Hanna Kutteh
Hanna is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) certified by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Carolina University, where she graduated in December 2022. In her current role at FIRSTwnc on the Outpatient Therapy (OPT) team, she provides counseling services to young children, adolescents, and adults aged 3 to 45+ years. Additionally, she is part of the Specialized Consultative Services team at FIRSTwnc. Her work primarily focuses on supporting children and adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and individuals with trauma histories.
Hanna’s therapeutic approach is rooted in a collaborative process aimed at enhancing clients’ self-awareness and confidence in their own skills and abilities. She adopts an eclectic and holistic theoretical orientation, integrating evidence-based best practices to best suit her clients’ needs. She primarily employs humanistic, person-centered, and child-centered techniques, and enjoys incorporating mindfulness, psychoeducation, Child-Centered Play Therapy, and TheraPlay techniques when appropriate. She also integrates bibliotherapy, visual aids, and social stories into her sessions to help clients process emotions, understand an array of different situations, and develop effective coping strategies. She has completed Level 1 training in TheraPlay and trainings focused on I/DD and trauma. Currently, she is expanding her scope through a training on Adoption and Foster Care placement via the C.A.S.E Institute.
Hanna is particularly passionate about the power of play, recognizing it as a natural way for children to communicate and process their emotions and experiences. Through Child-Centered Play Therapy and Trauma-Informed techniques, she creates a safe and supportive space where clients can express themselves authentically. By using play as a medium, Hanna helps children build self-esteem, develop coping skills, and process challenging emotions. Her playful and warm approach helps children feel understood and empowered, further supporting the therapeutic process.
At the core of Hanna’s practice is her deep capacity to sit with sadness and provide a compassionate, steady presence for clients as they navigate difficult emotions. She believes that creating space for all feelings including grief, sadness, and anger is essential for genuine healing. With a calm and warm demeanor, Hanna supports clients in organizing and making sense of their emotions, helping them transform overwhelming feelings into manageable experiences. Her ability to hold space for both joy and sorrow allows clients to feel truly seen, heard, and understood. Hanna’s approach to therapy is not just about healing but also to empower clients to navigate life’s challenges with confidence, curiosity, and authenticity.
Before pursuing a career in mental health counseling, Hanna earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2007. Her background in fine art enriches her therapeutic practice, offering a creative and insightful perspective to her work with clients. She takes immense pride in her dedication to continuous learning and professional development to enhance her therapeutic skills and effectiveness.
When Hanna is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her nieces, who bring endless joy and inspiration to her life. She is an avid angler who finds peace and mindfulness in the rhythm of casting a line and being surrounded by nature. Hanna also has a passion for creating, sharing, and savoring delicious meals, believing that good food has a way of bringing people together and nourishing both body and soul. Music is an important facet of Hanna’s life; she finds joy and solace in listening to her favorite songs and attending live shows, believing that music has a unique ability to heal, inspire, and connect us to our emotions in profound ways.