The Therapy House- Whitney Akins, M.A., LPC Associate

09/29/2025

When I talk with new believers, I’m always amazed at how God gives them peace first. They have lived in survival mode on their own before coming to His faith. When they compare walking in a trial as a new believer they typically say that their “old self” would have never had the peace they were carrying in the “new self”.

He delivers us from the chaos of our own heart first then sharpens us for His spiritual work.

I’m so very blessed to witness this transformation in my work. 🩷✝️🥰☮️

09/27/2025

Cognitive Behavioral Therpay. Redirect and retrain our fleshly, broken minds to think of things from above. Being human, we naturally overthink all the negative possibilities or perceived failures.

What if we took those thoughts captive with the help of practice and God’s grace and rerouted the thinking… even a little. What would you be capable of ?

For me, I could be present rather than constantly entertaining the chatter in my mind. I could build better relationships and calm my nervous system.

09/17/2025

✨ What Christian Counseling Teaches Us ✨
Even the “weak” parts of us are not disqualified—they are places where God’s power can rest.
The gift of mercy shines here, reminding us that compassion is the soil where healing grows.
Resting in uncertainty doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means learning to sit with God in the unknown, trusting His presence to guide us.

🙏 Lord, meet me in my weakness, and remind me that I am safe in You.

09/16/2025

✨ What Christian Counseling Teaches Us ✨
Not every thought deserves our agreement.
Therapy teaches us to challenge distorted thinking, and faith reminds us that God’s peace is stronger than fear.
The fruit of the Spirit—gentleness, patience, self-control—become anchors when our minds want to spiral.

🙏 God, renew my mind and quiet my spirit with Your peace.

09/15/2025

✨ What Christian Counseling Teaches Us ✨
When we can’t control outcomes, we still have the freedom to choose meaning in the moment.
Uncertainty doesn’t mean chaos—it can be an invitation to lean into God’s sovereignty and let Him carry what we can’t.
Spiritual gifts like wisdom and faith remind us: even here, our life has purpose. 🌿

🙏 Lord, help me find meaning in my waiting, and trust Your hands when mine are empty.

09/14/2025

✨ What Christian Counseling Teaches Us ✨
The stories we tell ourselves—“I’m too broken, I’ll never change”—can feel final.
But God is the Author and Redeemer, rewriting even the most painful chapters.
Therapy teaches us to notice the lies we’ve carried, and faith reminds us that a truer story is being written: one of hope, healing, and redemption. 📖

🙏 God, help me trust You as the Author of my story, even when I can’t see the ending yet.

09/12/2025

✨ What Christian Counseling Teaches Us ✨
Even the restless parts of us can find peace when they know they are held by God’s steadfast love.
The gift of discernment helps us notice: this is my fear talking, not the truth of who I am.
We can rest in uncertainty, trusting that God’s love doesn’t shift when our circumstances do. 💛

🙏 Lord, anchor me in Your love when my heart feels scattered.

09/10/2025

⭐️UPDATE #2⭐️ Due to an overwhelming response, our spoken reading list for the October 15 Virtual Wave of Light Ceremony is now finalized. We received over 1000 baby names from around the world in just a few days! Because it’s important that we offer a meaningful ceremony within our capacity here at Gathering Hope, names submitted after September 14, 2025, will not be read aloud during the ceremony.

All Heaven babies are precious to us. Starting on 9/15/25, names submitted via the form below will be included in a special remembrance post on our social media on October 15, International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We will continue accepting names for this special social media post until September 30, 2025. Your baby’s name is received with love, and we’re grateful to honor them with you. 🤍

⭐️UPDATE⭐️ Please make sure to add your sweet baby’s name to the form linked below. ONLY names submitted through the form will be read during the virtual ceremony. Thank you for trusting us with your little one’s names and allowing us to walk alongside you on this journey. 💜

🕯️October 15 is International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Join us for our Virtual Wave of Light ceremony on Gathering Hope’s YouTube channel, at 7pm CST on October 15, 2025. When you join us live, you can interact with other viewers in the chat or simply view the ceremony where we’ll honor and remember our cherished babies. Family, friends, care providers, and loved ones are all welcome.

You’re invited to submit a name (or nickname) to be read aloud during the live ceremony. Together, we’ll hear each little one’s name spoken and remembered.

Add your baby’s name here : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdzypjnePck8QjXshpT9AQa_JLzxhS9_sEwbR3zFgKWf-3XQ/viewform

09/06/2025

✨ What Therapy Teaches Us ✨
Not every thought is truth.
Some are just old echoes, replaying fears that no longer fit your life.
You have the power to pause, notice, and choose which thoughts get to stay. 💭
🙏 Lord, renew my mind so I can think with truth and peace.

09/05/2025

✨ What Therapy Teaches Us ✨
We can endure almost anything when we have a “why.” 🌟
Even suffering can shift when we discover meaning inside it—whether it’s to grow, to love, or to trust more deeply.
🙏 Lord, show me the purpose hidden in my pain, and guide me toward hope.

09/04/2025

What can we do to enjoy even the hard seasons?
Here’s some ideas :

📖 Gratitude journal so you can look back to see how strong you really are …

🧘‍♀️ Mindfulness - hold both the hard and the joy

🧠 IFS or ACT therapy approaches teach us to love and accept all parts of who we are ✝️🥰❤️‍🩹

❤️❤️❤️