Zena Watson, LCSW, SIFI
(They/Them)
I originally began my therapy studies in dance and movement therapy at Pratt Institute with the passion to assist individuals with being able to express the painful memories the body holds on to. Working with girls and young women who had experienced sexual trauma and sexual exploitation, I was witness to the fear many survivors of trauma have: the loss of power and control of their bodies. As a result, I changed courses and instead obtained my degree in social work from New York University, still believing that the body can say what words cannot but also recognizing the power in having a vocabulary for one’s experiences.
Over the course of a decade providing trauma therapy to individuals, I have received training in Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (AF-EMDR) Therapy, Brainspotting, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Trauma Resolution Energy Therapy (TRET). I use an eclectic approach that incorporates somatic/body-oriented and energy therapies for individuals looking to overcome the traumas that have dominated their lives as well as reclaim and reconnect their physical, emotional and spiritual selves. I am an interactive, non-judgmental, down-to-earth, and empathic therapist who believes that your experiences, however painful or chaotic, are worthy of being paid attention to. I can assist you in finding expression and healing and reclaiming your true self and life.
In addition to therapy training, I am also a Certified Holistic Life Coach and Mind-Body Practitioner. As a life coach, I specialize in working with individuals seeking growth and healing from past trauma. Through coaching, I help people discover their innate resources, build their resilience and strength, and find peace in their relationships, lives, and bodies.
Specialties include: attachment/developmental trauma • sexual, physical, and emotional trauma • cPTSD/PTSD • dissociative disorders• racial trauma • gender-based violence • family of origin difficulties • grief • anxiety/panic disorders • chronic pain • LGBTQIA+ concerns • gender identity and sexuality • intimacy issues • polyamory/open relationships
Nisha Umesh, MHC-LP
(She/Her)
It was during my sophomore year of college at UNCG that I pivoted, leaving behind my pre-medical tract to pursue a dual degree in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies. I persevered through the resistance and push-back of committing to service and social-justice work, which are the core of my passions today. I continued on my journey, earning my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina Central University. I have since been trained in EMDR and trauma-informed care.
I believe that as complex and multi-faceted humans, we hold the stories and experiences of our trauma deeply within our bodies. I uplift these stories and experiences with a strengths-based approach, centering the skills and resources you have developed in resilience. I use an integrative approach, exploring various modalities that may work best for you and your story. My care is social-justice oriented and intersectional, centering your lived experiences, and holding space for every part of you. I invite each part into our sessions in both its light and darkness. I am an empathetic and warm therapist who shows up to witness you on your journey and walk beside you. This journey may have a few bumps, detours, and roadblocks but we can traverse it together. I invite you into a space that is free of shame but that allows you to bring your own in with curiosity and compassion. I believe each and every person is whole in all of their parts, both dark and light, and worthy of healing.
Specialties include: attachment trauma • intergenerational trauma • immigration trauma • racial trauma • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) • grief/loss • depression • anxiety • relationship issues/concerns • LGBTQIA+ issues/concerns • life transitions