Ascent Counseling & Wellness

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Carlisle, PA
Ascent Counseling & Wellness

At Ascent Counseling & Wellness we provide compassionate, holistic counseling that empowers you to heal, grow, and thrive.

We believe in meeting clients where they are, and building trust through authentic connection.

08/21/2026

We chant her name when she walks in... Dana, Dana, Dana!

She used to be "behind the phone" but now you might run into her at her desk in our new office suite. Dana is our Practice Manager and she has been with us for almost two years now. She has a special way of making everyone laugh, even when things might feel difficult.

A little bit more about Dana:

Dana has spent over 10 years in the customer service environment and 5 years in the medical field, serving as a Medical Assistant. She brings a heart for helping others and is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive experience for every person she interacts with.

As Office Manager, Dana enjoys connecting with clients, helping them navigate the counseling process, and making sure each individual is matched with a counselor who can best support their unique needs and journey.

Outside of work, Dana enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 daughters. In her free time, she can be found camping, plant shopping, or joining in on a fun gym class. She loves building relationships, serving others, and being part of a team that helps people take meaningful steps toward growth and wellness.

08/20/2026

**A back-to-school reset doesn't have to mean a color-coded family command center.** 😂

Sometimes it can be much simpler.

Try a **5-part reset**:

🌙 **Sleep:** Start adjusting bedtime and wake-up times before the first day.

🥗 **Nourishment:** Get back into regular meals and snacks that support energy and focus.

🚶 **Movement:** Build movement into the day, even if it's just a walk around the neighborhood.

📵 **Decompression:** Create some screen-free time to let the brain settle.

💜 **Connection:** Make space to check in with each other. Not just “How was school?” but “How are you really doing?”

Mental wellness isn't one giant thing we do once.

It's built through the little things we practice consistently.

**Small shifts can create a very different season.** 🌿

08/19/2026

Meet Chris! Chris has been with us at Ascent since March of 2025, and has many more years of experience in the counseling field. To know him is to laugh with and feel supported by him!

More about Chris:

Chris brings over 20 years of experience working with individuals ages 6-65+. With expertise in trauma-informed care and a person-centered approach, Chris creates a safe space for clients to explore their challenges and build resilience.

Chris is conversational in American Sign Language (ASL) and committed to providing accessible, inclusive counseling services for all members of our community. This dedication to accessibility reflects Chris's broader commitment to meeting clients where they are and honoring their unique experiences.

Drawing from a rich background in clinical social work, Chris helps clients navigate complex life challenges with compassion, practical strategies, and unwavering support.

If you'd like to book an appointment with Chris, please reach out to Dana at:

(717) 744-9933
[email protected]

08/18/2026

**Back-to-school checklist 📚**

☐ Backpack
☐ School supplies
☐ New shoes
☐ Lunchbox
☐ Calendar full of activities
☐ A little extra patience
☐ A plan for managing stress
☐ Permission to not be perfect

As we prepare our kids for a new school year, let’s remember that their emotional wellbeing deserves a spot on the checklist, too.

Talk about what they’re excited about.
Talk about what they’re nervous about.
Help them name their feelings without immediately trying to fix them.
Create routines that support sleep, connection, movement, and downtime.
And remind them that struggling doesn't mean they're failing.

**Sometimes the most important thing we can pack into a child’s backpack is the knowledge that they don't have to navigate everything alone.** 💜

08/17/2026

Another fabulous team member at Ascent, meet Courtney Kramer!

Courtney has been working with us for a year, and we are totally blessed to have her on our team!

A little bit about Courtney:

Tough emotions and daily conflicts can feel heavy. Courtney strives to meet her clients where they are to make the load a little lighter. Whether it's past trauma, stress, anxiety, grief, depression, or relational conflict, she provides a safe space where clients can feel heard and supported with empathy and without judgment.

With 15 years of experience working in the mental health field, Courtney uses a person-centered approach, believing that clients play the most important role in their own healing and self-acceptance. Together, you can find solutions and explore the difficult emotions that feel so overwhelming. Courtney recently completed trainign to be recognized as a Certified Grief Informed Professional.

Courtney loves spending time with her husband and two children. They enjoy hiking, working out, coffee, and a good book. She's ready to connect and unpack together!

If you'd like to book an appointment with Courtney, please reach out to Dana at:
(717) 744-9933
[email protected]

08/14/2026

Another new face with Ascent, meet Ashley Broody!

Ashley started working with us in June, and her schedule has been filling up! 💜

A little bit about Ashley:

Ashley acknowledges the unique and diverse perspectives of her clients and feels it is essential for everybody to feel safe, heard, and validated. She is passionate about collaboratively working with clients to achieve sustainable lifestyle changes through a holistic and person-centered approach.

Over the past 7 years, Ashley has worked closely with children, adolescents, and parents as a middle and high school counselor. She also has prior experience in family based services where she provided intensive in-home interventions to promote positive family functioning.

With a strong foundation in school counseling, Ashley is shifting her focus to outpatient counseling to provide more in-depth, individualized approaches to the specific needs of clients across the lifespan. Ashley is family-oriented and loves spending quality time with her husband, daughter, and soft coated wheaten terrier. She also enjoys the outdoors, exercising, reading, and trips to the beach.

If you'd like to book an appointment with Ashley, please reach out to Dana at:

(717) 744-9933
[email protected]

08/13/2026

**Summer → Fall can be a bigger transition than we realize.**

For months, the pace may have been slower.

Later mornings.
Longer evenings.
Vacation.
Less structure.
More spontaneity.

Then suddenly...

⏰ Alarm clocks
📚 School schedules
🏃 Activities
💻 Work demands
📅 Full calendars

Your brain and body may need some time to adjust.

Instead of expecting yourself to immediately operate at 100%, try creating a **transition period**.

🌿 Re-establish routines gradually.
🌿 Prioritize sleep.
🌿 Get outside and move your body.
🌿 Build in moments of quiet.
🌿 Limit the “go, go, go.”
🌿 Notice what your body is telling you.

Your nervous system doesn't care that the calendar says it's time to get back to normal.

**Give yourself permission to ease into the next season.**

08/12/2026

We'd like to take some time in August to introduce/reintroduce our amazing Ascent Staff! 🪷

A new face at Ascent, but not new to the world of counseling- We welcome Kristine Owen to our team!

A little bit about Kristine:

Kristine understands that each unique experience a person has throughout their life informs individual perspective. She believes the ability to understand clients from their personal perspective is the key to being truly helpful in a therapeutic setting. Utilizing her eclectic set of skills, Kristine focuses on helping individuals and couples understand how mental health challenges, in conjunction with personal perspective and experiences, can impact daily lives and relationships.

Kristine is devoted to creating a space of understanding, comfort, and safety where clients can express themselves with vulnerability and authenticity. In her 6 years of experience she has counseled clients from all walks of life and cultivated skills in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Internal Family Systems, and Gottman Therapy. She works with clients ages 16–50 in individual counseling, couples counseling, pre-marital counseling, and same-sex marriages.

In her personal time, Kristine loves traveling, hiking, snuggling with a dog and a good book, cooking for family and friends, and creating at the pottery wheel. She shares her life and adventures with her husband, two grown daughters, and three beloved dogs.

If you'd like to book an appointment with Kristine, please reach out to Dana at:

(717) 744-9933
[email protected]

08/11/2026

**Before you rush into what’s next, pause and notice what this summer gave you.**

Maybe it gave you rest.

Maybe it gave you adventure.

Maybe it gave you some really good memories.

Maybe it was messy, difficult, or nothing like you expected.

Maybe you survived something no one else knows about.

Before August disappears and the next season begins, take a few minutes to reflect:

✨ What brought me joy?
✨ What helped me feel grounded?
✨ What drained me?
✨ What did I learn about myself?
✨ What do I want more of?
✨ What am I ready to let go of?

You don't have to make a five-year plan.

Sometimes growth begins with simply paying attention.

**What are you taking with you from this summer?** 🌻

08/10/2026

We are so excited!! 🎉

You guys named Ascent Counseling & Wellness (formerly Mountaintop Counseling- Carlisle Office) the 2026 Macaroni KID Village Award Winner for Mental & Behavioral Health Services in the Carlisle/West Shore Region!

This award means so much because it came from the families we serve. Thank you to everyone who nominated us, voted for us, supported us and trusted us to be part of your village. We are incredibly honored to be recognized among the businesses, organizations and people helping make our community such a wonderful place for local families. 💜

Address

401 East Louther Street
Carlisle, PA
17013

Website

http://www.ascentcounseling.net/

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