Growing Places Counseling, PLLC

05/21/2026

The ACE Study followed over seventeen thousand people and found something the medical world could no longer ignore. Childhood trauma is not just a mental health issue. It is a public health crisis hiding in plain sight inside every doctor’s office, emergency room, classroom, and prison in the country.

The study measured ten categories of adverse childhood experiences including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. What researchers found was staggering. The more adverse experiences a child had, the higher their risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, addiction, su***de, and early death. Not slightly higher. Dramatically higher.

Two thirds of participants reported at least one adverse childhood experience. One in five reported three or more. These are not rare edge cases. This is the quiet background of millions of ordinary lives.

And yet childhood trauma remains one of the least funded, least discussed, and least addressed areas in mainstream healthcare. People are treated for the symptoms while the root cause goes unnamed, unacknowledged, and unhealed.

Every statistic in that study is a person. Possibly someone you know. Possibly you.

The first step toward changing a crisis is naming it. This community exists because naming it matters. 💙

READ AT PMID: 9635069

05/20/2026

☀️ Summer can be one of the best times to begin therapy. With changing routines, more flexibility, and a chance to reset before fall, it’s a great opportunity to focus on yourself, your relationships, or your child’s emotional well-being.

We currently have 3 providers with openings for:
✨ Children (5+)
✨ Teens
✨ Adults

Our therapists offer support for anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, self-esteem, life transitions, and more using approaches including EMDR, CBT,and DBT.

You don’t have to wait until things feel “bad enough” to start therapy. Summer can be a meaningful season for healing, growth, and connection. 🌿

Reach out today at 870-204-2875 to get matched with a provider that fits your needs. 💚

05/18/2026

This EMS Week, we want to recognize the incredible ground EMS providers who answer the call every single day.

From the first moments on scene your skill, dedication, teamwork, and compassion make a difference in countless lives across our communities.

We simply could not do what we do without the outstanding EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders on the ground beside us.

Thank you for your sacrifice, professionalism, and commitment to serving others — day and night.

Happy EMS Week to all of our ground providers. We appreciate you more than words can say. 🚑🚁

05/12/2026

We've added to our team!! Meet Melanie! She has over 15 years of experience in mental health. She will start seeing clients June 1, 2026. Please give us a call to set up an appointment.

"My ideal clients are children, teens, and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. Many are navigating difficult life transitions such as divorce or family conflict, and may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Clients often come to me when communication has broken down, emotions feel too big to manage, or past experiences continue to impact their daily lives. Children and teens may be acting out, withdrawing, or having difficulty expressing their feelings, while adults may feel emotionally exhausted or disconnected in their relationships.

I help children, teens, and adults move beyond surface-level symptoms to heal the root of anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship struggles. With approaches like EMDR and CBT, I guide clients in processing past experiences, managing emotions, and building healthier patterns in daily life.

For clients who desire it, I also offer faith-based counseling and can integrate spiritual beliefs into the therapeutic process. It’s not always easy to ask for help—especially when things feel heavy or uncertain. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. I’m here to meet you where you are and support you in taking that first step forward."

05/07/2026

05/01/2026

Great news! Growing places counseling is now a network with Triwest! 

We are so excited to be able to offer our veterans support through mental health treatment. If you’re looking to start your journey with one of our providers, give us a call at 870-204-2875.

05/01/2026

05/01/2026

For my fellow withdrawers in your relationships. ♥️

04/29/2026

Andrea has openings! Give us a call 870-204-2876

Andrea brings over 20 years of experience in the medical field and has been a licensed mental health clinician for several of those years. She combines her extensive clinical background and education to offer a comprehensive, integrative perspective on health and well-being. Her therapeutic approach is further enriched by training in CBT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, Grief Counseling, and working with the LGBTQIA+ community. She is currently in the process of obtaining her trauma specialist certification. Andrea works with individuals across all ages and backgrounds, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ clients, those navigating substance use issues, and trauma recovery. She also has extensive experience supporting children, teens, and families through various life challenges.

04/22/2026

Wise words ♥️

Tomorrow marks two years since we lost Dr. Sue Johnson. Sue spent her life proving that love is not a mystery; it is a science, and a skill we can learn, and has forever transformed how we understand the human need for connection. We are grateful! 💙