I am here to listen and help you meet your goals

Angela Kearns (she/her), LPC-A

With over a decade of experience in mental health research and advocacy, I have developed a deep understanding of the complex issues and challenges that can impact our mental and emotional health. My approach to counseling is grounded in the belief that every person has the potential for growth and change. Through a compassionate, non-judgmental, and collaborative process, I work with clients to identify their unique strengths and resources and develop practical strategies for achieving their personal goals.

My counseling style is warm, engaging, and evidence-based. I draw from a range of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavioral informed therapy (DBT), mindfulness approaches, and psychodynamic therapy. I believe counseling is a collaborative and empowering process, and my ultimate goal is to help you achieve greater self-awareness, resilience, and well-being.

In addition to my clinical work, I am committed to ongoing professional development and staying up-to-date on the latest research and best practices in the field. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from the College of Charleston and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Webster University.

I have several years of experience in conducting research in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and sociology. During this time, I have published peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as addiction, empathy, memory, sex, and trauma. I have worked in various research organizations, including the Medical University of South Carolina, Northeastern University, and the College of Charleston, and collaborated with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) on several research projects sponsored by MAPS to investigate the psychological effects of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

I am passionate about the intersection of social justice advocacy and mental health. I completed LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Provider Training from We Are Family, worked as an advocate with survivors of sexual assault with Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S., and training in Psychedelic Therapy and Integration with Fluence and Therapy and Diversity, Culture, and Social Justice in Psychedelics from the Chacruna Institute.

Publications

Cox, S. S., Brown, B. J., Wood, S. K., Brown, S., Kearns, A. M., & Reichel, C. M. (2024). Neuronal, affective, and sensory correlates of targeted helping behavior in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1384578

Penrod, R. D., Taniguchi, M., Kearns, A. M., Hopkins, J., & Reichel, C. M. (2023). Differential roles of oxytocin receptors in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens on cocaine self-administration and reinstatement of cued cocaine seeking in male rats. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyad059

Carter, J. S., Costa, C. C., Kearns, A. M., Hopkins, J., & Reichel, C. M. (2023). Inhibition of estradiol signaling in the basolateral amygdala impairs extinction memory recall for heroin-conditioned cues in a sex-specific manner. Neuroendocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000534647

Carter, J. S., Wood, S. K., Kearns, A. M., Hopkins, J., & Reichel, C. M. (2023). Paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus oxytocin and incubation of heroin seeking. Neuroendocrinology. 15–1. https://doi.org/10.1159/000529358

Cox, S. S., Kearns, A. M., Wood, S. K., Brown, B. J., Brown, S. J., & Reichel, C. M. (2022). The role of the anterior insular during targeted helping behavior in male rats. Scientific Reports. 12(1), 3315. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07365-3

Carter, J. S., Kearns, A. M., & Reichel, C. M. (2021). Complex interactions between sex and stress on heroin seeking. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.784365

Kearns, A. M., Siemsen, B. M., Hopkins, J., Weber, R. M., Scofield, M. D., Peters, J., & Reichel, C. M. (2021). Chemogenetic inhibition of corticostriatal circuits reduces cued reinstatement of methamphetamine seeking. Addiction Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.13097

Garcia-Keller, C., Carter, J. S., Kruyer, A., Kearns, A. M., Hopkins, J. L., Hodebourg, R., Kalivas, P. W., & Reichel, C. M. (2021). Behavioral and accumbens synaptic plasticity induced by cues associated with restraint stress. Neuropsychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01074-7

Carter, J. S., Kearns, A. M., Vollmer, K. M., Garcia-Keller, C., Weber, R. M., Baker, N. L., Kalivas, P. W., & Reichel, C. M. (2020). Long-term impact of acute restraint stress on heroin self-administration, reinstatement, and stress reactivity. Psychopharmacology. 237(6):1709-1721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05486-z

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