Asheville Therapist Collective
A place for Asheville therapists to build meaningful professional relationships.
Asheville Therapist Collective is a membership community designed to help therapists build lasting professional relationships, strengthen referral networks, and foster genuine connection and belonging.
Does this Sound Familiar?
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You have wonderful conversations with colleagues but then months go by before you reconnect.
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You're looking for more meaningful professional relationships.
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You'd love more referral connections and consultation support.
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You want community, but traditional networking often feels transactional.
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You wish there were an easier way to stay connected to the Asheville therapist community
Join the Collective
What Membership Includes
Therapist Matching
Each month, members have the opportunity to be paired with another therapist for connection, conversation, and community building.
Community Events
A monthly meetup opportunity: Examples include coffee meetups, happy hours, hikes, picnics, and other community events
Virtual Coworking
A monthly co-working session. Body doubling and accountability for notes, admin, and practice tasks.
Referral Network
Connect with trusted colleagues and strengthen your referral relationships through an intimate email listserv.
Community Calendar
A curated monthly roundup of therapist events, trainings, and opportunities around Asheville synced to your google calendar.
Future Opprtunities
As the collective grows, so will the opportunities for members to connect and learn together. Future offerings may include facilitated consultation groups, continuing education events, guest speakers, a resource library, or a membership directory.
Why I created Asheville Therapist Collective
Hi, I'm Michele Finkelstein
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified DBT Therapist (C-DBT)
Throughout my career, I've worked with adults across outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), and partial hospitalization (PHP) settings while also spending more than a decade involved in grassroots organizing and community-building initiatives. Across both roles, one thing has remained true: meaningful relationships don't happen by accident. They thrive when someone intentionally creates opportunities for people to connect.
As I transitioned into private practice, I found myself hearing the same sentiment from colleagues again and again: "I love this work, but it can feel isolating." While Asheville has an incredible therapist community, I saw an opportunity to create something that complements existing spaces by fostering deeper, more consistent professional relationships.
That's what inspired Asheville Therapist Collective. My hope is to create a community where therapists can build authentic connections, strengthen referral networks, support one another professionally, and experience a greater sense of belonging. I'd love to have you be part of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
I live outside of Asheville. Can I still join?
Yes! While our in-person community events are held in Asheville, we warmly welcome clinicians from all surrounding areas who wish to be part of the collective.
I am an associate-level clinician. Is this community for me?
We would love to have you! Associate members participate in a specialized cohort model designed specifically for peer support among clinicians at similar career stages. As this group grows, we hope to expand these offerings to include 1:1 matching as well.
Why join Asheville Therapist Collective if there is already a local Facebook therapist group?
The Asheville therapist community is incredibly vibrant, and ATC is working to be complementary to existing spaces rather than a replacement for them. While online groups are excellent for broad networking and information sharing, ATC is designed to foster deeper professional relationships, ongoing support, accountability, and a stronger sense of community through intentional connection and facilitated experiences.
What types of gatherings are included in the meetups?
During your initial intake, you will be invited to share the specific activities you’d enjoy or would like to do with fellow colleagues. Potential meetups range from casual coffee mornings and midday lunch chats to collaborative potlucks, outdoor picnics, group hikes, and trivia nights. Whether it’s a cinema outing followed by dinner or a relaxed happy hour, these events are shaped by the interests of our members.
What happens if I can’t attend a community event?
Life is busy, and that’s okay! If you can’t make it to an ATC event, our curated monthly calendar also features recommended local events. These are wonderful alternatives and a great way to connect with colleagues independently!
What is a Therapist Match?
One of the most common experiences therapists share is having a wonderful conversation with a colleague and then not reconnecting for months. Therapist matching is designed to facilitate meaningful professional relationships through intentional introductions and ongoing opportunities for connection. Members can choose to continue existing connections or opt into new matches over time.
Why is there a cost for membership?
The membership fee supports the sustainability and quality of Asheville Therapist Collective. It helps cover the planning, coordination, and resources that go into creating meaningful opportunities for connection, collaboration, referrals, and professional support.
Pricing was determined based on feedback from local therapists and is designed to keep the collective accessible while allowing it to grow and provide ongoing value to members.
What if the membership cost is a financial barrier for me?
Accessibility and community care are important values of Asheville Therapist Collective. Through the Community Access Fund, I hope to provide a limited number of reduced-cost memberships for therapists experiencing financial barriers.
If cost is preventing you from participating, please reach out to ashevilletherapistcollective@gmail.com with the subject line "Community Access Fund." Requests are reviewed confidentially and assistance is offered based on available funding.
How do I cancel my membership?
Memberships function as a standard subscription. You will retain access to all services through the end of your current billing period. To cancel, please email ashevilletherapistcollective@gmail.com before your next billing cycle begins.
How does ATC maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality?
ATC is a professional networking and connection community for therapists. Members are expected to protect client confidentiality and follow all applicable ethical standards.
Please do not share protected health information (PHI) or identifying client information through ATC communication channels. Referral requests, consultation questions, and discussions should remain fully de-identified.
Who is the organizer of this community?
Hello! I’m Michele Finkelstein, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and certified clinical supervisor in private practice. I specialize in DBT coping skills for adults, here in Asheville, NC. With a background and passion for community organizing, I founded this collective to foster deep, authentic connections among local therapists. Many of us spend our workdays isolated, interacting only with clients, while traditional networking can often feel transactional and fleeting. I envisioned a space that goes beyond the occasional coffee date-a true community where we can share resources, attend meaningful events, and support one another in our professional journeys. I’m excited to build this vibrant network with you!
Is the organizer participating as a member of ATC, or only organizing it?
The Asheville Therapist Collective was founded by Michele Finkelstein, LCSW, with the goal of creating a space where therapists can build meaningful professional relationships, strengthen referral connections, and feel more connected in their work.
While Michele helps coordinate and steward the community, she is also participating as a therapist member. She will engage in the same ways other members do; participating in therapist matching, attending networking events and coworking sessions, and contributing to the referral and support network.
ATC is intended to be a collaborative community shaped by its members. While the founder provides organization and structure, the relationships, connections, and value of the collective come from everyone who participates.
How can I share my feedback?
ATC is brand new. There's definitely going to be some learning curves as we go. Members and non-members can email feedback or ideas to ashevilletherapistcollective@gmail.com . As we are getting going, I will send out monthly surveys to gather member thoughts and experiences as well. You are always welcome to share your ideas and constructive feedback to help the community grow.
Asheville Therapist Collective
Membership Community for Therapists
