MMG Counseling

11/05/2025

MMG Counseling welcomes Aaron to the group!

👋Hello, my name is Aaron Best. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a board-certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC) dedicated to supporting individuals and families on their journey toward well-being.

My approach is rooted in the belief that a strong, collaborative therapeutic relationship is the foundation for lasting change.

With a Master of Art Therapy from Marywood University, I have honed my skills to offer a warm, person-centered environment where you can feel seen, heard, and understood. I utilize a variety of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), art therapy, and Sandplay, to tailor treatment that reflects your unique needs. My goal is to help build practical tools, gain insight, and discover your inner resilience.

I have extensive experience working with people of all ages, helping them navigate a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, and trauma. I am particularly passionate about helping individuals or families build tools that increase self-efficacy and encourage personal healing. Beyond my clinical work, I am committed to community education and have provided mental health training to schools and organizations in the Lackawanna County area.

It takes courage to begin the therapeutic process, and I am here to provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore, heal, and grow. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you, your child, or your family!

10/23/2025

Just a sneak peek 👀✨ Our therapy office is all about cozy, calm, and comfortable — because healing feels better when you can exhale

10/22/2025

Therapy taught me boundaries aren’t walls — they’re welcome mats for peace. 🕊️
They don’t push people away; they show others how to meet you with respect and care. Setting them might feel uncomfortable at first, but peace usually follows right behind.

💭 What’s one boundary that’s brought you more peace lately?

10/22/2025

Tag someone who’s helped you grow this year 🌸

10/21/2025

Anxiety isn’t a flaw — it’s a signal. 💛
It often comes from past experiences, ongoing stress, or times when your body didn’t feel safe — even if your mind says “everything’s fine.” Anxiety is your nervous system’s natural alert system, letting you know that something needs attention.
Instead of shaming yourself for feeling anxious, try listening to what it’s trying to tell you: Do I need rest? Reassurance? Boundaries? Support?
Your anxiety isn’t broken — it’s trying to protect you. Safety, not shame, is where healing begins. 🌿

10/20/2025

“When your child’s anger might actually be depression.”

If your child’s been extra irritable, snapping easily, or saying things like “I don’t care” — I want you to know this:
It’s not always “bad behavior.”
Sometimes that anger is their way of saying, “I’m not okay.”

Kids don’t usually have the words for depression, so it comes out as frustration, attitude, or withdrawal.
Anger becomes the mask sadness wears.
And for a lot of families I work with here in NEPA, that realization changes everything.

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🧩 Here’s what can help:
1. Pause before reacting. Take a breath and remember — anger is often protection, not defiance.
2. Stay curious. Try asking, “You’ve seemed upset lately — are you feeling sad inside?”
3. Model calm. Your tone and presence help regulate theirs more than you realize.
4. Create safety. Keep routines predictable and offer space to talk without judgment.
5. Reach out for support. Child and family therapy can help uncover the why behind the behavior and teach tools for emotional balance.

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You’re not alone in this. So many families in our area are walking this same road — doing their best to raise emotionally healthy kids in a world that often feels heavy. ❤️

Your noticing is the first step toward healing.

10/19/2025

Healing isn’t all calm mornings and journaling by candlelight.
Sometimes it’s crying, setting boundaries, second-guessing yourself, and still choosing to show up.
You’re not doing it wrong — you’re just healing in real time. 💗

10/18/2025

So many of us chase peace but keep saying yes to things that drain us.
We overcommit, overextend, and tell ourselves it’s fine — because we don’t want to disappoint anyone.

But here’s the truth:
Every time you say yes to something that doesn’t align, you’re quietly saying no to your own peace.

Saying “no” isn’t rejection — it’s redirection.
It’s a boundary.
It’s self-respect.
And it’s often the only way to find the calm you’ve been craving.

💬 What’s one thing you’ve learned to say “no” to lately?

10/03/2025

ADHD isn’t just about inattention or hyperactivity. Emotional dysregulation is now recognized as a key feature—and psychologists are helping children and adults learn to manage those “big feelings” with evidence-based strategies.

Learn more: https://at.apa.org/5b0

10/03/2025

Bluey has such profound insights

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EvUwqzzcD/?mibextid=wwXIfrhd

Mom guilt is real.
It’s feeling bad for losing your patience when you’re running on no sleep.
It’s questioning if you played with them enough, hugged them enough, were enough.
It’s wondering if you’re doing this whole “mom” thing right, while comparing yourself to everyone who seems to have it all together.
It’s laying in bed at night replaying every moment you wish you could redo- the sighs, the “just a minute,” the times you weren’t fully present.
It’s feeling torn between taking care of yourself and giving every last piece of yourself to your kids.
But here’s what I’m learning- mom guilt shows up because we care so deeply.
Because we love our kids more than anything.
Because we want to give them the best of us.
So if you’re sitting in that guilt today, please know this:
You are trying. You are loving. You are showing up.
And that makes you a good mom - even on the hard days.
Your kids don’t need perfect. They just need you.🤍