Ann Gertano, LPC

Mental health counseling service for individuals, couples and families. have always had a heart for those who hurt and are willing to reach out. When I was about 11 years old, my grandmother asked what I wanted to do when I grew up. I didn't hesitate for one second; I wanted to be a psychiatrist. She thought about that for a minute and then, in her sweetest grandmotherly voice she said, "A noble goal, but it takes about 8-10 years of college to become a psychiatrist and I know how much you hate school." She was right! That sounded like an eternity to my 11 year old mind. She paused and then continued, "You may want to think of something else." So, my first career was in business administration. The longing to be a psychiatrist or psychologist never left me. In fact, it grew stronger as the years went by. I am a graduate from CBU where I received my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with focus in Marriage and Family Therapy. I interned and worked in the Counseling Center where I had an opportunity to gain experience with all types of people with all kinds of different issues using a variety of effective methods. In addition, I briefly worked with recovering addicts who had their children taken away due to drug charges. I also had an opportunity to work with pregnant women in recovery while living in California. After I became licensed in North Carolina, I worked in a mental health agency providing Intensive In-Home Services (IIHS) as a Clinical Lead of a small treatment team. Most of our clients were referred from DSS or the Dept. of Juvenile Justice and were considered "high risk". We visited the client and family in their own homes several times per week. Raised in Northern California, lived in Southern California for 18 years before moving to the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I am currently in Private Practice in the Black Mountain community of western North Carolina.