Awaken Counseling

03/12/2026

Fear has a lot of power...until it doesn’t.

So often, we live in constant distress because of something we’re afraid of…
and we don’t know what to do with that fear or how to face it.

When fear goes unaddressed, it can quietly run our lives. It creates anxiety, avoidance, overthinking, and exhaustion.

Here’s the truth about fear:
It tends to hold the most power until we reach the point where we truly believe we can handle the worst-case outcome.

That doesn’t mean we want the worst to happen.
It means we get to a place where we know:
“If it did happen, I could cope. I could survive. I could figure it out.”

When we stop trying to eliminate fear and instead build confidence in our ability to handle discomfort, fear loosens its grip.

You don’t overcome fear by controlling every outcome.
You overcome fear by trusting yourself to handle even the toughest outcomes.

03/09/2026

📚 Book of the Month: Month Five!
This month, we’re highlighting a timeless and deeply impactful read about resilience, perspective, and the power of meaning.

Our March pick is Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, recommended by Ashley Henry, LPC. “This book changed my life! I was able to understand that we cannot control our circumstances, but we can choose our attitude toward them."

About the Book:
Man’s Search for Meaning is a powerful classic that weaves together Viktor Frankl’s memoir of surviving N**i concentration camps with an introduction to his psychotherapeutic theory, logotherapy. Frankl proposes that our primary human drive is the search for meaning. Even amid profound suffering, he suggests we can discover purpose through the way we respond to hardship, through meaningful work, and through love. It remains a foundational text on resilience, perspective, and the strength of the human spirit.

Blending personal story with psychological insight, this book reminds us that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we do have the freedom to choose our response. It’s a profound exploration of purpose — especially in the face of suffering — and a meaningful read for anyone navigating challenge, transition, or personal growth.

If you’re looking for a book that offers depth, perspective, and lasting impact, this one is worth adding to your list.

Let’s continue reading (and growing) together.

03/07/2026

Being an adult these days is complicated. You’re juggling career demands, relationships, finances, and maybe even building a business; these are spheres of life that past generations didn’t navigate in quite the same way.

And if you’re a young professional, between careers, or trying to start your own venture, you’ve probably run into the mantras of hustle culture. You know the ones: “Rise and grind 24/7”; “Sleep when you’re dead,”; “No days off.”

These are the relentless messages that if you just push hard enough, success will follow. But here’s the truth: this mindset isn’t just exhausting. It’s actively harmful to your mental health.

Check out our latest blog to learn more about what you can do hustle culture anxiety.

Being an adult these days is complicated. You’re juggling career demands, relationships, finances, and maybe even building a business; these are spheres of

03/06/2026

Congratulations to Ashley Henry on obtaining her LPC license, and to Zeynep Boz and Molly Peterka on earning their LAPCs! We’re so proud of your hard work and dedication—these are big accomplishments.

Thank you to Nothing Bundt Cakes for the delicious cakes that helped us celebrate our team!

03/04/2026

Have you ever noticed that when something exciting is coming up - a trip, a big game, a new opportunity, even a positive life change - you might feel… anxious?
That’s not a coincidence.

Excitement and anxiety actually feel very similar in the body. Both can bring:
• a faster heart rate
• butterflies in your stomach
• racing thoughts
• a burst of energy

Your body is activating for something important. The difference is often the story your mind tells about those sensations.

👉 Anxiety says: “What if something goes wrong?”
👉 Excitement says: “Something meaningful is about to happen!”

So how do you manage it?

Name it differently
Try saying, “I’m excited” instead of “I’m anxious.” This simple reframe can calm your nervous system.

Ground your body
Slow breathing, stretching, or a short walk can help regulate that surge of energy.

Focus on the why
Remind yourself why you’re looking forward to this moment. Anxiety often fades when we reconnect with purpose.

Let both exist
You can be excited and nervous. That usually means you care.

Sometimes the goal isn’t to eliminate the feeling. Instead, we can try to understand it and channel it in a helpful direction.

03/01/2026

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month

Here are some endometriosis facts you may not know already:

▪️ 1 in 10 women and girls have endometriosis.
▪️ On average, it takes 7 years to get a definitive diagnosis.
▪️ Surgery is the only way to confirm an endometriosis diagnosis.
▪️Endometriosis is one of the top 10 most painful conditions.
▪️This systematic inflammatory disease isn't just painful periods. It often affects many parts of the body outside of the reproductive organs.

Endometriosis requires comprehensive and specialized care. If you suspect you or a loved one have endometriosis, it's important to see an endometriosis specialist right away. If you need additional support along the way, we're here to help!

03/01/2026

Hearing phrases like “We want to run additional tests” or “We saw something on the scan” can send us into panic mode. Our minds often jump to worst‑case scenarios, which is a completely human response. Still, it’s important to stay grounded so fear doesn’t take over. Stress can impact our health, especially during vulnerable moments. If you’re facing this situation, these steps can help:

1. Pause
Ask the doctor or nurse if you can have a moment before continuing or before leaving the appointment. Use this time to breathe, gather your thoughts, or call someone if you’re alone.

A brief pause helps calm your nervous system so you can think more clearly, hear information accurately, and get home safely.

If you’re overwhelmed, ask to call a loved one who can help take notes or ask questions. Many providers also offer written summaries—ask if one is available.

2. Reality Check
Medical teams see these situations daily and can offer perspective. Ask how concerned they would be if this were happening to them or their loved one.

Ask how long you have before a decision needs to be made. Many findings aren’t emergencies, even if they feel urgent. If time allows, use it to get a second opinion or gather information.

When researching, stick to credible sources. If an article isn’t written or reviewed by a licensed clinician or scientist, verify it before relying on it.

3. Double Down on Self‑Care
Activities like taking a bath, reading, or going for a walk may feel trivial, but they help regulate your nervous system by signaling safety in the present moment. Self‑care isn’t avoidance—it’s holding two truths at once.

If you’re stuck in worry mode, set a 1–3 minute timer and write or say every fear out loud. Then place those worries in a real or imagined container and shift to another task. Repeat as needed.

Avoiding follow‑up care may feel easier short‑term but can worsen things long‑term. If taking next steps feels overwhelming, ask someone you trust to support you through the process.

02/27/2026

🌟 Therapist Spotlight: Ashley Henry, LPC 🌟

Ashley supports children, teens, adults, couples, and families through challenges such as anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, relationship concerns, and major life transitions. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and the Gottman Method to create a personalized and compassionate therapeutic experience.

She has a strong passion for working with women during pregnancy and postpartum, and she brings extensive experience supporting children and adolescents through play‑based, developmentally informed approaches. She also helps individuals and couples navigate communication issues, self‑esteem challenges, and the emotional impact of divorce or life changes.

Ready to get scheduled with Ashley? Reach out to our office today to get started 📩

02/24/2026

What is narrative therapy?

Narrative therapy posits that individuals are primarily meaning-making beings who are the linguistic authors of their lives and who can reauthor their life stories by learning to deconstruct them, by seeing patterns in their ways of interpreting life events or problems, and by reconstruing problems or events in a more helpful light.

Narrative therapy also acknowledges context such as the influence of culture, societal norms, and relationships on personal narratives. It's commonly used to treat anxiety, depression, grief and trauma.

What does narrative therapy look like in counseling?

Your counselor may help you to externalize your problems in order to shift the narrative from a problem saturated one to a strength and solution oriented one.

Further, your counselor may help you explore narratives you inherited from your family, community or society at large and help you to take ownership of your narratives rather than passively accepting them.

02/21/2026

Finding the right balance between helping your teen with schoolwork and encouraging independence can be tricky for any parent.

On one hand, you want to support them. On the other, too much help can accidentally send the message: “You can’t do this without me.”

A healthy balance looks like this:

✔️ Be a guide, not the doer
Help them break big assignments into steps, plan ahead, and think through problems — but let them do the actual work.

✔️ Support skills, not just grades
Executive functioning, time management, and problem-solving are life skills. A lower grade while learning responsibility can be more valuable than a perfect grade earned with heavy parent involvement.

✔️ Offer help, don’t force it
Try: “I’m here if you want to talk it through.”
This keeps ownership with them.

✔️ Notice effort more than outcome
Praise persistence, studying, and organization — not just A’s.

✔️ Watch for real struggles
If your teen is consistently overwhelmed, anxious, or avoiding schoolwork, it may signal stress, learning challenges, or emotional concerns. That’s when more support (and sometimes professional help) can make a difference.

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s raising a capable, confident young adult who believes, “I can handle this.”

If your teen is struggling with school stress, motivation, or anxiety, we’re here to help. Reach out anytime to learn more about support for teens and families. 💛

02/19/2026

Anger gets a bad reputation — but it’s not always the enemy. In fact, anger can be useful when you learn how to listen to it.

Anger is often a signal. It can tell you:
• A boundary was crossed
• Something feels unfair
• A need isn’t being met
• A change needs to happen

Instead of pushing anger away, try asking:
What is this anger trying to tell me? 🤔

Sometimes anger is there to motivate action — to problem-solve, make a plan, or remove yourself from a frustrating situation.

Sometimes it helps you be assertive and speak up for yourself.

But when anger is in overdrive and no longer helpful, it may be time to slow down and regulate:
• Journal your thoughts
• Take a walk or move your body
• Build more white space into your schedule
• Take quiet time to reset

Anger isn’t the problem, unmanaged anger is. Learning to work with your emotions instead of against them can be a powerful skill.

If you or your child struggle with anger or emotional regulation, support can make a big difference. Reach out if you’d like to talk more about how we can help.

02/17/2026

Not every difficult childhood involves outright abuse. Many people grow up in homes where their basic needs were met, yet something fundamental was missing.

If your parents struggled to handle emotions, set consistent boundaries, or truly see you as a separate person with your own needs, you may have experienced emotionally immature parenting.

This pattern often goes unrecognized because it’s subtle. Read more in our latest blog about understanding emotionally immature parenting can help you make sense of lingering struggles in adulthood and break cycles that might otherwise continue.

Not every difficult childhood involves outright abuse. Many people grow up in homes where their basic needs were met, yet something fundamental was missing.