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Stanly Community College has entered into an agreement with Creative Counseling & Learning Solutions (CCLS) to lease property to CCLS on a yearly basis, beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

CCLS is a community based counseling practice in Albemarle offering creative and collaborative counseling services for children, adolescents, individual adults, couples and families with interventions to assist clients with emotional, behavioral, familial, relational, social and academic needs.

CCLS also offers specialized treatment through equine (horse-assisted therapy) canine, and feline programs.

With the addition of the leased acreage, CCLS will now meet the established ordinance by the City of Albemarle that requires two acres per horse.

SCC’s lease agreement with CCLS will have funds designated to SCC’s Foundation for scholarships.

“Stanly Community College is pleased to help Creative Counseling & Learning Solutions keep their Equine Therapy program operating,” SCC President Dr. John Enamait said. “We support the incredible work that CCLS and their staff does for our community and those in need. The college looks forward to establishing a successful scholarship program through CCLS for deserving students studying in the Human Services field.”

Laura Harbeson, PhD, MS, NCC, NCSC, LPSC, director/lead therapist for Creative Counseling & Learning Solutions, added: “My two horses, Sage and Saffron, are an intricate part of my counseling practice. They assist me in helping many of my clients, with diverse needs, in various ways. I have obtained certifications in equine-assisted therapy, parent-child interaction therapy and have extended my expertise in working with people that have experienced complex trauma, including human trafficking and high profile trauma cases. I am extremely excited about this opportunity to collaborate with SCC. This partnership will not only allow my horses more space to graze, but will also fund scholarships for students studying within the Human Services field.”

Kara Finch, MA, HS-BCP, program head for Human Services Technology, said Harbeson has worked the SCC program before.

“We are able to use her services as a Work-Based Learning site for our students to participate in semester long internships,” Finch said. “Our students are able to learn more about the counseling atmosphere, confidentiality and interactions with clients. We currently have a student interning at Creative Counseling this semester. Laura has served on the Human Services Advisory Board for many years and provides a great deal of advising for our programs. She is an asset to our advisory board.”

CCLS, along with Esther House, collaborated with SCC Human Services department last summer to provide a trauma camp for children ages 6 to 17. The camp not only provided services to these children, but also provided SCC students with an opportunity to volunteer and learn more about trauma and counseling services.

“I can’t speak highly enough about Laura, her staff and the services that they provide to our community,” Finch said.
Harbeson facilitates an approach to counseling with a situational and developmental understanding that can include a variety of creative techniques, such as art therapy, outdoor/activity therapy, animal-assisted therapy, equine-assisted therapy, music therapy or play therapy, as well as cognitive-behaviorally based when appropriate.

Harbeson works with clients ages 3 and up. Specializations include working with those that have experienced domestic violence, sexual and physical abuse, human trafficking, complex trauma, trauma (personal or vicarious), self-injury, anxiety, parenting, sexual identity related concerns, self-esteem issues and professional growth.