Dr. Claire McCullough

Claire earned her Undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in Psychology and Women’s Studies, her Master’s degree from University of Cincinnati in Mental Health Counseling, and her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Kent State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider, offering in-person and virtual therapy to patients across North Carolina and South Carolina.

Claire’s approach is rooted in collaboration. Drawing on evidence-based methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She also has an expertise in Family Based Treatment (FBT, also known as Maudsley Therapy), the gold standard in adolescent and young adult eating disorder recovery. She helps adolescents, adults, couples, and families work through anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, body image struggles, self-harm behaviors, and the relationship and dynamics that often sit underneath these challenges.

During her doctoral studies, Claire had the opportunity to train under the supervision of Dr. Lucene Wisniewski, Ph.D, Dr. Mark Warren, MD and work in collaboration with multiple clinical industry leaders, specific to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the treatment of eating disorders. Her doctoral research, published under the title “Parental Experience of Phase One of a Modified Maudsley Treatment Approach for their Adolescent with an Eating Disorder: A Qualitative Study,” focused solely on parental experiences during family-based treatment for adolescents with eating disorders, further deepening her passion for supporting both individuals and families throughout the recovery process. Through a phenomenological qualitative approach, Claire spent over 5 years interviewing, studying, and researching best practices for supporting the family system of an adolescent with an eating disorder. The full dissertation can be read here: Read More

Throughout her career, Claire has worked across Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and outpatient levels of care. Her clinical experience includes work with The Emily Program in Cleveland, OH (formerly the Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders), The Renfrew Center of Charlotte, and most recently was the first Clinical Director at the Emily Program in Charlotte (formerly Veritas Collaborative), integral in the building, establishment and training of all staff and employees.

Claire’s values each relationship created within the therapeutic relationship and brings depth of expertise and care to every relationship built — creating a space where patients feel safe enough to be honest and supported enough to grow. Outside of the office, she finds music to be a source of fun, healing, grounding, and validation — ask her about her favorites sometime, including her well-known affinity for Taylor Swift.