Our skilled therapy team:
Marjorie Avent, LPC-A
Psychotherapy Charleston is excited about the addition of Marjorie Avent to the therapy team. Marjorie graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2007 with an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy. She also completed the Board Certified Coaching program at the Institute for Life Coach Training, designed specifically for licensed clinicians. Marjorie uses her coaching training as well as the skills gained while working as a hospital chaplain to enhance her work with clients.
Whether facing grief after a loss, unmanaged anxiety, or feelings of not being enough, Marjorie believes we each have within us everything we need to live healthy, wholehearted lives. And, she delights in supporting clients as they discover their inner wisdom and practice newly acquired skills.
As a Certified Daring Way Facilitator, Marjorie applies Brené Brown’s work around courage building, uncovering the power of vulnerability, and shame resilience with her clients. Her approach to counseling is open, honest, and supportive. She strives to create safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can do the work of therapy with courage and confidence.
Contact Marjorie via text/cell at 843-926-1625 or email therapy@marjorieavent.com. You can learn more about Marjorie by visiting her website.
Brooklyn Milner, LISW-CP
Brooklyn received her Masters of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked in both inpatient hospital settings and outpatient behavioral health clinics for the last 10 years.
Brooklyn works with clients to teach them to respond rather than react and meet the world with compassion and understanding rather than judgment. Her ultimate goal is for the client to leave therapy with a renewed sense of self – to work with their emotions, identify and advocate for their needs, set healthy boundaries with themselves and others, and ultimately determine what they see as a meaningful life.
Brooklyn offers a non-judgmental and compassionate space to establish an active therapeutic relationship. She integrates various evidence-based therapeutic practices in her approach, tailored to your individual needs to find balance and empowerment: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology. Brooklyn is also certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which enhances her work with clients who have experienced trauma.
Brooklyn offers both in person and online sessions during the evenings and weekends. You can contact her at 919-636-0765 or at brooklynmilner@gmail.com.
Lorna has 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist and is also a published author, psychoeducational lecturer, and has worked in higher education as an Associate Dean. She has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and a second Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Lorna is also ABD (all but dissertation) for her PhD in Child and Family Studies. She has extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families and specializes in anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic illness, eating disorders, and couple dynamics. Her administrative experience at an academically rigorous college allows her an inside understanding of the many stressors that students experience and the resources that can help students succeed and thrive.
Lorna strongly believes in the capacity for everyone to improve their quality of life and to develop a more positive relationship with their own Self and others. There are specific skills and strategies that can assist in moving an individual away from anxiety and depression and towards greater peace and self-acceptance. Lorna is honored to be part of each individual’s inner exploration and healing journey.
She utilizes CBT, Strength-Focused, DBT, Internal Family Systems, and Narrative Therapy, along with mindfulness and iRest modalities, as her clinical theoretical foundation and would be happy to discuss these further with you. Therapy is truly a collaborative practice that honors each person’s unique goals, history, and experience.
Emily Johnson received her bachelors degree in psychology from Dartmouth College in 2000. After graduating, she spent time in the corporate world before taking the leap to follow her passion for helping others. After earning her Masters in Social Work from the University of South Carolina, Emily worked at MUSC’s Institute of Psychiatry for five years before opening her private practice.
Emily enjoys working with clients to help make positive life changes. To aid in clients’ recovery/growth, she assigns “homework” between sessions: books to read, videos to watch, and exercises (written or otherwise) to complete. She sees the therapist role as similar to that of a tennis coach. First understand what is “off” with your swing. Then learn the correct technique. Then practice, practice, practice. Slowly your game changes and you look back over time and see how your hard work has paid off.
Emily currently lives in Charleston with her husband and three children.
emily@psychotherapycharleston.com
Samantha Rukavina, LPC
Samantha deeply values the opportunity to partner with clients as they pursue healing and navigate the challenges of life. She is passionate about holistic wellness and strives to create a safe and accepting place for her clients as they seek mental, emotional, and physical health. She believes in the unique diversity of each individual and enjoys walking alongside clients in their journey of discovery and recovery.
Samantha helps individuals and couples work through a variety of concerns including depression and anxiety, stress management, past and present traumas, life transitions, family dynamics, grief and loss, self-esteem, personal identity development and relationship conflict.
Samantha was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. After graduating she worked in the Salt Lake City courthouse before pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Samantha offers in person and online sessions. You can contact her at 801-557-0915 and samantharukavina@gmail.com
Madeline Fellabom is a Charleston native. She received a business degree from Clemson University and worked in the Chicago corporate world before deciding to follow her passion for helping others. Madeline received her Masters Degree in Psychology: Clinical Counseling from The Citadel.
As a former collegiate athlete, Madeline understands the performance pressures and associated anxieties that arise in both professional or personal lives. As a therapist, Madeline has an engaging approach that will support, encourage, and challenge you. She passionately believes that through collaboration you will reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and identify your blind spots and pain points. Understanding your upbringing and relationship dynamics from an early age can help you become more self-aware and make connections to how you are relating with others. This increased self-awareness will be your starting point. With her support, you will use your insights to redirect your life to achieve the self acceptance and inner-peace that you seek.
Madeline has helped people navigate through various experiences of trauma, such as childhood/developmental, sexual, physical, emotional, or religious/spiritual. She also works with people who experience anxiety, depression, relationship issues, health issues, stress, grief, or life transitions to help them process through and heal from their pasts.
Madeline offers in-person and virtual sessions.
Contact Madeline via cell/text at 843.847.6873 or email at psychotherapycharleston@gmail.com