Cheryl L. Andrews, PhD
Clinical Function & Accommodation Consultant. Most conversations begin with a diagnosis. Mine begins with function.
I am Dr. Cheryl L. Andrews, founder of Cheryl L. Andrews & Associates. My work centers on helping individuals, students, professionals, families, clinicians, and organizations understand how mental health, disability, neurodivergence, stress, and life demands affect real-world functioning — and what to do next.
As a licensed mental health professional, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and clinical supervisor, I bring together clinical insight, rehabilitation counseling, disability-informed practice, accommodation strategy, and practical functional planning.
My goal is simple: to help people move from distress and uncertainty to functional clarity, meaningful strategy, and sustainable growth.
Professional foundation
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor-Supervisor (NC), Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (SC), and Licensed Professional Counselor (GA, VA). Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor.
Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision (Walden University), M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling (Winston-Salem State University), and B.A. in Sociology (Saint Augustine's University).
The bridge between experience and daily life.
My work is grounded in what I call a clinical function lens. Clinical function is the bridge between what a person is experiencing and how that experience affects daily life. It considers questions such as:
- How is this person functioning at work, in school, at home, or in professional practice?
- What barriers are affecting attendance, communication, concentration, emotional regulation, organization, decision-making, follow-through, or participation?
- What support, treatment, accommodation, strategy, documentation, or planning may help?
- What needs to be clarified before the next decision is made?
This lens guides all three service areas: consultation, psychotherapy, and supervision. Whether I am helping a client prepare for an accommodation conversation, supporting someone in therapy, or supervising a developing counselor, I am always thinking about the connection between clinical experience, disability-informed understanding, and real-world functioning.
I am the author of the Clinical Function & Accommodation (CFA) Framework, a practice-informed model connecting clinical presentation to real-world function and accommodation planning across workplace, educational, and program settings.
Clarity can be compassionate.
My professional philosophy is grounded in clarity, discernment, ethical practice, and respect for the complexity of human experience. People often arrive at consultation, therapy, or supervision with more than one question:
- What is happening to me?
- Why am I not functioning as I used to?
- What support do I need — and how do I explain this clearly?
- How do I advocate without feeling overwhelmed?
- How do I grow into a stronger clinician?
My role is not to rush people into easy answers. My role is to help organize the concern, clarify the functional impact, identify meaningful options, and support thoughtful action.
At heart, I am a Carolina girl, a part-time Georgia Peach, and unmistakably a Southern belle. I am also a wife, mother, clinician, consultant, supervisor, and woman who values family, joy, faith, femininity, beauty, meaningful work, and a life well lived.
I bring my whole self to this work, and I make room for you to do the same.
I believe professional excellence and warmth can exist together. I believe clarity can be compassionate. I believe support can be structured and still feel deeply human.
This work matters to me because I know what it means when people finally have language for what they are experiencing — and when that language helps them take the next right step.