Counseling Services

Kesler

It has taken me a month or more to start the process of trying to conjure the correct words needed to reflect how outstanding Acadamy Counseling and Mike & Arica are.

I want to preface this by saying that I did not believe in therapy or counseling. I thought it was for the weak-willed. I called Acadamy at a time of true turmoil and thank GOD Arica answered the phone. She immediately put me at ease about my decision to face my own shortcomings and misconceptions about counseling.

Throughout my first 3 sessions, I could tell that I was wrong about the stigma in our culture behind therapy my whole life, and it’s something that I have been not needing, but missing all this time. Arica has a fantastic way of taking the way you think and flipping it on its back and making you realize that it’s ok to need help and that the way you have been perceiving life was not quite what it should be. As a 30 year old male, that was my biggest fear, admitting I needed help and she was able to call it out in me right away.

To Arica directly, you have humbled me. You have taught me life lessons in the short amount of time that we have known each other. You have taught me a new sense of self love and realization that I did not know existed. I truly thank god for putting you in my life everyday. I do not know where I would be if I hadn’t made the choice to call and make an appointment and for that, you have my utmost love and gratitude.

I would ABSOLUTELY 1000% recommend Acadamy Counseling to anyone who has been in therapy before, needs a tune up, or is new to counseling in general. You will walk in and feel like an immediate priority and both Mike and Arica are two of the nicest, most genuine and non-judgmental people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Thank you both for everything you have done and I know will continue to do.

Ken

I didn’t believe in counseling.  I didn’t believe that talking about problems, especially with a stranger, could solve anything.  I had tried it three times. Once during my first marriage, once because it was mandated by the divorce court, and once when my second wife and I were trying to blend 7 kids into one family.  It didn’t help in any of those times.

But I got our adult kids upset with me, which upset my wife, so I called Arica.  She helped me see my part in it and helped me work towards a solution.  But then I got a cancer diagnosis and that really sent my world spinning. Physically, emotionally and spiritually.   Arica helped me stay positive when things might have gotten very dark.  And together we went on an amazing spiritual journey.  I had been a Christian all my life (I’m 71) but I was religious.  I followed the rules, did the right things, but I was judgmental, and had lots of expectations of others.  She helped me see what being in a relationship with Jesus was like.  How to love him and love others.  It has changed my relationship not only with Jesus but with my wife, my kids, and with the world.

So if you have a problem, or just want someone to talk to, call her.  You might be as amazed as I was about how much it can improve your life.

Amanda

Josh

I have been through over a dozen counselors in my time and Arica is truly amazing at what she does! It’s hard to find one that truly cares about your issues and gives great advice to resolve issues in your life! Very easy going and forward with thoughts and ideas. Truly a blessing to have met her for myself and daughter 👍

Steven

When I first started with Arica, it seemed as if she actually cared about the process, this was a first for me. She didn’t make me feel like a patient. I liked how she wanted to ask tough questions and how she wanted to go deep but was waiting for my reaction. She asked something I’ve told many counselors to do: pick apart my life childhood, yet every counselor I’ve gone to stays away from that. I liked that she said, “I’m not the counselor you come to once a week for three years, because if that’s the case, then I’m not doing my job.” I brought up a couple of hard-core subjects wanting to see her reaction: you can almost always spot a fake ‘believer’ miles away, but she didn’t flinch. I am glad I came here.

Kyle

What started as a good friend recommending I go to counseling because of a divorce has evolved to a self improvement journey and becoming happier and more fulfilled as a whole in my personal life.

I have gone to five sessions now with Arica and look forward to many more. I cannot recommend her enough. She has an innate ability to listen, ask guiding questions and help you get down to the root cause of why you feel or act the way you do. She has helped me build out a tool kit to solve my problems, reprogram my mindset and help me to see things the way they actually are. I have never once felt judged. She is very understanding and personal and makes it very easy to open up about what you are facing.

If you are truly looking, not only for a sounding board, but someone who will hold you accountable to do the hard work to improve yourself, your relationships and your mental/emotional wellbeing she is the person you should go to. She has given me many thought provoking and tough “assignments” to look inward at myself, to forgive myself and others and to really make positive changes and improvements.

It took me 31 years to admit to myself that I could use help in reframing how I think and my only regret is that I did not find Arica sooner.

Arica has helped me learn how to love myself, build my individual and professional self confidence and has helped me turn this divorce into a new beginning for me and my life moving forward and I could not be more grateful to be working with her.