Amaryllis Counseling is a for-profit LGBT counseling center located in Greenville, South Carolina. ¹  Amaryllis Counseling provides individual therapy, family therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. ¹ The organization specializes in providing an “affirming” mental health service for its clients. ¹

Formation

Amaryllis Counseling was founded in 2019 ² by Elizabeth Serricchio and Laura Davis. ³ Serrichio is a Licensed Professional Counselor, ⁴ and Davis is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and Clinical Supervisor. ⁵

Queer Wellness Center

In 2021, Amaryllis Counseling and the left-of-center LGBT organizations Pride Link and 864Pride constructed an LGBT community center, the Queer Wellness Center, in Greenville, South Carolina. ⁶ The 6,000 square foot space houses a traditional community center with social activities, resources, and a wellness clinic with medical and mental health services, as well as access to other social service resources such food and clothing. ⁶ In addition, the center will provide legal services, such as legal name and gender change services for transgender individuals. ⁶

Elizabeth Serrichio and Laura Davis are also the founders of 864Pride, ⁷ a non-profit organization that seeks to provide transgender individuals with low-cost and free-of-cost transition related surgical procedures, ⁸ community support, ⁸ and free competence and sensitivity training for individuals employed as school personnel or as counselors and other adolescent mental health providers. ⁸

Target Letter

In 2023, Amaryllis Counseling, along with over 200 other LGBT-interest organizations, signed on to a letter addressing the retail company Target and condemning it for removing LGBT-themed clothing and merchandise targeting children from its stores. ⁹ The letter demanded that Target return the clothing and merchandise marketed to children, and that its failure to do so would be a failure to address the alleged “extremist anti-LGBTQ+ attacks” posed by consumers who have stated they do not intend to shop at stores that market LGBT merchandise and clothing to children. ⁹

Leadership

Amaryllis Counseling was founded by Elizabeth Serricchio and Laura Davis. ³ Prior to Amaryllis, Serricchio was the director of adolescent services for the Stafford County Public School System in Stafford, Virginia. ¹⁰ Prior to Amaryllis, Davis was a clinical therapist for CHRIS 180, ¹¹ an organization that provides training and continued learning education courses for therapists. ¹²

1. “Who we Serve.” Amaryllis Counseling. https://www.amarylliscounseling.org/who-we-serve
2. “Amaryllis Counseling.” Crunchbase. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/amaryllis-counseling
3. “Meet the Team.” Amaryllis Counseling. https://www.amarylliscounseling.org/team-members
4. “Liz Serricchio.” Amaryllis Counseling. https://www.amarylliscounseling.org/lizs-bio-1
5. “Laura Davis.” Amaryllis Counseling. https://www.amarylliscounseling.org/laura-davis-bio-1
6. Putnam, Jeannie. “Pride Link, Amaryllis Counseling and 864Pride to launch Queer Wellness Center.” Greenville Journal. June 8, 2021. Accessed September 20, 2023.  https://greenvillejournal.com/news/pride-link-amaryllis-counseling-and-864pride-to-launch-queer-wellness-center/
7. “Meet Our Team.” 864Pride. https://864pride.org/programs/
8. “Programs.” 864Pride. https://864pride.org/programs/
9.  “BREAKING: Over 200 LGBTQ+ and Allied Organizations Call on Target, Business Community to Speak Out Against Extremist Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks.” Amarylis Counseling. June 5, 2023. Accessed September 20, 2023. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/breaking-over-200-lgbtq-and-allied-organizations-call-on-target-business-community-to-speak-out-against-extremist-anti-lgbtq-attacks
10. “Elizbeth Serricchio.” Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-serricchio-3b1165207/
11. “Laura Davis” LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-davis-a2263a15a/
12. “Who we are.” Chris 180. https://chris180.org/trauma-stars-series/?gclid=CjwKCAjwsKqoBhBPEiwALrrqiDgXkoq65gNm1pyCJsP0ix81_ELFqypXA8zn-CTiU4nJZiAZzNUz_hoCS88QAvD_BwE