Elyse Hames, Intern

Supervised by Tina Motley, LCSW

Elyse is an intern/student counselor, completing her second year at Wake Forest University with her Mental Health Counseling masters degree. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Following graduation, Elyse found her passion for counseling, leadership, and coaching others. Elyse loves working with children, adolescents and young adults. Elyse’s areas of clinical interest include anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, Christian counseling, attachment and working through childhood trauma. Elyse utilizes an eclectic approach to individualize treatment for each client, but focuses on person centered counseling, cognitive-behavioral and therapeutic play techniques. Her main focus for each of the clients she supports is to come as they are, and in that freedom to be themselves allow the work and growth to take place. Elyse believes that therapeutic intervention is a collaborative process, all with the goal of physical, mental and spiritual healing. 

Elyse enjoys spending time with her fiancé, two puppies, best friends and family. She loves taking them on walks around the Swift Creek reservoir, exploring new places, and finding the best coffee shop in Richmond. Some of her hobbies include fishing, cooking, reading, and wedding planning. Besides being a counselor in training, Elyse also has a passion for teaching and dance. She teaches dance classes to a wide range of ages, from toddlers to adults, sharing her passion with others. She also helps coach the dance studios competition team, devoting her time to the students each month.