Tripp Johnson
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Chapel Hill Mental Health Services
Finding mental health care should be straightforward—especially in Chapel Hill. It often isn’t. Long wait times, limited availability, and systems that are hard to navigate can delay getting the support you need.
Our Chapel Hill location is designed to make that first step easier. We offer psychiatry, therapy, and medication management in one place, with both in-person and virtual appointments available.
We’re in-network with most major insurance plans, making high-quality care more accessible. You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. If something feels off, that’s enough to start.
Chapel Hill Mental Health Services
Our Chapel Hill location offers outpatient mental health care in one place, making it easier to start and stay consistent with treatment.
Psychiatry
Our psychiatry team is built with providers who have experience treating a wide range of mental health conditions.
This range of expertise allows us to take a more thoughtful approach to care. Evaluations are thorough, and treatment is shaped over time—not rushed into a single decision.
Medication may be part of the plan, but it’s considered within the full context of your life, with ongoing adjustments based on how you’re responding.
Therapy & Counseling
Therapy gives you something that’s hard to find in day-to-day life: protected time to step out of the noise and work through what’s going on.
Our therapists work with a wide range of mental health concerns, but the focus isn’t just talking—it’s using that time to identify patterns, test changes, and build skills that hold up outside of sessions.
The goal is for therapy to translate into your real life—how you think, how you respond, and how you move through challenges—not just what gets discussed in the room.
Evidence-Based Therapy
We use approaches backed by research, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
These methods help you understand patterns, respond differently to challenges, and build practical skills you can use outside of sessions.
Medication Management
Finding the right medication takes time. It often involves trying different options, adjusting doses, and paying attention to how your body and mind respond.
Our providers work with you over time—tracking progress, making changes when needed, and helping you land on something that fits your life. The goal is to find a treatment that is effective, manageable, and sustainable.
What to Expect From a Psychiatric Evaluation at AIM
Your first appointment is focused on understanding what’s going on—not rushing into a decision. We’ll talk through your symptoms, history, and what’s been working or not working, including your day-to-day life. From there, we’ll walk through options together. That may include therapy, medication, or both. You’ll leave with a clear next step and a plan that can adjust over time.
What our Chapel Hill Therapists Treat
Our therapists work with a wide range of mental health concerns, from common challenges to more complex or long-standing patterns. This includes both clearly defined conditions and situations where someone is struggling but hasn’t found the right framework to understand it yet.
Conditions We Commonly Treat
- ADHD
- AutismÂ
- Anxiety disordersÂ
- Depression and mood disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Â
- Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Stress and burnout
- Bipolar disorder and mood instability
- Relationship and family concerns
- Life transitions and adjustment challenges
- Grief and loss
- And more
You don’t need a clear diagnosis to begin. If something feels off, we’ll help you figure out what’s going on and what to do next.
Mental Health Care for the UNC Community
We’re located just minutes from UNC’s main campus and are proud to be part of the Chapel Hill community. Many of our team members are UNC alumni, and we value being a trusted, local resource for students, faculty, and residents.
Students Navigating the CAPS gap
Many students find that campus resources are limited or come with long wait times. We provide an option for ongoing therapy and psychiatry without those delays, with scheduling that fits around classes and academic demands.
Faculty and staff on the NC State Health Plan
We’re in-network with many major insurance plans, including those commonly used by UNC faculty and staff. This makes it easier to access consistent care without going out-of-network.
New-to-Chapel Hill Residents Establishing Care
If you’ve recently moved to Chapel Hill, finding a provider can take time. We offer a straightforward way to establish care quickly, without long delays or complicated intake processes.
No waitlist, Telehealth Available, Schedule online
We prioritize access. That includes no waitlist for most services, virtual and in-person appointments, and online scheduling so you can get started without unnecessary delays.
Who We Serve in Chapel Hill
We work with adults and young adults across Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, and surrounding areas. This includes students, working professionals, and individuals navigating stress, transitions, or ongoing mental health concerns.
Need a Higher Level of Care? We’ve Got You – In Raleigh
Some situations require more structure than outpatient care can provide. While our Chapel Hill location focuses on psychiatry and therapy, we offer higher levels of care—including PHP for substance use, IOP for substance use, IOP for Mental Health, and TMS for depression—at our Raleigh location.
Because these services are part of the same system, transitioning to a higher level of care is more straightforward and doesn’t require starting over.
Our Providers
The quality of care depends on the people providing it. We build our team with providers who have experience across many mental health conditions and who prioritize the human connection that is the foundation of effective mental healthcare.
Our psychiatrists and therapists work together, so your care stays aligned and you don’t have to manage different providers on your own.
Insurance Accepted at Our Chapel Hill Location
We are in-network with most major insurance plans, including but not limited to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, TRICARE, and plans commonly used by UNC students and staff.
If you have questions about whether or not we can accept your insurance, just contact us.
Our team can help verify your benefits and explain what to expect before you begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Begin Mental Health Services in Chapel Hill Today
Getting started at AIM doesn’t have to be complicated. You can reach out to ask questions, verify your insurance, or schedule an appointment online. From there, we’ll help you take the next step.
Dr. Tim O’Connor, MD
Psychiatrist
Kristen Poppe, LCMHC, LCAS
Outpatient Manager
Julie Kimball, MSW, LCSWÂ
Clinical Therapist
Our Team
At AIM, our team is built around one goal — helping you get better.
A Team Committed to Your Wellbeing
We believe good care starts with good people. Our clinicians, prescribers, and support staff work together so that every part of your treatment is connected. You won’t have to repeat your story to providers who don’t talk to each other. Everyone on your team knows who you are and what you’re working toward.
Three easy steps to get scheduled now!
More contact information
Step 1: Fill out the New Patient Form.
Step 2: You’ll be directed to online scheduling.
Step 3: Pick your provider, date, and time
Step 4: Begin your wellness journey!
Email address:
info@aimwellbeing.com
Phone number:
919.893.4465
Fax number:
800-860-8126
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