Looking for Black or African American mental wellness providers in Wake Forest, NC? Greene Mental Wellness is a Black-owned, veteran-owned local practice offering psychiatric care and therapy support. Sherry L. Tabron of Sherry Et El Counseling Services is another Wake Forest counseling provider whose professional profile identifies her as Black/African American. This guide explains these options, how therapy differs from psychiatric care, and what to ask before scheduling.
Choosing mental health care is personal. You may want a provider who understands racial stress, family expectations, faith, identity, or the pressure to stay strong when you are exhausted. You may simply want someone who listens without making you explain every part of your background. Those preferences deserve a place in the conversation—not an apology.
About this list: Greene Mental Wellness publishes this article and is featured as #1. That placement is not an independent ranking or a claim of superior outcomes. This is a small, source-checked starting point, not a complete directory. Listings were reviewed October 18, 2026; availability and coverage can change.
Why cultural fit matters in mental wellness
There is no single Black or African American experience. Culture, age, gender, disability, income, military service, religion, and family history can shape what support feels safe and useful. A thoughtful provider asks about your experience instead of treating identity as a checklist.
NAMI describes community ties, spirituality, and family connections as potential sources of strength, while also recognizing that racism, discrimination, and unequal access can affect mental health. These experiences should be discussed when they matter to you, without assuming that they explain every symptom. [1]
Culturally responsive care can mean making space for workplace discrimination, understanding the role of faith without dismissing it, or discussing why previous healthcare experiences made trust difficult. It also means using appropriate clinical assessment rather than overlooking anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, or attention concerns.
A Black provider may offer a sense of shared understanding that you value. Shared race alone, however, does not guarantee clinical expertise or personal fit. NAMI recommends asking about experience with your cultural background and how your identity will be included in care. You can ask those questions of any clinician. [2]
Black & African American mental wellness providers in Wake Forest
1. Greene Mental Wellness PLLC — featured practice
Greene Mental Wellness is a Black-owned and veteran-owned practice founded by Dr. Catina Greene, a psychiatric and family nurse practitioner and an 11-year U.S. military veteran. Its Wake Forest office provides an in-person option for people in northern Wake County, with secure telehealth available across North Carolina.
The practice brings psychiatric care and counseling support into the same care conversation. Its team includes psychiatric nurse practitioners and Daria Griffis, MSW, LCSWA, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate. Visit the team page to review credentials and clinical interests, and the practice story to learn about Dr. Greene’s approach.
- Office: 833 Wake Forest Business Park, Suite F, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
- Phone: 919-321-1194.
- Visit formats: In person in Wake Forest and telehealth across North Carolina.
- Care options: Medication management, ADHD testing, anxiety and depression care, veterans mental health, child and adolescent care, and therapy with the social-work provider.
Greene welcomes people of all backgrounds. If you specifically want a Black or African American clinician, share that preference when contacting the office and confirm who is available for your needs. A practice’s ownership and the identity of every individual clinician are different questions.
2. Sherry L. Tabron, MSW, LCSW — Sherry Et El Counseling Services, PLLC
For another local counseling option, Sherry L. Tabron’s professional profile identifies her as Black/African American and lists her as a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The practice website identifies Sherry Et El Counseling Services as based in Wake Forest.
This listing is a starting point for your own inquiry. Contact the practice directly to confirm its current office location, services, appointment openings, visit format, and insurance participation. We are not asserting Black ownership of this practice, medication-prescribing services, or any unverified specialty.
If these options do not fit, NAMI’s Black mental health provider resource guide points to directories including Therapy for Black Girls, Therapy for Black Men, and the Association of Black Psychologists. Check the clinician’s actual location and licensure: a result for “Wake Forest” may be an online provider based elsewhere.
Which type of mental health care do you need?
The right starting point depends on what is affecting daily life. You do not have to diagnose yourself before asking for help. Explain what you are noticing—sleep changes, worry, low mood, concentration problems, irritability, or difficulty managing work and relationships—and ask which appointment is appropriate.
Therapy and counseling
Therapy can provide space to explore experiences and develop practical coping, communication, and emotional regulation skills. At Greene, Daria Griffis’s training includes CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Ask which approach fits your goals and age group. Our guide to the benefits of counseling explains what the process can involve.
Psychiatric assessment and medication management
If you want a medical evaluation of mental health symptoms, or help starting, reviewing, or adjusting psychiatric medication, explore medication management. Choosing an evaluation does not commit you to taking medication. Your clinician can discuss options, possible benefits, risks, and follow-up with you.
Anxiety, depression, and attention concerns
Persistent worry, low mood, panic, and loss of interest are reasons to ask about anxiety and depression care. Difficulty focusing can have several causes; ADHD evaluation and FDA-cleared Qb testing can help inform the assessment. The test supports clinical judgment and is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
Veterans, children, and teens
Black veterans may want space to discuss both military experiences and racial identity without having either overlooked. Greene’s veterans mental health care addresses service-related and civilian-life concerns. Families can explore child and adolescent services for age-appropriate support with mood, anxiety, and attention concerns. Ask which clinician and visit type suit your family.
Questions to ask before choosing a provider
A first call can help you narrow the options without sharing your entire history. Write down a few priorities: a Black clinician, experience with trauma, evening availability, a particular insurance plan, or therapy without medication. Ask what the practice can actually offer rather than relying on a directory filter.
- What is your license, and do you provide therapy, prescribing, or both?
- Have you worked with people who share my concerns and cultural background?
- How do you make space for racial stress, family values, or faith when relevant?
- How will we set goals and discuss whether treatment is helping?
- Are you in network with my exact plan, and what costs should I expect?
- Who would I see, how soon can I be seen, and is the visit in person or online?
You can also ask how to raise a concern if something said in a session feels dismissive. A useful relationship leaves room for feedback. If the match is not right, asking about another provider or referral is reasonable.
Getting started in Wake Forest and nearby communities
For people in Wake Forest, Rolesville, Youngsville, Raleigh, Franklinton, and Louisburg, start with the visit format you can realistically maintain. Travel time, childcare, privacy at home, and scheduling all affect whether ongoing care is practical. Telehealth can expand options, but ask whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.
Greene accepts most major North Carolina insurance plans, Carelon, and most NC Medicaid plans. That does not establish coverage for every provider or appointment: request verification for your exact plan and service, including deductible or copay questions. Each other practice sets its own insurance and payment policies.
To begin with Greene, review all services, request an appointment, or call 919-321-1194. You can simply say, “I’m looking for a culturally responsive provider, and these are the concerns I’d like help with.”
Need immediate support? This article is general information, not an individual diagnosis or an emergency service. In the United States, call or text 988 for suicide or mental health crisis support. If there is immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 911.
Sources and listing notes
Practice facts about Greene are drawn from its About, Team, Services, and Contact pages. The external listing is supported by Sherry Tabron’s professional profile and practice website, linked above. Racial identity was not inferred from photographs or names.
Cultural-care guidance is informed by NAMI’s Black/African American mental health resource [1] and guide to finding care that fits your cultural background [2]. Directory entries are not endorsements, and this article does not compare clinical outcomes.