About Brittany
Professional
Across all of the settings I’ve worked in, supporting clients who have experienced trauma has been a big part of my work. I’ve had particular experience in helping folks who have had challenges in relationships - whether relationships at work or school, or relationships with friends, romantic partners, or family members. Sometimes when people are experiencing on-going stressors, or have experienced trauma, they’ve developed new strategies that may help them cope in many ways, and that may cause more problems for them in other ways. Some of these strategies or behaviors may even be scary to a person or their loved ones, particularly strategies like self-harm, disordered eating, or risky substance use. When people talk to me about their struggles, they are often wrestling with trying to control their behaviors, thoughts, or feelings; they might feel powerless to make any changes or feel out of control in their own bodies. At the same time, they might also believe they have to stay rigidly in control or else something disastrous will happen. I love helping folks navigate these nuanced and complex questions and learn more about how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors work through the context of our working relationship so they can experience increased connection, safety, and freedom.
Professionally, after receiving undergraduate degrees in English & Psychology, I worked for two years in the mental healthcare system as a staff member in a residential program. My experiences working with adolescents in the group home setting prompted me to seek out additional training and education, specifically leading me to pursue my MA in Counseling at Wake Forest University. Since graduating in 2012 and receiving my provisional license (LPCA in 2012-2014), I have worked in various mental health care settings, including extensive time working in the college setting. I became a fully Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC - formerly a Licensed Professional Counselor) in 2014. After becoming increasingly interested in how all counselors are trained or prepared to work with clients’ trauma experiences, I returned to school. I engaged in research on trauma-informed teaching and learning, and also studied the impact of trauma on human development and family systems. I additionally gained experience and skill in helping teach, train, and supervise other counselors on trauma-related work. I earned my PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2021, and received my supervisory license, LCMHCS, later that year.
In addition to my part-time private practice, Salem Bloom Counseling, I work as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Wake Forest University in the Department of Counseling. I teach undergraduate and graduate on-campus courses, as well as online graduate courses, through the department. I am able to see clients who attend or work at Wake Forest University in a very limited, case-by-case capacity, provided that I am not an instructor or supervisor for them, or do not have another conflicting dual relationship.
To learn more about my professional experiences, read my CV.
Personal
In the first 13 years of my life, I grew up in rural, coastal NC. My family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio the summer before I started 8th grade, and lived there for about 7 years. Ultimately I consider North Carolina home, but I can’t deny the influence the Midwest had on my development! Especially in terms of the opportunities I was able to access based on the education I received while in Ohio. Eager to get back to my NC roots, and seizing on those educational opportunities, I came to Winston-Salem to attend Wake Forest University, and have lived here ever since!
I like to spend time with my partner, and to catch up with friends & family whenever possible. I love traveling, trying new foods, knitting, reading, and pretty much anything pop culture related. Especially podcasts! I also like exploring ways to engage in joyful movement - like getting outside, practicing yoga, and dancing around my house! I was a theater kid and poetry writer growing up, and I think these interests very much show up in the way I move through the world today. I use she/her/hers pronouns.
Who I Work With
Culture touches all aspects of our lives, and includes things like: age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion or spirituality, political views, body size and shape, and mental or physical ability. The intersection of these cultural factors impacts how we move through the world, and how others respond to us. I believe in working across differences to cultivate a safe, culturally affirming space for clients of all backgrounds.
I provide individual, outpatient therapy. I work with adults, ages 18+. I have specialized experience with college students and young adults. I do not work with couples or offer family counseling. I am currently not accepting new clients.