STEP 1: Find Your Counselor > STEP 2: Schedule an Appointment > STEP 3: Experience Life Change
Soraya Cartwright
MA-Level Intern

Specialties
- church hurt
- divorce/separation
- grief/loss
- interpersonal/communication issues
- life transitions
- premarital counseling (Prepare/Enrich certified)
- spiritual direction and formation
- trauma
- women’s issues
Experience Level
Client focus
Age
- adults (18+)
counseling type
- couples
- premarital
- families
“10 Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit..”
– Psalm 51:10-12 NASB
Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach
Recognizing that every individual’s life journey is unique and should be treated as such, I do not place individuals “in a box” but, rather, meet them where they are. Your past is important, but it does not have to define your future. I am certain that change and growth happen best within a safe space where no judgments are made, trust is built, and empathy is shown.
Although I understand that education and knowledge are essential, building a trusting therapeutic relationship helps facilitate change and healing the most. As I walk with hurting people, I do so with honor and integrity. I believe our experiences can be used to develop and grow us into better people. Yet, we must explore and understand our challenges and limitations to improve ourselves.
While therapy can be a rewarding and life-changing experience, reaching out and beginning the process can seem like a big step. I will do my best to help instill hope in you that you are capable of change and that this can be accomplished with the help of a counselor who can support and keep you accountable along the way!
As a counselor, I will exhibit overwhelming compassion for hurting people made in God’s image. I will do my best to catalyze God’s heart transformation as I engage with my clients in their suffering and vulnerability.
What to Expect in Therapy
Most people and relationships are not living up to their potential. They are just surviving. By providing a safe place and free-of-shame environment where clients experience full acceptance, empathy, compassion, and understanding, you will be able to work through, process, and improve your overall mental health.
I am also passionate about advocating for expanding mental health awareness through psychoeducation. My approach to counseling is client-centered and involves Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. I believe in meeting clients where they are in life and collaborating to create achievable goals. I strive to ensure you feel empowered to achieve your full potential and improve your overall quality of life.
I will help you to open up about your struggles and challenges, identify goals for treatment, learn healthy coping skills, develop healthy relationship skills, process meaningful life experiences, and find your inner strength to overcome barriers hindering your life goals and well-being.
I enjoy counseling adults walking through life’s seasons, anxiety, loss, anger, lack of self-worthiness, relationships, marriage, and family problems. I am passionate about knowing people well, amid their pain, and walking with them as they better understand their story in light of God’s redemptive story. I am compassionate and committed to providing professional, discerning counsel rooted in the truth of God’s Word.
Personal Qualifications and Experience
I am an empathetic and motivated clinical mental health student pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health, welcoming the opportunity to work with adults, couples, and families.
I am Prepare & Enrich certified (premarital and marital assessment tool) counselor. My extensive business background includes working in a range of settings with frontline staff, middle management, and executive-level personnel. I have vast experience and training leading human resources organizations within large companies, coaching and counseling individuals in developing interpersonal skills, communication, conflict resolution, and relationships. I have always loved working, mentoring, and developing people throughout my career. The common theme during every performance review was that I bring out the best in people by recognizing the strengths and potential they needed to realize they had.
Through much prayer, I listened to God’s calling by entering the field of mental health counseling to help people in their journey of well-being. My integrative approach to counseling combines cognitive behavioral therapy with strength-based and solution-focused approaches. My therapeutic approach to counseling is kind, collaborative, empathetic, and client-centered.
I strongly believe in the value of relationships, including those with one’s therapist, to help clients feel a sense of connectedness and wholeness. Watching a client move from suffering and brokenness to strength, healing, and joy keeps me passionate about my work as a counselor. I love being used as a vessel by God to be a part of the healing and growth process in the lives of others.
I am a long-time advocate for the fullness of life for all people. I have worked in several capacities that reflect this passion, including as a writer and advocate for fair trade practices, as an intern at an international anti-trafficking organization, and as a speaker for women’s groups about the theology of body image.
Personal Interests
Outside of my time with clients, I am a wife and a mother with one adult child and 3 adult stepchildren. We love spending time with our family.
My life is centered on my faith in Christ and His redemptive grace and love, which teaches me not to underestimate the power of hope within our stories. I love to read, and no book is more life-giving than scriptures. We were made for good works. Not giving up to temptation is good work. I saw God as a guest in my house for years, but now I ask him to be the host.
My husband and I love to travel, hike, watch movies, cook, and watch basketball together, although my critics of the game drive him crazy. We plan to start playing Pickleball together this Summer, and I am excited about it.
I look forward to welcoming you into my therapy room.
NEXT STEPS
“For the mountains may be removed, and the hills may shake, But My favor will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:10 NASB