Your first step toward a more fulfilling life

Values-guided counseling for individuals and couples

Schedule a Session

Learn More

Your first step toward a more fulfilling life

Values-guided counseling for individuals and couples

Schedule a Session

Learn More

About Jared Brinkerhoff, NCC, LCMHC

Background and Qualifications

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, License #15910. I earned my undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Florida in 2015, and earned my dual Education Specialist and Clinical Mental Health master's degrees from Florida State University in 2020. Since then I have been residing and working in Winston Salem, NC with my wife and 2 young children.

I began working as a licensed clinical mental health counseling associate in 2020, earned my Nationally Certified Counselor credential the same year, and received my full license in 2023.

I am trained in Gottman Level 1, and have earned an ADHD-PT certification. I have also taken numerous additional courses and trainings in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, for which there is no formal certification process.

Philosophy

I believe that living a fulfilling life comes from acting in service of our personal values on a day-to-day basis. When we act in opposition to those values it is usually in the service of avoiding difficulty. This often results in a self-fulfilling prophecy, creating additional difficulty without getting us closer to a more fulfilling life. Through targeting our attempts at avoidance of inevitable difficulty, cultivating mindful awareness of the present moment, and committing to action in the service of our values, we can radically change our life experience.

Therapeutic Approach

I take a somewhat directive approach to counseling while still remaining humanistic and client-centered. This means that I work collaboratively with clients to identify their goals and develop a personalized plan for treatment (rather than prescribing goals for them), as well as assign exercises and tools for the client to use at home in service of those goals.

Services and Pricing

Individual Counseling

In individual counseling you can expect a welcoming, supportive and non-judgmental environment, where we explore your thoughts and feelings, gain insights into your behavior patterns, and develop strategies for valued change. Using this environment and the tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ,we will create the goals specifically tailored to help you overcome your individually identified challenges.

$120 per session

Couples Counseling

Couples counseling services can help you and your partner improve communication, resolve conflicts, heal wounds, and work to build a stronger relationship. Whether you are facing challenges related to intimacy, trust, or other issues, Gottman method therapy can be used to create a stronger bond and achieve greater satisfaction in your relationship.

$150 per session

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out at groundedmindcounseling@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is your style of therapy?

With individuals I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as my theoretical foundation, as well as resources and techniques that I find helpful from many other sources. ACT combines mindfulness strategies with behavioral interventions to help the client create a more fulfilling life rather than trying to control our internal emotional and cognitive processes. This approach combines at-home practice of techniques with in-session processing. You can find more information on ACT here: https://contextualscience.org/act

For couples therapy my foundation is in Gottman Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Using the Gottman's 50+ years of research around what makes strong relationships we can apply their tools to strengthen your practical skills in a structured format. EFT is less structured and will be used to work through the slower conversations. You can find out more about both of these styles here:

https://www.gottman.com/about/the-gottman-method/

https://iceeft.com/what-is-eft-public/

What concerns do you typically work with?

For individuals, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is considered a transdiagnostic approach, making it possible to work with most diagnoses barring significant cognitive impairment.

I have experience working with anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, PTSD, self-esteem difficulties, procrastination, and general life transitions.

With couples I work with general communication issues, difficulties with conflict patterns, affairs and other betrayals, some sexual incompatibility, rekindling friendship, conflicts around daily life stressors, among other things.

What age ranges do you work with?

I work with ages 16 and up

Are there specific diagnoses that you will not work with?

I am insufficiently trained to work with clients who suffer from psychosis, personality disorders, inter-partner physical abuse, or significant cognitive impairment. There may be other diagnoses or factors that would cause me to refer out to another therapist, but this would be considered on a case by case basis.

How often will/should I attend therapy?

Initially I find it helpful for all clients to attend 4-6 sessions at a weekly rate if possible. This allows us to build a solid therapeutic alliance, practice specific skills and create a foundational knowledge base upon which we can build in subsequent sessions, even if they're more spread out. It is possible to be seen 2x weekly based on need and availability, but this would not be long term and would be assessed case-by-case.

After that point it will depend on your individual goals as well as financial and time constraints as to what rhythm will fit best. There is no general recommendation to how many sessions or years is right for a person to attend therapy, it will vary significantly based on the individual.

How long do appointments last?

Appointments are 53 minutes in order to allow me to write my notes, send emails, have a quick snack and/or use the bathroom and still start the next session at the top of the hour.

What are your working hours?

Depending on the day I will typically have my first session at 9am and my last session at 6pm. Please contact me to inquire about availability.

Do you offer in-person and telehealth sessions?

At the moment I am exclusively telehealth, but I hope to offer in-person sessions in the near future.

Do you offer sliding scale rates?

No, not currently

Do you take insurance?

While I cannot currently accept insurance, I hope to in the near future.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations within 24hrs of the appointment for reasons other than personal illness or emergency will be subject to a cancellation fee of 1/2 the session rate, $60 for individuals and $75 for couples.

Get In Contact

Contact Jared

Feel free to ask any questions or concerns you might have about my therapeutic approach, our potential fit, or my availability. I will do my best to respond within 48 business hours.

(336) 618-7579

groundedmindcounseling@gmail.com

If you are currently in crisis, dial 988 to receive 24/7 crisis support. IF YOU ARE A THREAT TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS, DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY AND REQUEST A CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM (CIT) OFFICER.

Additional Resources and tools

- While most effectively practiced with the help of a therapist, there are many therapy resources that you can use to improve your life on your own, or use as an adjunct tool with your regular counseling. I've included some below.