ES Counseling

02/06/2026

♡ Describe how AI will not replace a therapeutic relationship...

AI can offer tools, information, and support — but it cannot replace a therapeutic relationship.

Healing doesn’t happen through algorithms.
It happens through connection.
Through being seen.
Through feeling safe.
Through human presence.
Through trust.
Through emotional attunement.

The therapeutic relationship isn’t a feature of therapy —
it is the therapy.

AI can assist.
AI can support.
AI can enhance care.
But it cannot replace:
• Human connection
• Emotional presence
• Nervous system co-regulation
• Relational repair
• Authentic empathy
• Meaning-making
• Attachment healing

AI can replicate language.
It cannot replicate relationship.

And healing is relational. 🤍



P.s ChatGPT created both the image and the text!

02/04/2026

AI cannot replace a therapeutic relationship that focuses on unconditional positive regard, specialized training and eye contact. Leave the fun stuff for Chap GPT and make an appointment for therapy with a provider who doesn't just answer questions. Life is not black and white.

We have availability for new clients! 904.375.1243 or visit our website: www.escounseling.com

01/29/2026

Call the office at (904)375-1243 or email Kate at kate@escounseling.com to reserve your spot!

01/19/2026

Seeking affordable counseling with provider availability?

Kate Howard, a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is currently accepting new clients and offers next-day scheduling.

 Session Details
•Available Monday through Thursday
•Many openings between 9 am and 3 pm
•50-minute counseling sessions
•$50 per session
•Available in-person or virtually for Florida residents!

Kate provides a supportive, empathetic, and patient space for individuals seeking meaningful and affordable care.

If you’re ready to take the next step, please contact ES Counseling at 904-375-1243 or email kate@escounseling.com to schedule your appointment.

Affordable support is available—you don’t have to do this alone.

10/22/2025

Edna Schaefer, LMHC is now accepting new Florida clients, telehealth and in-person in Orange Park through the Octave platform. Current clients who will be transitioning to this system have been sent emails. Prospective clients who plan to use insurance can follow this link below.

We are in-office Monday to Thursday until 6pm.

Book your online therapy appointment with Edna Schaefer. ADHD, Adoption/Foster Care, Anxiety, Burnout, Caregiver Burnout, Couples Therapy, Depression, Grief, Individual Therapy, Life Transitions, OCD, Panic, Phobias, Pregnancy/Peripartum, Relationship Concerns, Sleep, Stress, Women's Issues, Workpla...

10/10/2025

Abundance in color can increase joy!

07/21/2025

07/21/2025

Sleep is the backbone of mental health and shifting a sleep schedule now can add to this year's school success.

8+ hours is necessary for optimal brain function, so plan ahead.

07/17/2025

At the end of the high school years, parents may say "slow down time!" Where did it all go and so fast?

Unfortunately, the time we have before kids launch is limited at that point and there are so many priorities that it is hard to keep track. It is easy to get lost in the school shuffle. With college applications at an all-time high in 2025 complete with expectations for higher test scores and GPAs and college acceptance rates decreasing, the high school student has pressures to excel and stand out when it feels like just maintaining is hardwork. The social and emotional work required is tough. The last two years of high school can speed by and impact parents' and students' mental health.

If you or your student struggles with the anxiety or overwhelm that can easily accompany the college prep process, seeking mental health counseling as part of the process can help.

At ES Counseling, we have helped countless students and families in these last precious, important years of grade school and have stayed with quite a few as they transition to the more-independent college life. With mental health intact and skills in their pockets, students can conquer inevitable challenges and make better choices especially when criteria for success shifts to include automony.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Give us a call to schedule a consult or a session. We have appointments as soon as next week in-person or virtually throughout Florida. 904-375-1243

07/07/2025

If you are a parent of an athlete, Mental Toughness is a great program for summer conditioning. Tommy at Beaches Emotional Wellness can help your athlete fine tune and lock in.

Mental toughness for athletes is often talked about. It is the "X" factor that separates the good from the great. Yet many athletes never receive formal training in this area. Mental toughness is just like the physical aspects of performance. It takes dedication and practice to strengthen and maintain a mental edge. I help athletes develop and maintain an impenetrably strong mindset through an 8-week program designed for athletes to build focus, confidence, and resilience using proven sports psychology tools. Ideal for teens, young adults, and competitive athletes ready to gain a mental edge

05/09/2025

This week, 17 years ago, I took a leap into private practice. It was an opportunity that would allow me to provide counseling and supervision independently, and to continually learn and grow in my field in a way that I could schedule my time and participate in my childrens' lives. I wanted to be a practice that not only counseled for mental health, but supported each other and lived and worked in a manner that showed we valued our own mental health, so we could help others.

As I reflect over the years, I feel honored and blessed to have worked with other passionate mental health professionals and over 2000 clients. Each person has had an impact on me, and I hope ES Counseling has been therapeutic and healing and has allowed them to grow! My initial goal of walking with people through life's transitions continues to be present in my clinical and supervisory work, and I feel truly blessed, honored, and inspired.

By the numbers (since 2008)

26 Masters-level students and Registered Interns for the State of Florida

13 second-career interns

10 years this month in our Town of Orange Park office

The site for 8 different university practicum and internships for Masters-level students (most multiple times)

5 licensed contract Therapists

4 office location moves

4 interns who are military veterans

4 versions/revisions of the DIagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

3 interns who are military spouses

2 Marriage and Family Therapy interns

1 ABA therapist

1 APRN psychiatric nurse intern

1 pandemic

1 shutdown

1 rework of the practice incorporating telehealth

Thank you to all who have been integral in the success of this practice!

05/02/2025

A big congratulations to the 2025 Spring graduates of St. Johns River State College!

The once junior college has grown into a big state college, and this is the first time the college required not one, but two ceremonies to honor their graduates.

We love a good growth and success story! May the graduates continue to chase success and grow exponentially!