Katherine Roethling, LCSW

Therapist / Senior Clinician | katherine@3rdwavetherapy.com | 919-886-4052

Trauma-Informed EMDR and OCD Therapy

I’ve often been the person people naturally open up to, which is what led me to become a therapist. As an EMDR therapist in North Carolina, I do my best to be warm, kind, and easy to talk to. My goal is for you to feel comfortable and at ease from the very first session, like you’re sitting with someone who genuinely gets you.

I work best with adolescents and adults who are thoughtful, self-aware, and often harder on themselves than they realize. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside but feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck internally. You might struggle with intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, or a constant sense of responsibility, and feel exhausted from trying to hold everything together on your own.

I work with clients navigating trauma, anxiety, and OCD. I offer EMDR for those who want to process painful or overwhelming experiences, and I provide evidence-based therapy for OCD that helps loosen the grip of intrusive thoughts and compulsive patterns, without relying on reassurance or quick fixes. My focus is on helping you build a different relationship with your thoughts and emotions, not trying to eliminate them.

I use an integrative approach that draws from CBT, DBT, and ACT, allowing therapy to be tailored to your needs, goals, and strengths. Therapy with me is collaborative and intentional, balancing warmth and support with gentle structure and forward movement.

Above all, I want you to know you don’t have to do this alone. My hope is to support you as you move toward the life you want to live, not the life others have planned for you, in a way that feels authentic, sustainable, and true to who you are.

• Treatment Specialties

  • Anxiety

  • Depression & Mood Disorders

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  • PTSD, Trauma, & Abuse Recovery

  • Social Anxiety

  • Stress Management, Self-Growth, & Coping Tools

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Services Provided

  • Individual Therapy

  • EMDR

• Education

  Masters of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  BA in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Experience

  My clinical work spans community mental health and private practice, where I’ve supported adolescents and adults through both short-term and long-term therapy. Working across these settings has given me a grounded understanding of how mental health challenges show up in real life, not just in theory.

  I’ve spent much of my career working with clients who are navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, and mood-related concerns, especially those who appear to be “doing fine” on the outside while feeling overwhelmed or stuck internally. I have a particular passion for supporting adolescents, young adults, and college students as they navigate identity, relationships, and the emotional weight of early adulthood.

  Along the way, I became trained in EMDR therapy and use it frequently to help clients process trauma and difficult life experiences in a way that feels paced, supportive, and manageable. My work is trauma-informed and evidence-based, while remaining flexible enough to meet each client where they are.

  Across my experience, one thing has remained consistent: meaningful change happens when clients feel understood, supported, and empowered. I bring that belief into every session, creating a space that feels steady, collaborative, and grounded in trust.

• Insurances

  Blue Cross Blue Shield

  Aetna

  North Carolina State Health Plan