Vonetta Blakely, LCSW, LISW-CP, CAS
Phone: 704-989-3459
Email: vonetta@rootedtherapeuticservices.com
Office: 120-D South Village Lane
Davidson, NC 28036
Welcome to
Rooted Therapeutic Services....
Where neurodiversity is embraced and empowerment begins.
Life can be overwhelming for those impacted by Autism or other developmental differences. An article in The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (November 2009) features a study by the University of Wisconsin with findings that mothers of adolescent and adult children with Autism had lower Cortisol levels, a condition that occurs under chronic stress, yielding profiles similar to those of combat soldiers and others who experience constant psychological stress.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, emotionally drained or anxious, I am glad that you are here. At Rooted Therapeutic Services, you will receive nonjudgmental support and guidance. As a professional who is also the parent of a child with Autism and developmental differences, I am here to provide a safe and confidential space to help you process the emotions that you’re experiencing and guide you in taking concrete steps forward in your journey.
At Rooted Therapeutic Services, we believe in...
INCLUSION FOR ALL.
AREAS OF SPECIALTY:
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Autism
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Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
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Developmental Differences
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Medical Social Work
METHODOLOGY:
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Client-Centered Therapy
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Strengths Based Counseling
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LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy
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Mindfulness Practices
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Evidence Based Interventions
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Cultural Humility
Parents of young children:
As a parent or caregiver, you may notice that your child may not be meeting some of the developmental milestones that have been set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and American Association of Pediatrics.
Some of the common characteristics associated with Autism that parents notice are:
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Speech delays
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Unpredictable tantrums or meltdowns
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Hyper- or hyposensitivity to touch or loud sounds
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Picky eating
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Hyper-focused on specific toys or objects
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Lack of shared or joint attention
If you have concerns related to these characteristics or other behaviors displayed by your child, let's talk.
Parents of school age children:
If you are the parent of a school age child, adolescent or young adult child with Autism, let’s talk to process all that’s happening in your lives. Making appropriate connections is so vitally important. I am here to help with:
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Navigating the IEP process
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Making sure that you are connected with your local Managed Care Organization and community resources
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Recommending appropriate interventions
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Providing ongoing emotional support
ABOUT
My name is Vonetta Blakely, and I am a Master’s level, independently Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina and South Carolina who has dedicated my life’s work to helping individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by Autism, developmental disabilities and learning differences. My work is inspired by the appreciation of the differences in ALL of us.
I have had the opportunity to work for and be trained by the UNC TEACCH Autism Program as a Human Services Practitioner. I have also served as the Autism coordinator with Guiding Parents to Services, an affiliate program of Smart Start of Mecklenburg County. Prior to that, I served as an Assistant Director of The Office of Disability Services at UNC-Charlotte for several years.
I am a Certified Autism Specialist (IBCCES) and an LGBTQIA+ Ally who has received SafeZone training by the LGBTQ Center at both UNC Charlotte and UNC Chapel Hill. I also have a special interest in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resilience.
I am happily married and the proud parent of three children, one of whom was born with genetic differences, developmental delays and was diagnosed with Autism later in life. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, traveling and shopping.
Adults:
If you are an adult who lives with Autism or other developmental differences, let’s talk about your life's experience and what supports are appropriate and available to help you live a fulfilling and independent life.
For those who may not have received a formal diagnosis but still have questions, I’m here to help you explore and navigate the unique experiences in your life.
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Do you often feel misunderstood?
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Do you feel like you miss the social cues of others?
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Do large group gatherings lead to feelings of anxiety?
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Do you find establishing relationships challenging?
If you feel any of the statements above are true for you, let's talk.
Education and Licensure:
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Master of Social Work, University of Southern MS
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Bachelor of Social Work, Florida State University
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NC and SC
NC License: C013511
SC License: 14151
"If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be."
-Maya Angelou
Testimonial:
"Thank you again, for all you do. You continue to go above and beyond.”
-Parent of child with Autism, Charlotte, NC
Testimonial:
" Thank you for all of the time you spent with me this week, both in person and in crafting resource emails customized to what our family needs are right now.”
-Parent of child with Autism , Charlotte, NC
Rooted Therapeutic Services, PLLC
does not provide emergency behavioral health services.
If you are experiencing an emergency or crisis situation,
please call 911
(If contacting police, request a Crisis Intervention Team officer)
or seek help from your nearest hospital emergency room.
National Crisis Text Line Text: 741741
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 988
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
LGBT National Hotline 1-888-843-4564
Substance Abuse & Mental Health
Hotline (SAMHSA) 1-800-662-4357
National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888
Get in Touch
Email:
vonetta@rootedtherapeuticservices.com
Address:
120-D South Village Lane
Davidson, NC 28036
Telephone:
704-989-3459
