Autumn Koehler, MSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) | she/her —Hi! I’m so glad you’re here. My name is Autumn, and I believe there is no single “right” way to navigate being human. Life can be confusing, overwhelming, messy, and complicated. Maybe you’ve been feeling off and want to understand yourself better, feel stuck or unfulfilled, keep noticing patterns that are difficult to break, or find that the ways you’ve been coping are no longer working for you. You may know something needs to change without being entirely sure what that change looks like yet. You do not need to have a diagnosis or know exactly what is “wrong” before coming to therapy.
People sometimes come to therapy believing they are broken or need to “fix” themselves. I don’t believe you are broken. Our work isn’t about fixing you; it’s about reconnecting with the wholeness that already exists within you. You are the expert on your own life. Human-to-human, my role is to work alongside you to make the hard stuff easier to sit with and help you move toward a life that feels more aligned with who you are and what matters to you.
My goal is to create a space where you feel safe to talk about and process your experiences, access your own wisdom, celebrate successes, and be yourself.
How I Can Help
I work with children, teens, and adults navigating:
Life transitions and stress
Anxiety, OCD, and phobias
Depression, grief, and self-esteem
Trauma and difficult life experiences
Chronic illness
Gender identity exploration, gender dysphoria, and transgender health
Friendship, family, and relationship concerns
School and academic stress
Type 1 Diabetes
I specialize in supporting individuals of all ages living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Therapy can provide a place to work through diabetes distress and burnout, adjustment to a new diagnosis, family stress, life transitions, the emotional impact of T1D management, and the many other ways T1D can intersect with everyday life.
Living with T1D often involves an invisible emotional load. There is constant decision-making, vigilance, uncertainty, and responsibility, even when no one else can see it. Those experiences can also affect relationships, identity, school or work, mental health, and how you feel about yourself and your body.
I have lived with T1D for more than 22 years and have mentored others with T1D for nearly a decade. I previously served as president of UNC Chapel Hill’s Type 1 Tar Heels and worked as a research assistant with UNC Pediatric Endocrinology. During that time, I self-published Type 1 Diabetes. What Now?! Adulthood: A Guide for Teens with Type 1 Diabetes Transitioning into Adulthood.
For my final master’s project, I developed and presented a training for mental health clinicians focused on type 1 diabetes and mental health. My personal and professional experiences inspire my work in helping others feel less alone as they navigate the highs and lows of living with T1D.
What Therapy With Me is Like
Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. You are a uniquely formed human being, and I believe your therapeutic experience should reflect all parts of who you are, including your needs, experiences, identities, strengths, values, and goals.
At the beginning of our work together, we’ll talk not only about what you want to work on, but also about how you want therapy to feel and what I can do to help you feel supported, understood, and appropriately challenged. We'll take things one session at a time and focus on what you need in the moment, while still keeping your goals in mind and adjusting our work as needed.
I am committed to providing inclusive care and practice from an anti-racist, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed, and social justice-informed lens. My style is person-centered, collaborative, strengths-based, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I believe the therapeutic relationship is key to effective therapy. I welcome open conversations about the therapeutic relationship and how our identities and experiences may influence our work together. I strive to create an environment full of empathy, kindness, curiosity, humor, respect, and meaningful connection.
I take an integrative approach, which means I may blend different types of interventions depending on your needs. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic and attachment-based approaches, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), mindfulness-based practices, and creative interventions such as play and art.
Education and Clinical Experience
MSW, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2026 - Direct Clinical Social Work Practice
B.Ed., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2021 - Human Development & Family Studies; Health & Society
I completed my MSW internships at Counseling Services, Inc. (CSI) and Duke University Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Gender Care Clinic. At Duke, I provided therapeutic support, education, and assessment to children, adolescents, and their families. Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a psychometrist/psychological associate administering cognitive, psychological, and academic assessments. I have also worked in educational settings with children and adolescents.
Fun Facts
I love listening to 80s alternative and indie music, doing arts and crafts, and spending time with my two cats.
Ready to Connect?
Wherever you are in your journey, you do not have to navigate it alone. If you’re interested in learning more, you can schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if working together feels like the right fit.
CONTACT
To contact Autumn call (919) 473-6622 and leave a confidential message.
Current clients: Click this link to access the secure client portal: https://counselingservicesinc.clientsecure.me
RATES
I currently accept Aetna and Cigna and am in the process of becoming credentialed with BCBS. Self-pay and sliding scale options are also available, and HSA/FSA cards are accepted.