Finally Putting Faces to Names: Banyan at the 2026 LCCNC Annual Conference
Written by Brittany Proxmire, MA, LCMHC
Community Outreach Coordinator, Office Manager, and Licensed Psychotherapist
On October 10–11, Banyan Tree Counseling and Banyan Integrated Health had the opportunity to participate in the 2026 Annual LCCNC Conference, hosted by the Licensed Clinical Counselors of North Carolina, in Charlotte! We joined as both exhibitors and attendees.
Representing Banyan were Chantal D. Hayes, LCMHC-S, CEO and Founder; Brittany Proxmire, LCMHC, Community Outreach Coordinator; and Emilia Lipnicki, Client Care Coordinator.
The conference brought together counselors and mental health professionals who share a passion for the field and a commitment to supporting others. For many of us, it was a chance to finally meet colleagues we’d only known as a name in a Facebook group or on a practice website. Between sessions, our booth became a place to keep the conversation going as counselors stopped by to talk through presentations, swap ideas, and learn more about what we do.
One of the highlights was meeting professionals at every stage of their careers, from students just beginning their journeys to seasoned counselors with years of experience. While many attendees represented North Carolina, our team also connected with professionals from neighboring states and as far away as Colorado and Texas!
A Note from Our Founder
“Honestly, one of the coolest parts of the weekend was finally meeting therapists in person whom I’d only known as a name on a website or in a Facebook group. We had such genuine conversations, swapping thoughts on the presentations and just getting to know each other. It was so great!
I also loved getting to share what we do at Banyan Tree Counseling and Banyan Integrated Health. So many folks had no idea we offer this kind of collaborative, integrated care! One therapist told me about a client she wanted to refer, and when I mentioned that our psychiatric provider would love to call her to talk through her client’s care, she was floored. I had to reassure her that this is totally normal for us (it’s literally what our whole model is built on!).
I know care is so often siloed, and providers are busy. We make the time anyway, because every client deserves the absolute best care, and that happens when their providers actually talk to each other.”
— Chantal D. Hayes, LCMHC-S
What This Means for You
If you’re a Banyan client: Your therapist and your psychiatric provider can work together on your care, so you never have to carry that coordination alone. Learn about our psychiatric services.
If you’re a clinician: With your client’s consent, our providers are glad to pick up the phone and partner with you. Whether we met in Charlotte or haven’t met yet, we’d love to connect. Learn about our providers here.
We’re grateful for opportunities like the LCCNC Annual Conference that bring the counseling community together, and we look forward to carrying these connections and conversations into our work at Banyan Tree Counseling and Banyan Integrated Health!
Author Brittany Proxmire, MA, LCMHC is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor specializing in pediatric therapy. With a warm and playful approach, she engages children and adolescents, providing evidence-based techniques like play therapy, art therapy, talk therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), and other modalities. Brittany collaborates with families, offering insight and support, while empowering clients to make positive changes and discover their authentic selves. In Brittany's work with teens and young adults she utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy and humanistic approaches to foster behavioral change and self-awareness. Brittany's ultimate passion is helping children, teens, young adults, parents and families find happiness, peace, and harmony.