becomes so normal you stop noticing it.
Depression & Low Mood
Numbness, exhaustion, and lost interest in the things you used to enjoy - often hidden behind still getting everything done.
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Intrusive thoughts, rage, hopelessness, or feeling nothing at all after birth. Common, treatable, and not a reflection of your love for your baby.
Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy anxiety, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, infertility, and the identity shift of becoming a parent - all of it deserves real support.
Burnout & Caregiver Stress
The invisible load of managing a household, aging parents, and everyone's emotional weather - and the depletion that follows.
Trauma & Abuse Recovery
Childhood abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and coercive control - approached gently, at a pace you set entirely.
Relationship Patterns
People-pleasing, over-functioning, difficulty trusting, and the dynamics that keep repeating across relationships.
Body Image & Self-Worth
Body criticism, disordered eating patterns, and a sense of worth tied to appearance or productivity.
Drinking & Recovery
The wine-o'clock coping that quietly became a problem, and recovery support - with a licensed addiction specialist on our Wilmington team.
Evidence-Based Approaches, Matched to You
There's no single right approach. Your therapist draws on several proven methods and adapts to your goals, your history, and how much capacity you honestly have right now.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Work on the thought patterns underneath the anxiety and self-criticism - including the ones that tell you a good day still wasn't enough.
Compassion-Focused Work
Build a kinder internal voice. Most women arrive with a well-developed inner critic and very little practice at self-compassion.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Get clear on what you actually want your life to be about, then spend your limited energy there instead of on everyone else's expectations.
Trauma-Informed Care
Safety, choice, and pacing in every session. If abuse, assault, or a difficult birth is part of your history, nothing gets pushed.
Boundaries & Assertiveness
Practical practice in saying no, asking for help, and renegotiating an unfair load - at home and at work - without collapsing into guilt.
Mindfulness & Somatic Work
Body-based and mindfulness tools for anxiety, overwhelm, and a nervous system that's been running on alert for years.
Your First Session: What to Expect
Why Women in Wilmington Choose Fresh Breath Therapy
All Women Clinicians in Wilmington
Our five Wilmington clinicians are all women, and you can share any preferences on specialty and approach when you book.
Recovery Support Available
Cay Fulop, LCSW, LCAS is a licensed addiction specialist - so drinking or using can be addressed alongside what's underneath it.
No Minimizing
Nobody here will tell you it's just a phase or that you should be grateful. What's hard gets treated as hard.
Neurodiversity-Affirming
Shelby Paske, LCMHCA works with neurodiversity - relevant for the many women who reach adulthood undiagnosed and exhausted from masking.
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.
Telehealth Statewide
Naptimes, shift work, and packed weeks - telehealth is often what makes therapy actually possible. Available anywhere in North Carolina.
Serving Wilmington, Leland, Hampstead & the Cape Fear Coast
Our Wilmington therapy office is located at 140 Cinema Drive, Unit E - easily accessible from across Wilmington and nearby communities including Leland, Hampstead, Carolina Beach, and Brunswick and Pender Counties. Telehealth available statewide.
In Wilmington you'll work with Lisa McCormick, LCMHC, who works with worry, fear, and trauma using CBT and mindfulness; Catherine (Cay) Fulop, LCSW, LCAS, an addiction and co-occurring specialist; Shelby Paske, LCMHCA, supporting anxiety, depression, and neurodiversity; Kailyn Mattingly, LCSWA, focused on anxiety and personal growth; and Jenna McGinnis, LCSWA, a trauma-informed therapist working with teens and young adults on trauma, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.
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 five licensed clinicians in Wilmington bring clinical expertise, warmth, and no judgment about what you bring in.
Lisa McCormick
Client-centered counselor helping teens and adults navigate worry, fear, trauma, and life challenges with CBT, mindfulness, and coping strategies.
Catherine (Cay) Fulop
Experienced addiction specialist providing comprehensive support for substance use, co-occurring disorders, trauma, and recovery.
Shelby Paske
Compassionate counselor creating a supportive space for adults navigating anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, life transitions, and interpersonal challenges.
Jenna McGinnis
Trauma-informed therapist supporting teens and young adults through trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem concerns, stress, and burnout.
Kailyn Mattingly
Compassionate therapist creating warm, welcoming environments for anxiety, depression, and personal growth.
Serving These Needs Across Wilmington & the Cape Fear Region
Frequently Asked Questions
I think I have postpartum depression. Can you help?+
Yes. Postpartum depression and anxiety are common and very treatable, and having them says nothing about your love for your baby. Therapy helps, and if medication might also be useful we'll coordinate with your OB or a prescriber - we don't prescribe here. If you're having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency department right away.
Can I request a woman therapist?+
Yes - and it's a common request. Most of our clinicians are women, and we'll match you based on gender preference along with specialty and personality fit. Just tell us when you call.
What if my problems feel too small to bring in?+
They aren't. Some of the most useful therapy happens when nothing is technically wrong but you're running on empty, resentful, or not recognizing yourself. You don't have to be in crisis to deserve an hour that's yours.
How many sessions will I need?+
It depends what you're working on. Focused concerns like anxiety, a transition, or postpartum adjustment often improve meaningfully in 8 to 16 sessions. Trauma and long-standing patterns take longer. Your therapist will give you an honest read after the initial assessment.
Can I bring my baby to a session?+
Talk to us - many therapists are comfortable with a newborn in the room, and telehealth is often easier during those early months anyway. We'd much rather you come with a baby than not come at all.
Do you serve Leland, Brunswick County, and Hampstead?+
Yes. Our Wilmington office on Cinema Drive serves clients from throughout the Cape Fear region, including Leland, Brunswick County, Hampstead, Carolina Beach, and Pender County. Telehealth is also available anywhere in North Carolina.
You're Allowed to Need Support Too
You spend a lot of your energy on everyone else. One hour a week, with someone whose job is you, changes more than people expect. Start with a free 15-minute consultation.