Z. Hamilton Avery

I provide online therapy to adolescents (13+) and adults in Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, and Idaho, as well as nationwide coaching for teens and adults. I commonly work with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, chronic illness and pain, suicidal thoughts, grief and loss, burnout, life transitions, and experiences that leave people feeling disconnected from themselves or uncertain about how to move forward. Therapy can also be a place for growth, greater self-understanding, and strengthening well-being before life reaches a crisis point. My background spans psychotherapy, healthcare, crisis intervention, hospice, community mental health, coaching, education, yoga, meditation, bodywork, and integrative wellness. These experiences have taught me that distress can show up in many places: our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, physical responses, sense of safety, and ways of relating to ourselves. In sessions, I am warm, curious, engaged, and practical. We may work on understanding patterns, processing difficult experiences, developing coping and emotional regulation skills, increasing awareness of mind-body responses, practicing mindfulness or self-compassion, identifying strengths, and reconnecting with what matters to you. You will not be expected to use every approach simply because I offer it. We will explore what fits you and build from there. Beyond psychotherapy and coaching, I am an educator, speaker, yoga and meditation teacher, and integrative wellness practitioner. Through Therapy with Z, I offer classes, workshops, professional trainings, speaking engagements, retreats, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, integrative wellness programs, and educational resources. These programs may combine research and theory, practical education, discussion and reflection, experiential practice, mindfulness, movement, and skill building. Many include take-home resources that participants can continue using after the program.

Trauma and prolonged stress can affect more than the stories we tell ourselves. They can influence emotions, behavior, relationships, attention, physical responses, expectations, and the ways we experience safety and connection. I therefore approach therapy from a whole-person perspective. My work is humanistic, person-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and evidence-based. Depending on your needs, I may draw from CBT, DBT, ACT, compassion-focused approaches, mindfulness-based interventions, motivational interviewing, expressive approaches, somatic and body-based practices, and trauma-focused interventions. These approaches are tools rather than a predetermined formula. Therapy is adapted to the person rather than expecting the person to fit a particular model. This does not mean every session focuses on trauma or the body. It means we remain curious about the different ways your experiences may be connected rather than assuming one explanation or forcing your experience into a predetermined framework. Trauma work also does not require immediately revisiting your most difficult experiences. When appropriate, we can first focus on trust, stabilization, coping skills, emotional regulation, and developing resources that help you feel prepared for deeper work. You bring knowledge of your life, history, values, strengths, and experiences. I bring clinical knowledge, perspective, curiosity, and practical tools. Together, we decide what deserves our attention and what approaches are most useful. I value your feedback throughout the process. We will continue evaluating what is helping, build on what works, and adjust our work as your needs and goals change.