Gina Kabat, LCSW

Happy to see you here! My name is Gina (she/her), and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (C015172) in Old West Durham. I earned my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and my Master of Social Work at NC State. I spent several years in community mental health prior to transitioning into outpatient therapy! The beginning of my career was spent in community mental health as an intensive in-home therapist, providing therapy in individuals' homes, schools, and other treatment facilities. I then moved into outpatient therapy, where I have worked ever since! The most common presenting problems I have spent time with include trauma, anxiety, depression, attachment issues, generational trauma, and growth and identity issues. I enjoy working with older teens (15+), young adults, and adults of all ages. Each period of life is vastly different and deeply rich in many ways. Establishing a safe and trusting rapport is one of the most important factors in benefitting from therapy. It is important to me that each client feels we are a good fit or that we work together to find a therapist that is! I value being a social worker and aim to stay mindful of systemic issues and social injustices that often contribute to our mental health, unique to each person. I encourage exploration of these issues in therapy, creating an opportunity for emotional support and validation while also having a bigger context for presenting problems. Throughout therapy, I hope to guide each person toward their self-directed goals while increasing community support to create an overall more joyful, stable, and sustainable life. In therapy, I will pull from a variety of modalities, including CBT, MI, and EMDR. I am familiar with and enjoy incorporating several DBT skills into therapy, though I am not DBT certified. I encourage you to allow your whole authentic self to arrive and take up space in session. My approach is compassionate, curious, and calm. I hope to provide a healing space that encourages you to process, grow, and discover. A little about me: I am 34 years old and have lived in Durham for 6 years with my wife, daughter, and dog! I spend my spare time making candles, amateur gardening, and dining around Durham!