Meet Akejah
SERVING CHILDREN AGES 3+, ADOLESCENTS, & ADULTS
• Born in Fayetteville, "the Ville," NC
• Expressive arts, like dance and movement, are my personal healing tools.
• I love to travel to new places and hike — Exploring nature and seeing the world keeps me grounded and refreshed.
• Certified foodie — Of course, snacks are always welcome in session!
• Weekly “special buys” from Costco — For therapeutic reasons, of course!
AKEJAH McLAUGHLIN, LCMHC
“Therapy may only take up one hour of your week—but my goal is to equip you with the tools to heal in the other 167 hours.”
Akejah McLaughlin is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and play therapist from Fayetteville, NC. She provides individual therapy for children, teens, and adults, supporting clients through anxiety, emotional regulation, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges. She is also a Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) instructor and trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), passionate about strengthening the bonds and healing trauma between young children and their caregivers. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing isn’t about temporary quick fixes—it’s about getting to the root of the pain, fostering resilience, and promoting lasting growth.
Akejah earned her Master of Arts in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she also received certification in Play Therapy. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Methodist University with a minor in clinical/counseling.
Growing up, I often moved around, frequently feeling out of place and craving stability. That deep desire to be heard and understood shaped my calling to help others feel truly seen. Throughout my life and career, I found myself naturally drawn to supporting individuals who are carrying heavy weights. I have sat with teens and adults who carried burdens far too young, grew up in difficult environments, and mastered the art of saying “I’m fine” while taking care of everyone else but themselves. I have also stood alongside children who have incredibly big feelings in their big hearts, helping their families learn the tools to communicate and helping those children cope with a world that can feel overwhelming.
These experiences have shown me how transformative it is when someone feels safe, supported, and valued. That’s why I do this work—to create the kind of space I know is so needed, yet not often had. A space where you—or your child—aren’t treated like a number in a revolving door, but as a whole person with a story worth honoring. A space where healing isn’t rushed or surface-level, but rooted in connection, curiosity, and care. I’m especially passionate about providing culturally sensitive care to Black and Brown individuals navigating the intersections of identity, trauma, and healing. And no matter your background, you are welcome here.
MY WHY
I work entirely through an attachment lens. Simply put, attachment is understanding how our earliest relationships shape our lifelong emotional patterns.
Here’s what therapy looks like across the lifespan:
• Early Childhood (Ages 0–5): Together with a caregiver, we use Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) to heal early trauma and build secure attachment bonds.
• Children (Ages 3–10): We utilize Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). Because play is a child's natural language, it provides a safe space for them to process big emotions and learn coping tools.
• Teens & Adults: We blend Attachment-Informed Trauma Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Brainspotting. Brainspotting is a specialized neurobiological tool that locates where trauma or anxiety is physically held in the brain, allowing you to process and release deep-seated survival stress that talk therapy cannot always reach.I take an integrative, attachment-informed approach to therapy, blending evidence-based techniques with creativity and compassion. Whether I’m working with a child struggling to express big emotions or an adult unpacking decades of unspoken pain, I aim to create a space that feels safe, affirming, and transformative.
MY STYLE
Certifications
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
• Registered Play Therapist (RPT) — Credential pending approval by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) board
• Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Certification
• Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Trained (Ages 0–5)
• Brainspotting Trained
• Attachment Informed Trauma Therapy
• Certified Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) Instructor
• Member, National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Member, North Carolina Association for Play Therapy (NCAPT)
A MESSAGE FROM AKEJAH
