Jamie Burns-Keck

How I got here

Growing up, I was often the listening ear for the people around me. My peers enjoyed talking to me about life problems because I could provide empathy and reassurance. For 12 years, I worked at a dental clinic helping children in foster care in Robeson County, who spoke to me about their emotional struggles during their appointments. At this time, I knew I wanted to touch people’s lives through their journeys and personal struggles, which led me to see that counseling was my calling.

The Journey begins

The journey started after completing my bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where I double majored in sociology and criminal justice. Upon graduating, I immediately began graduate school at the University of Mount Olive for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During this time, I knew I wanted to be a counselor, just uncertain of the direction I was being called, while having a father battling mental illness from his military career simultaneously. The therapist used an approach for my father that helped change his way of thinking and his behavior patterns, creating a stable life for himself and our family, which pulled me in the direction that God was calling me to, cognitive behavioral therapy. I am now in my final year of completing my master’s degree.

My training field

While working during my internship, individuals have shared their experiences with me, including grief, trauma, life struggles, family issues, and loss, which have hindered them from becoming the best versions of themselves. During this time, I saw how my clients' emotional states from all different life experiences have affected their lives and the loved ones around them. While working with these individuals, I realized the importance of a counselor guiding and assisting them to create an improved version of themselves that they felt they could not do alone.

My new journey

I view counseling as a journey in life taken by clients and me together. The clients lead me to where they want us to go together, and I assist with directions along the way. We may be on two paths in life, but we are on this journey together. I am motivated by my clientele, who are rediscovering themselves in a new light they once could not see, while I stand beside them and cheer them on along the way.

What you can expect from me

As a counselor, you can expect to share moments of hardship and triumph with me. I will treat you unbiasedly while challenging and working with you to meet your goals. You will learn to manage your issues, and I will never tell you what to do, as this is your journey that I am joining. You will develop a sense of understanding about your struggles and the skills and techniques you need to be restored. My approach as a counselor will be to help change behavioral and thought patterns to create a sense of control over yourself and your emotional well-being.