Sierra Kehoe
Offering in-person intensives in: Tuckasegee & Asheville, North Carolina
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Supervisor
North Carolina, LCMHCS #S8798
Clinically Speaking
We are wired for connection. When we feel misunderstood, unwanted, or not enough in our closest relationship, the pain runs deep. It can shake our sense of identity, cloud our values, and leave us emotionally untethered. Our mental health, our work, even our children—all can feel the ripple effects.
My job as a couples therapist is to help you navigate these emotionally charged moments with clarity, skill, and compassion. I offer structure and tools—but more than that, I offer space: space to be vulnerable, to speak the unspoken, and to begin the work of repair.
When relationships get stuck, it’s easy to retreat or lash out. You protect yourself. You panic. But underneath the hurt is usually longing. My role is to guide you through the hurt—without judgment—and show you that healing is not only possible, it’s within reach.
I hold hope for couples even when they can’t yet see it for themselves. And I’ve seen that hope catch on—because it’s contagious. When safety returns to the relationship, so does tenderness. When emotional risk feels safe again, change begins.
I’m comfortable sitting in the mess—because I know that’s where real breakthroughs happen. Whether you’re rebuilding after a betrayal, navigating trauma, or trying to find each other again through the fog of daily stress, I’m here to help you reconnect with what matters most.
What Inspires Me
One of my earliest mentors was an 88-year-old supervisor who still lit up when she talked about her work. Her passion reminded me that this is not just a job—it’s a lifelong calling. She also modeled something I carry with me today: never get too comfortable. The field is always growing. So should we.
I’ve also been deeply shaped by my clients. They’ve taught me to stay flexible, patient, and fiercely hopeful—even in hard seasons.
My dad, too, showed me what it means to keep evolving. His curiosity and resilience still influence how I show up in the therapy room.
At the heart of my work is one core belief: all behavior makes sense when you understand its context. That’s the lens I bring to every session.
Professional Experience
I work with couples at every stage—from premarital to long-term, from recovering after betrayal to redefining the future after trauma. Affair recovery is one of the most profound parts of my work. When couples dare to heal after deep rupture, and rebuild something stronger than what came before—it’s nothing short of awe-inspiring.
When trauma is present in the relationship, everything gets louder and harder. I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR to help partners slow down, regulate, and begin to interpret each other through a lens of compassion, not reactivity.
My background is rooted in family systems. I’ve worked in domestic violence shelters, with foster youth, and spent 14 years in intensive in-home therapy—meeting families where they lived and supporting them six hours a week. That work was raw, fast-paced, and honest. It shaped how I track dynamics in the room with couples. I see the system. I stay attuned.
I also bring parent coaching when needed. It’s not just about your relationship—it’s about how your connection shapes the next generation. And there’s no substitute for using evidence-based methods to create lasting change.
I am a Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapist and I’m pursuing certification in EFT to ensure my work remains grounded in the most respected models in our field. I’m also a strong ally for the LGBTQIA+ community and bring both warmth and rigor to supporting couples navigating identity, systemic injustice, and social stigma.
Our intensive with Sierra was all I had hoped for. We learned how to talk about hard stuff and stay connected. We learned how to build intimacy through connection. I feel we are back on track for the future. Sierra is highly skilled and has a ton of knowledge. She is also 100% tuned in. I attribute the success of our weekend to her delivery and skill.
Personally Speaking
I’m deeply tuned in to people’s emotions, and I bring calm, warmth, and determination to my work. But like many therapists, this sensitivity was born from early life experiences.
I grew up in a home where my parents’ relationship was fragile and often on-again, off-again. Their love was real, but it wasn’t enough to protect us from the instability. As a kid, I learned to mediate, to attune, to make peace. I also learned how painful it is when adults you love can’t figure it out.
My deep empathy for couples comes from living that pain. I’ve seen how unhealed relational wounds echo through decades and generations.
As an adult, I’ve walked my own path through the ups and downs of marriage, parenthood, and reinvention. My husband and I have been together since 2001, and raising our two sons has stretched and softened us in the best ways. Parenting is humbling—even with all my training. Sometimes especially with all my training.
We live in a mountain community near a lake, which reminds me of summers spent with my grandparents—waiting tables by day and singing in cabaret shows by night. My grandmother was my biggest fan and my first audience. Those memories still live in my love of music and the occasional night of karaoke.
My Office in Asheville
I see couples in a private, peaceful office in downtown Asheville, a city known for its creative energy, local food scene, and breathtaking mountain views. It’s the perfect backdrop for a weekend retreat—close enough to be accessible, but far enough to feel like an escape.
There are hotels, cafes, and places to wander just outside my door. Inside, my space is warm, calming, and thoughtfully designed to help you feel at ease.
Life Outside the Office
Outside of therapy, you’ll find me:
- On a pickleball court with friends
- Curled up with a good book (if I can resist binge-watching a great series)
- Playing card games with my kids
- Singing badly but enthusiastically to old show tunes
- Planning my next trip—Costa Rica is on the vision board
For four years, my family lived full-time in an RV, crisscrossing the U.S., homeschooling, and chasing sunlight. It wasn’t always easy—but it taught us how to stay flexible, connected, and present. Eventually, we chose to put down roots again, so our kids could deepen their friendships and we could build something lasting.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
You’ll find me calm but active. Warm but honest. I’m not afraid to wade into the mess with you—but I’ll help you find your way out, too.
I don’t take sides. I take your relationship’s side.
I believe in your capacity to grow—even if right now, all you believe in is your pain.
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I invite you to join me in Asheville or Tuckasegee, North Carolina, for a private couples therapy retreat. Let’s make space for something new.
