Best counselors in Cayce, SC
This list ranks the top 15 counseling and psychiatric practices in Cayce using our earned composite score, which weighs rating, review volume, recency, and sentiment together (see our methodology). Most of these providers handle the full range of individual, couples, and family therapy, so it's a solid starting point before you narrow by specialty.
Looking for a specialist instead? Providers focused on kids and teens are ranked separately in best child & adolescent counseling, and coaches focused on career and life direction rather than clinical therapy appear in best career & life coaching. This list covers general counseling and psychiatric care for all ages.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to counselor, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce | 87 | 4.6 (227) | — | Full-service therapy & psychiatry |
| 2 | Maihan Yazmine Aurah, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | 83 | 4.8 (47) | — | Psychiatric medication management |
| 3 | Duncan Howe, Counselor | 79 | 4.7 (23) | — | Anxiety, trauma & PTSD counseling |
| 4 | Michelle Whitlow-Blanding, Counselor | 79 | 5 (10) | — | Family & couples therapy |
| 5 | Kya Coreisa Davis, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | 78 | 4.7 (29) | — | Efficient psychiatric care |
| 6 | Nancy Winston, Counselor | 77 | 5 (13) | — | Individual, couples & family therapy |
| 7 | Debbie Maxwell, Counselor | 76 | 4.8 (13) | — | Grief & trauma counseling |
| 8 | Karen M Smith, Counselor | 70 | 5 (6) | — | Grief & relationship counseling |
| 9 | Erica Whitaker, Counselor | 70 | 5 (4) | — | First-time therapy clients |
| 10 | Jenkins Simply Said Counseling Service, LLC | 69 | 5 (19) | — | Long-term counseling, anxious introverts & kids |
| 11 | Robert Karpe, Counselor | 68 | 5 (3) | — | Trauma-informed CBT/DBT therapy |
| 12 | Valentine Baptiste-Thomas, Counselor | 68 | 4.8 (4) | — | CBT & mindfulness-based counseling |
| 13 | LaToya Edwards, Counselor | 67 | 5 (9) | — | Anxiety, depression & trauma treatment |
| 14 | Maggie Malaney, Counselor | 65 | 5 (3) | — | Direct, no-nonsense guidance |
| 15 | Tasha Cowan, Counselor | 65 | 5 (1) | — | Easy scheduling, evidence-based therapy |
Ranked picks
LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce
Why it ranks first
LifeStance leads the pack with the highest composite score in Cayce and the deepest review base by far, 227 reviews averaging 4.6 stars. Reviewers repeatedly name individual therapists like Kya Davis, Dr. Lynn Gilderhus, Karen Smith, and Heather, describing them as skilled and attentive, and medication management gets specific credit for correcting long-standing issues.
Pros
- Easy to book and schedule
- Multiple named therapists praised for attentiveness
- Medication management that delivers measurable results
- Compassionate, caring approach across staff
Watch out: It's a multi-therapist practice, so which clinician you land with shapes the experience.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling, grief trauma counseling
Maihan Yazmine Aurah, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Why it ranks second
Maihan Aurah pairs a high composite score with a high-confidence rating from 47 reviews averaging 4.8 stars, among the strongest showings on this list. Patients describe her as deeply engaged, remembering details and adjusting medications when earlier approaches weren't working, and she offers Zoom appointments for convenience.
Pros
- Listens deeply and adjusts treatment when needed
- Follows up to make sure medications are actually working
- Refers out to therapy when appropriate
- Zoom appointments available and easy to book
Watch out: One patient found the website portal difficult to navigate, though the clinical care itself still drew praise.
Services: mental health counseling
Duncan Howe, Counselor
Why it ranks third
Duncan Howe earns consistently strong marks (4.7 from 23 reviews) for being an attentive listener who creates a calm space to open up. Reviewers point to quick scheduling and practical mindfulness techniques they can use outside sessions, with experience spanning anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and panic attacks.
Pros
- Creates a safe, welcoming therapeutic space
- Combines listening with concrete coping strategies
- Fast scheduling and professional coordination
- Experienced with trauma and anxiety cases
Watch out: A few reviewers found the front desk interaction cold on a first visit, even though Duncan's own manner offsets it.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Michelle Whitlow-Blanding, Counselor
Why it ranks fourth
Michelle Whitlow-Blanding has a perfect 5.0 rating from 10 reviews, with reviewers describing her as warm, attentive, and genuinely committed to their healing. She offers individual, family, couples, play, and online therapy formats with scheduling that flexes around clients' needs.
Pros
- Personalized, attentive care
- Creates a safe therapeutic space
- Flexible scheduling
- Multiple formats: individual, family, couples, play, online
Watch out: Review volume is still modest at 10, so the track record is shorter than some peers on this list.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Kya Coreisa Davis, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Why it ranks fifth
Kya Davis combines a high-confidence rating (4.7 from 29 reviews) with an approach patients describe as attentive and informed, moving through appointments efficiently without dragging them out. Many credit her medical knowledge and caring style for effective psychiatric medication management.
Pros
- Listens carefully and validates patient concerns
- Strong medication knowledge
- Efficient appointments without unnecessary delays
- Supportive, welcoming office overall
Watch out: A small number of reviewers reported a rude front desk interaction or pushback when they preferred to stick with one medication.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling
Nancy Winston, Counselor
Why it ranks sixth
Nancy Winston holds a perfect 5.0 from 13 reviews, with clients saying she builds comfort and connection quickly and helps set achievable goals without rushing sessions. She offers individual, couples, and family therapy either in person or by phone.
Pros
- Attentive listening without rushing the process
- Builds safety and comfort fast
- Offers both phone and in-person sessions
- Guides clients toward attainable goals
Watch out: Some found the no-show fees steep and had trouble reaching the Summerville office by phone.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Debbie Maxwell, Counselor
Why it ranks seventh
Debbie Maxwell has been practicing since 1996 and holds a 4.8 rating from 13 reviews, with clients praising her practical techniques and compassion around anxiety, grief, and trauma. Most describe her as approachable from the very first appointment.
Pros
- Long-standing practice since 1996
- Concrete techniques to use between sessions
- Handles anxiety, grief, and trauma
- Comfortable rapport from the first appointment
Watch out: One reviewer felt she moved too fast into intensive trauma work before fully understanding what that client needed.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Karen M Smith, Counselor
Why it ranks eighth
Karen Smith has a perfect 5.0 rating across her reviews, with clients describing her calm manner and real-world advice as leading to meaningful breakthroughs on grief and relationships. The review count is small so far, which is worth factoring into how much weight you put on the track record.
Pros
- Experience-based guidance over cookie-cutter solutions
- Calm and warm manner
Watch out: Only six reviews on record, so there's limited detail on outcomes across a broader range of cases.
Services: mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Erica Whitaker, Counselor
Why it ranks ninth
Erica Whitaker's reviewers describe her as caring and genuine, someone who makes new clients feel comfortable right away, even in a first session. Her review count is still small, but the sentiment is uniformly positive.
Pros
- Strong client rapport from the start
- Personalized, caring approach
Watch out: Only a handful of reviews are in, so this is an early but promising read.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Jenkins Simply Said Counseling Service, LLC
Why it ranks tenth
LaRaine Jenkins of Simply Said Counseling has earned five-star ratings across 19 reviews spanning several years, with clients describing feeling heard and supported through major life changes. Her straightforward style and sense of humor come up often, especially for anxious introverts and children.
Pros
- 25+ years of experience
- Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor
- Works well with introverts and anxious clients
- Serves children, adolescents, and families
Watch out: Many of the reviews are older, so there's less recent feedback than some newer profiles on this list.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Robert Karpe, Counselor
Why it ranks #11
Robert Karpe brings a relaxed, caring style that reviewers say makes it easy to open up about difficult topics while still prompting real reflection. He's trauma-certified and trained in CBT and DBT, with both telehealth and in-office options.
Pros
- Trauma-certified (CCTP II)
- Trained in CBT and DBT
Watch out: Review count is very small (3) so far, so treat this as an early signal.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Valentine Baptiste-Thomas, Counselor
Why it ranks #12
Valentine Baptiste-Thomas builds strong rapport and reviewers describe solid, supportive counseling experiences. He's trained in CBT and mindfulness and handles a range of conditions, with a warm, welcoming environment overall.
Pros
- Friendly, personable therapeutic style
- Trained in CBT and mindfulness
Watch out: One reviewer flagged a scheduling and communication hiccup with the office.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
LaToya Edwards, Counselor
Why it ranks #13
LaToya Edwards drew a standout review describing a year of therapy as life-changing, addressing multiple areas of that client's life. She's a Licensed Professional Counselor with supervisory credentials, offering both in-person and telehealth appointments.
Pros
- Licensed Professional Counselor with supervisory credentials
- Specializes in anxiety, depression, and trauma
Watch out: Her office is inside the Bank of America building and signage to find it could be clearer.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Maggie Malaney, Counselor
Why it ranks #14
Maggie Malaney has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2015, and the reviewer feedback available describes her as clear, approachable, and someone who inspires trust and confidence quickly. She serves a range of populations including military and LGBTQ+ clients.
Pros
- Licensed Professional Counselor since 2015
- Clear, direct communication style
Watch out: Only a few reviews are on record so far, so there's limited breadth of feedback.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling
Tasha Cowan, Counselor
Why it ranks #15
Tasha Cowan is a Licensed Professional Counselor offering evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, and EMDR. The one review on record praised how straightforward scheduling was, but that's the extent of the feedback available right now.
Pros
- Easy booking
- Flexible availability
Watch out: Only one review is on record so far, so treat this as an early impression rather than an established pattern.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching