CareSouth Carolina welcomes Nichelle Bivens, LMSW, to Bennettsville

CareSouth Carolina welcomes Nichelle Bivens, Licensed Master Social Worker, to its Bennettsville office. Originally from Cheraw, Bivens said she decided to return to the area to practice because she is very family oriented and passionate about behavioral health.

 

“I loved the convenience of living in a city,” she said about her time in Charleston, where she worked as an advocate in the Family Court System through the Guardian ad Litem Program, “but I missed the sense of connection to others that is associated with living in rural communities.”

CareSouth Carolina Director of Behavioral Health Amy Cook says she is excited to have Bivens on staff. “She brings an abundance of knowledge and experience to CareSouth Carolina,” Cook said. “We are lucky she chose to become a part of the CSC family!”

Bivens began her career in behavioral health as a volunteer at age 19. “I was a volunteer victim advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Pee Dee Coalition and eventually began working as a crisis counselor for children at a children’s shelter in Charlotte,” she said.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Francis Marion University, Bivens served within Child Protective Services in the family preservation unit, “attempting to safely reunite children with their families once they have been removed from their home,” she explained.

Bivens went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Tulane University in 2019, and worked with the ALPHA Behavioral Health Center in Chesterfield where she provided substance abuse and mental health counseling to children and adults.

“I am passionate about providing support and service to others, and helping to facilitate change. It takes a lot of strength to seek help, and I’ve seen the smallest of us struggle and work very hard to cope or change their situation and if I can play a small part in assisting them with this then count me in.”

Outside of work Bivens enjoys reading, DIY craft and home projects, spending time with family and taking care of her chickens.