Hollis Vilagos, LCMHCA, NCC

Hollis Vilagos is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA), a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a trained Animal-Assisted Therapist (AAT).  As a therapist Hollis has had the opportunity to provide support to a diverse client population to help them overcome obstacles and to find peace during difficult times.  It was during her volunteer work as a hospital responder, Hollis’s passion for working with survivors of trauma really began to grow as she became more familiar with trauma-focused therapy and saw firsthand how isolating trauma can be. She realized the value in reframing a survivor’s experience to help them feel less at fault or responsible.

While Hollis’s background is from trauma recovery, she also works with teens, young adults, and adults on other issues such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, self-harm, academic and vocational concerns, grief, and relationship issues.

Hollis also has experience incorporating animals into the therapeutic process using animal-assisted interventions (AAI).  By including this goal-focused and structured approach, it can add a different yet beneficial dynamic to the counseling environment in a multitude of ways. More importantly, a trained therapy animal can offer a form of unconditional support that a traditional therapist cannot.

Hollis recognizes that reaching out to seek the guidance from a therapist takes courage which is why with the help of her animal co-therapists, Nyx and Shadow, her aim is to create a safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental environment. She also encourages her clients to have an open mind when it comes to counseling, and to view this journey as collaborative process. Through a person-centered and evidence based approach, Hollis has the flexibility to use a variety of different treatment modalities that are based on your needs.

Hollis earned a dual master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from West Virginia University and received a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is also a fan of puns, corny jokes, and Dr. Seuss.