Olive Tree Counseling

11/07/2025

Authenticity is the bridge between who we are and who we are becoming. The more we live in alignment with our true self, the more joy, purpose, and peace we invite into our story. When we stop performing who others want us to be, we finally make room to become who we truly are. — Bianca 💙

11/04/2025

11/03/2025

Then: trauma deep dive.
Now: trauma floaties.
Both get you through—one just keeps your head above water. 💚

10/31/2025

10/30/2025

10/28/2025

✨ Big smiles, big hearts, and even bigger passion for play at the 2025 Annual APT Conference! ✨
Our very own Melissa and Bianca were diving into all things play therapy this month— connecting, learning, and leading with creativity. 🧩🎨
Play isn’t “just” play — it’s a child’s language and a therapist’s bridge to healing. Through play, kids express emotions, build resilience, and make sense of their world. 💛
But Melissa and Bianca’s impact goes far beyond the playroom and their RPT™ credentials:
🌿 Both are state-approved supervisors, shaping the next generation of Arkansas counselors.
🌿 Both lead trainings and workshops, sharing their expertise across the state (and beyond).
🌿 Bianca, through her company Playful Connections Sandtray Institute, teaches innovative play and sand tray approaches.
🌿 Melissa serves on the Arkansas Association for Play Therapy as the board member representing South Arkansas, advocating for the power of play across the state. She was also honored at the event for graduating from APT’s Leadership Academy in 2025.
We’re so proud to see these two representing Olive Tree Counseling and the field of play therapy with curiosity, creativity, and compassion. 💚

10/26/2025

Men feel pain too—grief, pressure, loneliness, fear. They just get told to hide it.
The stigma around men’s mental health keeps too many silent, even when they’re struggling the most. Real strength isn’t pretending you’re fine; it’s reaching out, speaking up, and letting yourself be human.

10/22/2025

Embrace your journey with compassion; every step you take in therapy is a courageous act of self-love and growth - Shannon 🩶

10/20/2025

People usually think about mental health in reference to teens and adults. But mental health can impact children as young as newborn babies. Infant and early childhood mental health is the social and emotional well-being of babies and young children. It involves a child’s developing relationships and explores their environment, all within the context of their family and culture.

A child’s earliest relationship with caregivers and early-life experiences are the most crucial factors shaping their developing brain and mental health for their entire life.

This journey is a team effort! Understanding and nurturing your baby’s emotional world from day one is one of the most powerful things you can do for their future. - Brandi 🩵

10/16/2025

Self-worth isn’t something you earn, it’s something you remember.
So many of us measure our value by what we accomplish, how others see us, or whether we “get it right.” But self-worth isn’t conditional. It’s already there, simply because you are.
Today’s reminder: You don’t have to prove your worth—you just have to honor it.
— Joycelyn 💜