My approach
A life that reflects what matters most to you
I'm Carlos Bello, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Raleigh, North Carolina. I work with adults on a wide range of concerns — anxiety, panic, depression, stress and burnout, and more — and my specialty is OCD in its different forms: intrusive thoughts, contamination and checking, relationship OCD, and health anxiety. In person at my Raleigh office, and by secure video with people all over North Carolina.
Education & licensure
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health CounselorNorth Carolina · License #11733 · Licensed July 2015
- MS, College Counseling & Student DevelopmentUNC Greensboro · May 2015
- BS, Human Development & Family StudiesUNC Greensboro · May 2013
Also listed on Psychology Today and Google.
My counseling approach is centered on helping you live a life that reflects what matters most to you.
Whether your values include family, friendships, adventure, personal growth, faith, or service to others — among many others — we'll work together to identify what truly drives you and build practical steps toward living it out.
A space where you feel heard
I provide a supportive, non-judgmental space where you can feel heard and understood. From there, we work as a team to make each session purposeful. We'll process what you're going through, but we'll also get concrete about actions that support your goals — so you leave with something useful: a new insight, a practical strategy, or clearer direction.
A new relationship with hard thoughts
My work focuses on helping you change your relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions, rather than fighting them. When worries or self-criticism show up, we won't try to suppress them or argue with them. Instead, you'll learn how to make room for these experiences without letting them take over — which creates space for greater freedom, intention, and choice.
"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."
What I help with
Anxiety, OCD, depression, and health anxiety are the most common reasons people come to see me. Here's what each one tends to look like, and how we work on it.
Help with worry, panic, and ongoing anxiety
Constant worry, a racing heart, panic that seems to come out of nowhere. Maybe you know the worry is out of proportion, but knowing that doesn't make it stop.
Most people try to handle anxiety the way they handle other problems, which is to solve it. That tends to make things worse: when you fight your anxiety, you end up anxious about being anxious, and it keeps building on itself.
So instead of trying to get rid of anxiety before you live your life, you learn a different relationship with it: treating a worry as a thought, not an emergency; making room for the discomfort; and taking committed steps toward the things you care about. Over time, anxiety has less influence over what you do.
Read more: What Is ERP Therapy, and What Does It Actually Look Like? · Understanding Anxiety and OCD · Why Fighting Anxiety Backfires, and What Actually Helps
Help with intrusive thoughts and the urges that come with them
Unwanted, intrusive thoughts — and the urge to perform some kind of compulsive behavior or ritual to make the discomfort go away. The relief never lasts long, and the thoughts keep coming back.
The trap with OCD is that the more you try to get rid of an intrusive thought, or to be certain, the more power the thought gains. Having an intrusive thought does not mean you want to act on it, and most people have them from time to time.
So we don't argue with the thoughts or try to make them stop. You practice noticing them for what they are, making room for the anxiety and doubt they bring, and not doing what the urge demands — while you keep moving toward the things that matter to you. This is exposure and response prevention (ERP), the approach with the best evidence for OCD. Over time, those thoughts and feelings have less influence over you.
Read more about OCD treatment →
Read more: What Is ERP Therapy, and What Does It Actually Look Like? · Understanding Anxiety and OCD · Why Fighting Anxiety Backfires, and What Actually Helps
Help with depression
Low mood, pulling away from people and activities you used to enjoy, and little energy for anything. Waiting to feel motivated before you do anything can keep you stuck for a long time.
We catch the harsh, unhelpful self-talk and practice a kinder, more accurate version of it — and we get you moving again with small, doable steps, because action usually comes before motivation.
Instead of waiting to feel better before you act, we start from what you care about and take small, committed steps in that direction. As those steps add up, your mood usually improves.
Help with persistent worries about your health
A new sensation, a headache that lingers, a test result that's "probably nothing" — and your mind goes straight to the worst case. You check, you search, you ask someone to reassure you. It helps for a short time, and then the worry returns.
Health anxiety follows a pattern: a frightening thought, checking or searching for certainty, brief relief, and then the doubt returns. Reassurance never settles it for long, because no one can be completely certain about their body.
So instead of searching for certainty, you practice making room for "I don't know for sure" — treating the frightening thought as a thought, dropping the checking, and spending your energy on what matters to you. As the checking decreases, the worry decreases with it. Therapy doesn't replace your doctor: if you have a medical concern, please get it checked. We work on the worry that keeps going no matter what the answers are.
Read more: What Is ERP Therapy, and What Does It Actually Look Like? · Understanding Anxiety and OCD · Why Fighting Anxiety Backfires, and What Actually Helps
Common questions
What does therapy with you look like?
Sessions typically last 50 to 60 minutes, in person or by video. I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): we get clear on what matters to you, practice handling hard thoughts and feelings differently, and take small, doable steps toward the life you want. It's a practical and collaborative approach to treating anxiety, depression, and other challenging symptoms.
How long does therapy take?
That depends on what you're working on and how often we meet. Many people notice a shift within the first several sessions, and the goal is for you to leave with skills you keep using long after we're done. We'll check in on progress regularly so we both know where things stand in treatment. Counseling can end whenever you feel ready, and some clients take a break and come back later when they'd like to pick things up again.
How much does counseling cost?
That depends on your insurance benefits. If you're using an in-network plan, your cost is set by your plan — usually a copay or a deductible amount — and I'm happy to check your benefits before we begin. If you're paying out of pocket, the rates are on the Insurance & pricing page.
What insurances do you take?
I'm in network with:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- NC State Health Plan
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
If your plan isn't listed, you're still very welcome here! You have the option of paying out of pocket.
How do I get started?
Easy! Send the short contact form, call (919) 275-0727, or email carlos@nextlevelcounseling.net. We'll start with a free 15-minute intro call to get to know each other and see whether it feels like a good fit.
Ready when you are
Therapy with me is active, collaborative, and rooted in what matters to you. If you're ready to move toward a fuller life, I'd be glad to work with you. Send a few details and I'll be in touch to set up your free 15-minute intro call.
Thanks for reaching out!
I got your message and will be in touch soon.