DARAN EDMONDS, LCSW
To a lot of people, therapy is an abstract, intangible process, but it’s quite concrete to me. In my mind, there’s an unstable, static pile of river rocks, with each one representing suffering, and then there’s a crisp mountain stream. Each time a client makes strides, we get to move a rock from that pile into the pool of that clear, vital water. I can see it, and the client can feel it. And, that’s what I do–help people decrease their suffering and increase the energy and beauty of their own lives. This work inspires me to likewise follow my own counsel, and my own life is better for it.
For almost 30 years, I have found great satisfaction in working with clients, and I have helped people move many, many river rocks. I earned a Master of Social Work degree from UNC Chapel Hill. Since then, I have provided direct service as a psychotherapist, child welfare social worker, and other services for adults, children and couples in crisis. My experience makes me knowledgeable, skilled, and calm, and my natural interest in people and how we go about our lives in this particular world, makes me truly interested in my clients.
I am sensitive and reflective, and I also have a tendency to get to the heart of the matter. My clients appreciate that I am a direct person, which isn’t to say I’m not patient. Sometimes, in fact, patience is a real part of our work together. I do not decide, for instance, when clients will disclose the underlying emotions behind troubling behaviors. I do not back clients into emotional corners that result in fight or flight instincts. That said, I’m not keen on wheel spinning, so I’ll always serve as a reminder of why we’re in the room together.
When I’m not helping clients, I fill my mountain stream by spending time with my two daughters and playing Ultimate Frisbee on a competitive, traveling team. I also like any and all opportunities to learn via classes, books, journals and podcasts. Music also moves me, and I’ll take almost any kind, live or recorded. Clearly, whether through sport, education, art, or relationships, I’m not somebody who believes in stasis. Yes, I can and do enjoy sitting still, but my mindset is always toward meaning and joy, and, through my work, I am privileged to be able to share it with others.