HILLARY FAULK VAUGHAN, M.A., LPA, HSP-PA (SHE/HER)

Founder, Psychologist

Hillary is a psychologist who has worked in the mental health field for over 18 years.  She received a Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and her graduate work was focused on individuals with severe and persistent mental illness within the prison system. 

After graduation she found her passion working with adults diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI).  In 2010 she became the Clinical Director of Physician Alliance for Mental Health in Wilmington NC where she focused her efforts on supporting and educating direct care clinicians in implementation of best practice models for the SMI population.  

She has been tirelessly focused on efforts to help reduce the stigma around mental illness and support acceptance of mental wellness activities. She worked with the late Judge Ola Lewis in the development of the Brunswick County Mental Health Court and is currently on the advisory committee for a New Hanover County Mental Health Court.  She has trained Police Officers, Sherriff’s Deputies and Probation Officers on mental illness, effective interventions for individuals with SMI, and available community resources.  She has served on the Clinical Advisory Committees and the Credentialing Committees for Southeastern Center for Mental Health, CoastalCare and Trillium Health Resources and is currently the chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee for Trillium Health Resources.  She serves as a fidelity reviewer for Assertive Community Treatment Team services for the state of North Carolina through the Institute for Best Practices at UNC Chapel Hill.  Over the years, she has developed and trained educational sessions on a variety of topics to include clinical assessment, motivational techniques for employment specialists, crisis intervention, effective documentation, cognitive behavioral techniques for direct care professionals, professional boundaries, etc. 

During her career in community mental health, she observed the effectiveness of a collaborative team of professionals working together to support an individual’s wellness.  In 2021 she and her partners decided to expand this philosophy in a private practice and the result is Embrace Wellness Group.  She looks forward to the continued development of a dynamic practice that supports best practice models and encourages professional collaboration.  

Fun Facts:  Hillary enjoys spending time with her husband and their furry family.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time on the water, cooking, gardening, and traveling.  Whether it is camping in the state parks of North Carolina or flying to a new place to explore, she and her husband are always looking for their next adventure.