About

How Just Be Came to Be

Just Be Counseling Services is the fulfillment of Annie and Emily’s shared vision to create a therapeutic space that is affirming, client-centered, and congruent with our professional values. After gaining clinical experience in community mental health agencies, we decided to combine our talents and resources to open our own counseling practice in 2022. Located in the small town of Burlington, North Carolina, the founding principle of Just Be Counseling Services is to provide compassionate, competent and accessible counseling services to people of all ages, backgrounds and identities. Casey joined our practice as counselor-in-training in May of 2023. We quickly learned what a fantastic addition she is to our team and are thrilled she decided to join Just Be in the summer of 2024 as a licensed counselor! We are proud of what our now three-person team offers the Alamance County community. We feel grateful for the opportunity to attend to the mental health needs of those who seek our care.

Values That Guide Our Practice

COMPASSION

Compassion is what fuels and guides the work we do. We believe that every client deserves acknowledgement of the ways in which they suffer from a therapist who is genuinely invested in their wellbeing and committed to their healing and growth. 

AUTHENTICITY

Part of what makes therapy such a powerful experience is that it offers you the opportunity to bring your full, authentic self into the counseling space. This process takes trust, safety, and intentionality.  We are committed to showing up authentically and fostering an environment that invites you to do the same.

AUTONOMY

While we are honored to help you identify and bring about changes in your life that support your mental health, we believe that you are the ultimate authority on your life and choices. We believe that the most effective therapeutic relationships are rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and a deep respect for the agency of our clients.

EQUITY

We strive to provide equitable services, meaning that we actively work to create a practice where all people are treated with fairness and inclusivity. We acknowledge and celebrate the strengths of people with marginalized identities and are committed to providing culturally affirming and responsive care. We recognize that being an equitable service provider requires on-going learning and a willingness to address the ways our social privilege can limit our attunement with our client’s needs and perpetuate harm. When we fall short of living up to this value, we welcome correction, repair, and reconciliation.

The Big Picture

Annie Taylor, MS, LCMHC

(she/her/hers)

Annie loves being a therapist. She feels excited when getting to know a new client and feels gratitude to current clients, who trust her to be a partner and witness to their hard work of healing, growing and transforming. Annie strives to create a therapeutic space where clients feel understood, valued, cared for and supported. Annie uses playfulness, humor, compassion and open-mindedness to foster strong therapeutic relationships with her clients. She welcomes and celebrates clients of all identities and backgrounds to her office.

Casey Fowler, MA, LCMHCA

(she/her/hers)

Casey hopes to create a space where her clients feel unconditionally cared for and accepted. She believes that healing can come when people have a space in which they feel safe and attended to. Casey is grateful for the opportunity to be able to watch this process up close. Casey warmly welcomes and celebrates diversity and inclusion. She is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for all individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or background. She believes that embracing diverse perspectives enriches our collective experience and enhances the therapeutic journey for everyone.

Emily Taylor, MS, LCMHC

(she/her/hers)

Emily cares deeply about her clients. She believes that all people are deserving of empathy, understanding and healing and she aims to create an atmosphere where her clients can feel heard, seen and fully accepted as themselves. Emily exudes warmth, patience and openness as a therapist and fellow human being. Emily celebrates diversity and believes in providing inclusive and equitable services to clients of various identities. When she isn’t counseling, Emily also handles all billing and insurance filing for the practice.

The Details

Annie sees people across the lifespan (ages 3 to 100+).

Casey sees adolescents and adults (ages 11 to 100+).

Emily sees teenagers and adults (ages 16 to 100+). 

Annie works with

Children who are...
  • in the foster care system and thus may be struggling with trauma symptoms, separation from their parents/attachment figures, or difficulty adjusting to a new placement.
  • exhibiting behavioral concerns, such as angry outbursts, aggressive behaviors, difficulty with transitions, challenges with being flexible, etc.

Annie and Casey work with

Adolescents who are...
  • struggling with life transitions, like starting middle school, making or keeping friends, or adjusting to a divorce or blended family.
  • experiencing academic challenges in school
  • having frequent conflict and/or withdrawal from parents/caregivers.

Annie, Casey, and Emily work with

Adults who are...
  • struggling with life transitions, which may include: navigating college, changing jobs or feeling unsure of their career, or experiencing changes within their family.
  • experiencing relational concerns with loved ones including, conflict, estrangement, unhealthy boundaries, etc.
  • feeling overwhelmed balancing competing demands of working, parenting, and/or caretaking. 

People of various ages who are...

  • neurodivergent (including diagnoses of Autism and ADHD).
  • experiencing anxiety, depression and other mood disorders.
  • struggling with eating disorders or disordered eating
  • struggling with negative body image.
  • grieving death and/or loss.
  • struggling with low self-esteem. 
  • navigating identity questions about gender, sexuality, etc.
  • experiencing distressing symptoms from the effects of trauma (including sexual abuse, assault, early childhood trauma, etc.).

Annie’s clinical approach for counseling children is based in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) concepts. Annie utilizes both directive and non-directive child-centered play therapy techniques. With teenagers and adults, Annie bases her practice in Person-Centered Therapy. She incorporates aspects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), expressive arts and other creative modalities.

Emily’s clinical approach is rooted in Person-Centered Therapy. She utilizes techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and other interpersonal and insight oriented therapies.

Casey’s clinical counseling approach is based on Person-Centered Therapy integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This integrative method allows Casey to provide a compassionate, client-focused environment while also addressing specific thought patterns and behaviors that may be impacting the client’s well-being. This blended approach allows for a flexible and tailored therapy experience, meeting each client where they are and supporting them in achieving their personal goals.

The Fine Print

Annie was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Initially believing she would become a teacher, she worked as a classroom assistant in a school dedicated to serving autistic children while working on her undergraduate Psychology degree. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2016 and ultimately chose to pursue counseling by earning a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2018. Both degrees were achieved at UNC Greensboro. Annie has been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) since 2019. She has worked in both hospital and community mental health settings before establishing a private practice with Emily in 2022.

Annie enjoys frequenting coffee shops, reading books of many genres, cuddling with her rescue dog, and re-watching her favorite TV show: Schitt’s Creek. Annie’s dream vacation would be to travel to the Maldives, where she wants to snorkel in clear blue waters and marvel at the abundance of marine life.

Casey was born in Columbia, Missouri, but moved to Burlington with her family at a
young age and considers herself a “local.” She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2011. Although Casey always knew she wanted to be a therapist, she took a break from school to focus on family life. In May 2024, Casey earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Casey completed her practicum and internship at Just Be Counseling. She has experience working with a variety of clients in the private practice setting.

Casey enjoys drinking coffee, visiting farmer’s markets, and going on walks with her family. She also loves weaving and watching the Great British Bake Off. Her current dream vacation is to visit Bar Harbor, Maine to explore Acadia National Park and hike and bike the trails.

Emily was born in Ardmore, Tennessee– a very small town on the Tennessee/Alabama state line. She received her Bachelor’s degree in History from Cumberland University in 2012. With a plan to become a history professor, she completed her Master of Art in History at UNC Charlotte in 2015. Emily decided to change career directions and she pursued becoming a counselor, earning herself a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2018 at UNC Greensboro. Emily began her career as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) in 2019 at a community mental health agency in Lexington, NC. She gained valuable experience working with teenagers and adults with a variety of mental health concerns before transitioning to private practice with Annie in 2022.

Emily is an avid crossword solver, guitar player and spectator of musical productions. She enjoys creating music and art, as well as dabbling in graphic design. Emily’s dream vacation would be traveling to New Zealand, where she would love to explore the hot springs and lush mountain scenery.