top of page
956E4D01-E4D7-42D1-9E56-DEFDC36FBB39_1_201_a_edited.jpg

Meet Olivia Shumate

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
and Art Therapist

I have been providing counseling services since 2014 in a variety of settings, mainly working with adults. I work one-on-one with folks who have history of extreme and severe trauma. I have extensive experience in working with Acute and Chronic PTSD and Dissociative Identity Disorder.

 

I have the skills of Internal Family Systems to help internal parts have more communication and transparency with each other and how to restructure thought patterns instilled by past abusive systems. 

                                               

I have experience working with individuals identifying in the LGBTQAI+ population. I have worked with individuals transitioning to their identified gender and how to help this process strengthen them as a whole person.

​

I believe in the power of change through understanding ourselves.  Therapy allows for us to grow and understand ourselves on a deeper level.  by going deeper we can improve how our life feels, creating stronger relationships, connections and to reach our true potential.​

​

Overall, I maintain a person-centered approach throughout counseling. Theoretically I often draw from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma Informed counseling, Internal Family Systems Informed therapy (IFS) and Object-Relation Informed counseling, but I adjust my style and methods based on the individual client’s needs.  I often incorporate expressive arts activities with talk therapy, facilitating the client in determining their goals, depending on the age, developmental level, and needs of the client.

2A3A43F8-EBD2-44A3-8830-2DA7F9445039_1_201_a.heic

Deep Breath,
You made it this far

Mental Health Therapy
Meet Olivia

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Art Therapist.  I have been practicing since 2014 in a variety of settings.  

​

I earned my undergraduate degree from UNC-Asheville between 2004 and 2008 with a double major in Fine Art and Psychology, which combined my love of art and people.   Afterwards, in pursuit of my passion for helping others and my love of art, I attended graduate school for Art Therapy with a Specialization in Counseling at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. 

​

At Seton Hill I completed my internship at a state, long-term, inpatient hospital.  There I worked with folks struggling with more severe and life-long mental health.  Also during my time at Seton Hill, I was responsible for creating an art therapy program focused on working with folks with a criminal history of sexual offenses.  At this stage of my career, I gained competence and felt truly honored by the therapeutic relationships of which I was a part.  For the first time I saw the power of trust and how to utilize trust to help others on their journey. 

​

From Seton Hill I returned to the mountains of North Carolina and began my professional career as a member of an ACT Team (Assertive Community Treatment Team), which is one step below inpatient treatment. My job was to help folks stay out of the hospital and lead their best life; I loved that job for 4 years.

​

After ACTT, I worked at a local outpatient agency for just under 5 years before creating Sunflower Meadow Counseling in 2022.

Photo on 4-23-24 at 8.55 AM #4.jpg
B80AF9C7-3550-407E-9331-A0B6980B2100_1_201_a.heic
IMG_1466.jpeg
Click above for more info

Do you feel dread and not understand where is it is coming from? Do you worry about small things?  Do you feel like you can never relax or stop doing things?  Do you feel a need to always to be "perfect"?

What I Can Help With

Click above for more info

Do you feel haunted by your past? Do you feel like you are suddenly back at that moment?  Do you feel intense emotions and don't understand why?  Do you feel disconnected from the world around you?

11FCE2AA-D554-4FFD-8FF4-6D5033BA96B0_1_201_a.jpeg
IMG_0061.JPG
Click above for more info

Do you feel uncomfortable in your own body?  Do you feel like two boxes just aren't enough?  Do you feel like you are all alone in your feelings?

Click above for more info

Got PCOS? Infertility? Let me help!

IMG_1275.JPG
1DAF927D-9C77-4707-978B-A79129D5EE5C_1_201_a.jpeg

What I do

IMG_3916.JPG
Click above for more info

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

- Vincent Van Gogh

Click above for more info

We all having differing thoughts, with IFS you acknowledge the internal conflict of your own thoughts and beliefs.

IMG_3921.JPG
IMG_1480.jpeg
Click above for more info

Attachments are the foundations of our thoughts, behaviors and beliefs in life.

Reach out when you are Ready!

Contact Info

Phone
Email
Address

(828) 333-2865

PO Box 584

Leicester, NC 28758

Contact
bottom of page