Kerrie holds a master’s degree (M.S., 2005) in Community Counseling and a doctoral degree (Ph.D., 2009) in Counselor Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Supervisor in North Carolina (LCMHCS #S7420), and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC #203024).
dr. Kerrie Fuenfhausen, LCMHCS, NCC
I know that sometimes the daily pressures and struggles of life can seem overwhelming, and it may be hard to imagine how things can change. Sometimes we find ourselves putting all of our energy into other people: our families, jobs, or friends. I encourage you to consider investing some time in yourself to heal, to change, and to grow. My approach to counseling is relational and collaborative… meaning that the direction we go really depends on your needs. We may explore existential themes, process past traumas, or work toward specific behavioral changes. I enjoy supporting clients in gaining new insights and perspectives related to longstanding patterns or “stuck” places. This might include helping you to clarify your values and empowering you to honor parts of yourself that are often hidden or denied. A lot of my work centers around supporting clients in strengthening their relationships, both in individual and couples counseling.
I have worked with clients in a variety of settings, including private practice, community agency, and hospital settings, since 2005. After fourteen years as a Counseling professor, I recently decided to join my partner in full-time private practice.
Matt holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University (M.A., 2015), and a master’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Chicago (M.A., 2010). He is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC #695936), and is dually licensed in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC #12703) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS #22904).
Matt Fuenfhausen, LCMHC, LCAS
I live and practice by a radical notion: Being heard by another heals us, not just emotionally but intellectually and physically as well. “Heard” isn't simply conversing with peers, sharing memories with loved ones, or listening to a friend’s embarrassing anecdote. Being heard is to be recognized and validated, not just verbally but through another’s objective presence: “I see you. I hear you. I am holding this space just for you, not in spite of what you think of as failures or short-comings rather, because of your innate, complicated humanity with all its joy and sorrow, glory and shame, accomplishment and frustration.”
I promise working with me isn’t nearly as dramatic as all that sounds, it’s just the foundation from where we’ll start. We will do a lot of laughing together. You will have ground-breaking epiphanies. You will likely experience some frustrations and swearing, and I would be a liar if I didn’t say there will probably be tears too.
You will always be the expert on “you.” What you bring into the office is what you’ll take out, just in a new, affirming form. It’s your growth, your change, your development. My job will be to keep the rest of the world at bay for just a while, holding a space for you to explore your genuine, authentic self and work toward your own wellness goals.
what’s in a name?
Our last name, Fuenfhausen, means “five houses” in German. We also both love logic puzzles, and were intrigued to discover the “Five Houses” riddle, which has been attributed to both Albert Einstein and Lewis Carroll. Supposedly, Einstein claimed that only 2% of humans were able to solve it. Regardless of its actual authorship, the truth is that anyone can solve the puzzle, with patience and perseverance. It’s not a trick, and all of the necessary information is contained in the riddle itself. As counselors, we believe this is also true of the struggles we face in life. They may seem insurmountable, and all humans have the capacity and the internal resources to change, grow, and heal. And unlike Einstein’s riddle, we know that most problems do not have just one right answer, and we are honored to support our clients as they navigate the complexity of life’s challenges.
“Before I could release the weight of my sadness and pain,
I first had to honor its existence.”