Aayla Alexander, Counselor
Specialty Areas
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Grief
- College Counseling
- Career Difficulties
- Life Transitions
- Self-Esteem
- Relationship Issues
- Family of Origin Concerns
- Multicultural Concerns
Aayla Alexander, LCSW
Aayla Alexander is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over eight years of experience providing direct care services. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Queens University of Charlotte in Psychology and Sociology and Master’s in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has worked in a variety of settings such as university counseling centers, nonprofits and group practices. Aayla is licensed to see clients in NC and virtually in SC.
Aayla specializes in working with clients ages 12 and up. She has a particular passion for working with college students and clients of diverse backgrounds. Aayla uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to achieve their goals in order for them to pursue a self-directed life. She is consistently inspired by the human ability to unlearn, stretch and grow. In addition to being a full-time therapist, she is also the owner of Aayla Alexander Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. In her free time, Aayla likes to travel, binge watch new shows, and spend time with her loved ones.
My counseling philosophy puts the client in the driver’s seat. I firmly believe you are the expert of your own concerns. I take a person-centered approach, collaborating with my clients in order to assist them with understanding their underlying concerns while identifying and utilizing their strengths in order to accomplish their goals. Together, we’ll work as a team to clarify your vision for your ideal life. You can feel safe knowing you have a trusted collaborator along the way.
My counseling style is warm, creative, & interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect and compassion. I consider myself an eclectic therapist, drawing from approaches such as CBT, DBT, Self-Compassion, ACT to address concerns. I work with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, transition and relationship concerns, just to name a few.
I celebrate you for taking the first step in this journey towards change – be it big or small. I will be here to support and empower you along the way! I look forward to working with you. Talk soon!
- Initial Intake: $250 per 53-60 min session
- Subsequent Sessions: $225 per 53-60 min session. $200 per 38-52 min session. $150 for 23-37 min session.
(Adapted from Shrink Chicks!)
- Am I truly depleted and too busy today or am I avoid talking about something hard?
- What would make today’s session worth it, if I left with just one takeaway?
- Could I benefit from even just a shorter lesson or switching to telehealth rather than totally cancelling?
- If I skip this session, will I lose momentum and will it be harder to return?
- What topic am I most avoidant of talking about and what’s one sentence I could start with?
- If not therapy today, what’s my plan for support (journaling, practicing skills I’ve learned, calling a friend, etc.) and is that enough?
- Favorite movies – belly, dead presidents, lion king, sex and the city, waiting to exhale,
- Favorite musicians – Jazmine Sullivan, Anita Baker, Aaliyah, Sade, Donny Hathaway, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, D’Angelo
- Favorite songs – a couple of minutes by Olivia dean, fly like a bird by Mariah Carey, all about our love by Sade, I found my smile again by d’Angelo
- Favorite food/restaurants – chicken nuggets, Caesar salads, anything smothered (I’m a southern girl, after all). My favorite Charlotte restaurants are smoke pit, kindred, fig tree, yame, yunta, yafo
As a therapist, my work is grounded in my lived experience of learning to find my own way in environments where support was limited. Those early challenges shaped my commitment to show up for others with the presence, clarity, and compassion I once needed myself. I’ve also always been someone people naturally turn to for support, and that role evolved into a purpose: helping individuals feel seen, affirmed, and deeply understood as they navigate life’s complexities. My “why” is rooted in breaking cycles, creating safety, and offering culturally responsive, liberation-focused care that honors the full humanity of the people I serve.