Lucy Johnson, LPC-A
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
LUCY JOHNSON LPC-A
SPECIALTIES
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Emotional Deregulation, Self-esteem, Attention-deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum, Disability, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD), Self-Harm & Suicidal Ideation, Eating Disorders, LGBTQIA+
TREATMENT INTERVENTIONS
Person-Centered Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed, Advanced training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
INTRODUCTION
While in graduate school, my professors used to joke that most people become therapists for one of two reasons: you either had a therapist at some point who absolutely changed your life and you want to be just like that therapist, or, you had a terrible experience in therapy and want to be the opposite of that therapist. I am very fortunate that I came into this field because of the first reason and not the second.
I think this is where my desire to work with kids and teenagers came from as well. I grew up in Athens, GA and at 13 was working through my parent’s recent divorce, LOTS of life changes, and pre-existing mental health issues that had only continued to escalate. I went through five different therapists before I found one who I clicked with, and she was such a bright spot in all my confusion and doubt, that I knew I wanted to be “her” for somebody else. I often think about her and am so grateful for everything she taught me about myself, and most importantly, for giving me this incredible career; it is such a gift to be here.
Background
I received my Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) from Georgia State University in 2021. From there, I immediately began graduate school at The University of South Carolina (Go Cocks!) where I received my Masters of Counseling and Rehabilitation, a counseling program with a special focus on individuals with disabilities of all kinds. I chose this program because I felt, and still feel, that even though not everyone has a disability, there are far more people living with disabilities than we may know, visible or invisible. Having an education in working with this population has already proven to be a great gift and I am so grateful to have this specialty.
In addition to my love of working with people with disabilities, I found a passion for working with children who have experienced trauma during my internship experience in graduate school, where I had the opportunity to work at a children’s advocacy center and develop my trauma-informed care skills. I then went on to work for an agency which primary services children in foster care, who often have trauma experiences of their own. I’ve always known that I wanted to work with kids, but these experiences really shaped my career and further influenced my passion for this demographic.
DEGREES AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILITATIONS
Bachelors of Social Work from Georgia State University
Masters of Counseling and Rehabilitation from the University of South Carolina
Advanced training in Trauma-Focused CBT
Therapist in Columbia, SC; Counselor in Columbia, SC; Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Postpartum, Trauma & PTSD, Couples and Marriage, Counseling in Columbia, Irmo, Chapin, and Lexington, SC.