Ardith Burkes MPH, MSW, LCSW

Ardith Burkes is a licensed clinical social worker and works with students at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy as part of the CAPS Embedded Counselor Program. She received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill. After working for several years managing sexual violence crisis programs at the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, she returned to UNC Chapel Hill to earn her Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) in Maternal and Child Health. She also has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

Since completing her graduate degrees in 2007, Ardith has pursued two simultaneous career paths. She has worked as the Associate Director and Grants Director at Compass Center in Chapel Hill. Compass Center provides relationship violence crisis intervention and group support, career and financial counseling, violence prevention education, and youth sexual health education. She has also worked with the community as a licensed clinical social worker in private practice delivering individual and group psychotherapy to adults.

Ardith uses a variety of therapeutic approaches based on what best meets someone’s needs and comfort and draws from modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and crisis intervention and stabilization techniques.

Ardith has a strong interest in increasing accessibility to mental health and wellness care so that more people, of all identities and backgrounds, have a space to process life’s challenges and learn skills to navigate them.

Outside of work, Ardith enjoys spending mindful quality time with family and friends, cooking, reading, traveling, savoring a good cup of coffee or tea, and relishing in moments of quiet and calm.