Today, I’m excited to share the insights that I gained from my interview with Mark Loewen, therapist and owner of Launchpad Counseling in Richmond, Virginia. Mark is a husband, father, and licensed professional counselor (LPC) who specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ adults. Mark, talk about the resurgence of homophobia and feelings of being unsafe in a post-Trump world. “The political...[ read more ]

Since April is Counseling Awareness Month, I thought this would be a great time to talk about what counseling is, how it can help, and who provides it. A few terms used to describe counselors include therapist, psychotherapist, or “shrink,” but what is counseling? In essence, counseling or therapy is a therapeutic relationship in which a mental health professional helps...[ read more ]

Today, I’ll share some things that I’ve been doing recently to support my mental health. I’ve been in a very transitional season of life. I was laid off at the end of December and have been going through the hectic process of starting my business. I finished my counseling residency in January and passed my state licensure exam earlier this...[ read more ]

Part 1(Past): A personality shaped by childhood Childhood was characterized by both good and bad. Good: I made honor roll and did well in school. Bad: I was overweight, was often bullied, and struggled with social anxiety for most of my childhood. I believe this background contributed to me becoming introverted, assertive, and hardworking in the present. Since I didn’t...[ read more ]