Tory Kusam
LCMHCA M.ed
Victoria “Tory” graduated in 2022 with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling from NC A&T. She is trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps clients change their relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Her passion is helping clients find psychological flexibility in the face of chronic pain or difficult diagnoses so they can live a life full of meaning (again) and discover freedoms in places where they once felt stuck.
Tory strives to create a non-judgmental therapy space where clients can talk about anything, including pain, illness, anxiety, depression, decreased motivation, fears about death and dying, relationship stressors, loneliness, and much more.
Her own experience with chronic pain began in her teen years, when doctors discovered severe scoliosis in its later stages. She wore a back brace for years before eventually needing fusion surgery. Throughout her 20s, she underwent several back and neck fusion surgeries due to “fusion failure”. Years of medication, invalidation from doctors, and a “suck it up” attitude led to depression, anxiety, and shame, ultimately resulting in her dropping out of college just a few classes short of graduating. Discovering Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gave Tory a new perspective on chronic pain and purposeful living. Through therapy, physical rehabilitation, and medication management, she learned to live a values-based life which led her to re-enroll in college, graduate with her M.Ed., and now help others who struggle with similar stressors.
Tory is honored to help clients at Chronic Hope reclaim their lives from pain/fear and move toward what truly and uniquely matters to them!
Accepts BCBS Insurance
$135 Intake Session
$120 for sessions after intake for individual sessions