Today we’d like to introduce you to Caedora Benton.
Hi caedora, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey began in Monrovia, Liberia, where I was born before immigrating to the United States at seven years old. Entering a completely new world, I held tightly to a determination to make my parents proud. I grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and knew early on that I wanted to attend college out of state to expand my perspective. That dream led me to Greensboro, North Carolina, where I attended The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Although I started the nursing prerequisites, unexpected citizenship issues forced me to return to Georgia, and I spent two years in Savannah completing my bachelor’s degree in nursing. Love brought me back to North Carolina, where I continued building my life with my now‑husband, Kenneth, while working at a Greensboro hospital for eight years. My desire to grow pushed me toward a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner, and I eventually found my calling in addiction and mental health care. After earning my psychiatric certification from Liberty University, I practiced across multiple states through telehealth. Even while six months pregnant with my second child, I felt compelled to pursue my doctorate. The birth was difficult and required physical therapy, yet I began my doctoral program just seven days postpartum. The years that followed were demanding, but I remained consistent and ultimately graduated as Dr. Caedora Benton. Today, I am grateful for the support of my family, friends, and colleagues, and proud to own MaeB PLLC, a virtual mental health clinic named after my daughter’s middle name. Guided by faith and a deep love for people, I strive to uplift and empower every life I touch.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it was not a smooth road at all. My journey has been full of unexpected challenges, major life transitions, and moments that required deep resilience. Moving from Monrovia, Liberia to the United States at just seven years old meant adjusting to a completely new world. Later, when I finally began pursuing nursing, sudden citizenship issues forced me to leave the university I had worked so hard to attend and start over in another state.
Balancing moves between Georgia and North Carolina, maintaining my relationship with my now‑husband, and working eight demanding years in a hospital all came with their own pressures. Pursuing my master’s degree while entering the mental health and addiction field stretched me even further. Then I deciding to pursue my doctorate at the same time I was six months pregnant was challenging. The birth was difficult, leaving me with a pelvic injury and requiring physical therapy, yet I started my doctoral program just seven days after having my son.
There were long nights, moments of exhaustion, and times when balancing school, motherhood, and career felt overwhelming. But every struggle shaped me, strengthened me, and pushed me toward becoming Dr. Caedora Benton and ultimately the owner of MaeB PLLC. My road has been anything but smooth, but it has been purposeful, faith‑filled, and worth every step.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about MaeB PLLC?
MaeB PLLC is a virtual mental health clinic built on compassion, accessibility, and a deep commitment to helping individuals heal and grow. Named after my daughter’s middle name Mae, MaeB represents both family and purpose—an extension of my belief that mental health care should feel personal, safe, and grounded in genuine human connection. The clinic provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapeutic guidance for individuals facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and other mental health concerns. Through telehealth, MaeB PLLC allows clients across North Carolina to receive high‑quality, evidence‑based care from the comfort of their homes, removing barriers like transportation, stigma, and scheduling limitations. As the owner and psychiatric nurse practitioner, I bring years of experience in addiction medicine, mental health, and holistic patient care, ensuring every client is treated with dignity, empathy, and respect. MaeB PLLC is more than a practice—it is a mission to empower others, strengthen communities, and offer hope through accessible, faith‑guided mental health support. Lastly, we have continued to open new appointment slots to accommodate more mental health needs at this time because we believes that every patient deserves personal care that matters.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Where the Industry Is Heading (5–10 Years)
Telehealth Expansion — Virtual care is no longer a temporary solution; it’s becoming a permanent pillar of mental health treatment.
Integrated Behavioral Care — Mental health will continue merging with primary care, addiction medicine, and chronic disease management. Providers will collaborate more closely across specialties, and psychiatric NPs will play a central role in whole‑person care.
AI‑Supported Clinical Tools — Not to replace clinicians, but to support them. AI will streamline documentation, risk assessment, symptom tracking, and patient engagement. This will free providers to spend more time on meaningful therapeutic interactions.
Focus on Trauma‑Informed Care — Trauma awareness is becoming foundational in all mental health settings. Expect more training, more research, and more emphasis on culturally sensitive, patient‑centered approaches.
Personalized & Preventive Mental Health — Genetic testing, lifestyle psychiatry, and individualized treatment plans will become more common. Patients will expect care that considers biology, environment, culture, and personal goals.
Pricing:
- $270 self pay intake fee
- $150 follow-up fee for self pay
- Insurance and Medicaid welcome
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maebpllc.com
- Instagram: Maeb_pllc
