Essential Grace Counseling, PLLC

Essential Grace Counseling, PLLC Essential Grace Counseling, PLLC is located in Raleigh, NC serving African American women (ages 18 & over). Self pay is an option.

We are in network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna & Optum (UHC, UMR, Oscar & Oxford). We also offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation to potential clients!

Some people weren’t taught how to sit with complexity. They were taught survival, silence, perfection, or control.That’...
05/07/2026

Some people weren’t taught how to sit with complexity.
They were taught survival, silence, perfection, or control.

That’s why certain conversations feel impossible for them. Nuance feels threatening. Accountability feels like criticism. Emotional depth feels overwhelming.

Healing isn’t just about managing emotions, it’s also about expanding the way we think, process, and understand both ourselves and others.

Two things can be true at once.
And maturity is learning how to hold both. 🌱

Sometimes the issue isn’t what’s being said… it’s the emotional capacity behind it.When someone struggles to sit with di...
05/05/2026

Sometimes the issue isn’t what’s being said… it’s the emotional capacity behind it.

When someone struggles to sit with discomfort, take accountability, or consider your feelings, it shows up in the relationship.

You can have empathy for the why and still have boundaries for the behavior.

Both can exist at the same time.

New headshot, same mission 🤎I know we’ve been a little quiet over here but please know, the work never stopped. Behind t...
04/23/2026

New headshot, same mission 🤎

I know we’ve been a little quiet over here but please know, the work never stopped. Behind the scenes, we’ve been growing, building, and continuing to show up for our clients in meaningful ways.

Not everything needs to be posted to be powerful.

Thank you for the continued trust, the referrals, and for allowing us to be part of your journey. More to come… just know we’ve been outside, just not always online 😉

✨ Speaking Engagement Highlight ✨We’re proud to share that Breana Ridges, LCMHC, NCC, CFMHE, Founder and CEO of Essentia...
02/06/2026

✨ Speaking Engagement Highlight ✨

We’re proud to share that Breana Ridges, LCMHC, NCC, CFMHE, Founder and CEO of Essential Grace Counseling, PLLC, recently served as a panelist for a Private Practice Panel Discussion hosted by North Carolina Central University’s Counselor Education Program.

The discussion centered on demystifying private practice and addressing the gaps many clinicians experience during graduate training. Creating spaces for honest, transparent conversations is central to our mission, and this panel reflected that commitment.

Breana remains passionate about supporting students and early-career clinicians through education, mentorship, and private practice consultations, helping them navigate the field with greater clarity and confidence.

Check the link in our bio!

Black History Month reminds us that resilience has always been part of our story but has unspoken pain.Mental health is ...
02/01/2026

Black History Month reminds us that resilience has always been part of our story but has unspoken pain.

Mental health is health.
Healing is not weakness.
And seeking support is a powerful act of self-preservation and legacy-building.

This month, we honor Black history by making space for Black healing. 🖤


CulturallyResponsiveCare

Breana Ridges, LCMHC, NCC, CFMHE will be speaking on the Private Practice Panel for NCCU!🗓 Jan 30, 2026 | 12–1:30 PM💻 Vi...
01/26/2026

Breana Ridges, LCMHC, NCC, CFMHE will be speaking on the Private Practice Panel for NCCU!

🗓 Jan 30, 2026 | 12–1:30 PM
💻 Virtual
🎓 NBCC CEUs available (or attend free!)

If private practice is something you’ve been curious about, this panel will drop real, practical gems.

The link is in our bio!

✨ We’re celebrating a big moment at Essential Grace Counseling, PLLC! ✨Our founder, Breana Ridges, LCMHC, NCC, CFMHE, wa...
12/29/2025

✨ We’re celebrating a big moment at Essential Grace Counseling, PLLC! ✨

Our founder, Breana Ridges, LCMHC, NCC, CFMHE, was recently featured in VoyageRaleigh, highlighting her journey, values, and the meaningful work behind Essential Grace Counseling 🖤

The article shares the heart of the practice, trauma-informed, culturally responsive care, commitment to ethical forensic mental health work, and a deep belief in creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and respected.

We’re proud of the impact this work continues to have in the community and grateful to everyone who has supported, trusted, and walked alongside this journey.

📖 Read the full feature—link in bio!





🍼💗 Let’s talk about Postpartum Depression (PPD) in Black and Brown women.📊 Black and Latina mothers are:More likely to e...
10/10/2025

🍼💗 Let’s talk about Postpartum Depression (PPD) in Black and Brown women.

📊 Black and Latina mothers are:

More likely to experience PPD symptoms.
Less likely to be screened.
Less likely to receive treatment or support.

💡 Signs can include:

Deep sadness or emptiness
Feeling disconnected from your baby
Constant worry, guilt, or shame
Struggling to eat, sleep, or find joy

✨ What’s important to remember:

PPD is not your fault.
You are not weak.
Support and treatment work—and you deserve it.

Let’s break the silence. Healing starts with conversation, compassion, and community. 💪🏾💗

10/09/2025

✨ Bullying doesn’t end when childhood does. Many Black and Brown women experience it in the workplace, in friendships, and even within family systems.

Bullying in adulthood can look like:

* Constant criticism or belittling
* Exclusion or isolation
* Gossip, gaslighting, or sabotage
* Using power or privilege to silence you

💡 Reminder:
Your boundaries are valid.
Your voice matters.
You deserve respect—in every space you enter.

Let’s end the myth that bullying is “just for kids.” Healing and protection are for us, too. 💪🏾💗

World Smile Day 💛To the Black women holding it down, showing up, and pushing through, your smile is powerful. Not becaus...
10/03/2025

World Smile Day 💛

To the Black women holding it down, showing up, and pushing through, your smile is powerful. Not because it hides the pain, but because it’s proof you keep choosing joy, even in the struggle.

Smiling...even just a little...can release feel-good chemicals in your brain, lower stress, and remind your nervous system: we’re safe, sis.

Whether your smile is loud and full, or quiet and soft, protect it, nurture it, and know this:

Your joy is radical. Your peace is sacred. Your smile is medicine.

🎀 Black & Brown women face higher risks from breast cancer—earlier diagnoses, more aggressive types, and higher mortalit...
10/01/2025

🎀 Black & Brown women face higher risks from breast cancer—earlier diagnoses, more aggressive types, and higher mortality rates.
💗 Early detection = power.
📅 Schedule your screening.

Address

Cary, NC

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 12pm - 8pm
Thursday 12pm - 8pm
Friday 10am - 1pm
Sunday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+19105569075

Website

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