Margie Graves has recently opened a part-time clinical counseling practice in Southern Pines.

Graves holds a bachelor's degree in counseling from Springfield College in Spring-field, Mass., and a master's degree in social work from East Carolina University.

She is licensed by the state of North Carolina as a clinical social worker and clinical addictions specialist. She also has national certification in intervention, eating disorders and employee assistance.

In addition, Graves has more than 25 years of experience in the mental health and addictions field as a clinician, and manager.

As an assistant director of behavioral health at FirstHealth, Graves was the director of the Pinehurst Treatment Center and outpatient substance abuse services. She also developed and managed the Employee Assistance Program at First Health until 1997.

Most recently, Graves has been the executive director of a nonprofit agency that assists impaired professionals.

As an artist, Graves is known for her bright abstract paintings. Her work has been displayed locally and in Chapel Hill and Calabash.

In addition to traditional psychotherapy, Graves will offer expressive arts therapy. She is completing a post-master's certificate in expressive arts therapy at Appalachian State University. Expressive arts therapy, in addition to traditional "talk therapy" uses art, dance, music, stories and writing to enhance the counseling experience.

Graves will continue with her position as the executive director of an impaired professional's program. However, she will be seeing children, adults and families evenings and Saturdays at her new office on West Pennsylvania Avenue in Southern Pines.

New groups are forming for substance abuse relapse prevention, for families of adolescent substance abusers, and for eating disorders.

Anyone wanting more information can contact Graves at 315-2746.