Renewal Life Counseling, LLC

08/06/2026

Summer recap.

My clinical supervisees have stayed busy this season, showing up at our Mental Wellness Symposium and pouring into Clinical Immersion, where we explored somatic integration and learned to use the body as the biggest tool in our clinical work, practicing with authenticity and bringing our whole, grounded selves into the room.

But summer also gave us permission to slow down. To rest. To pour back into ourselves for a change, and receive some of the care we so freely give to everyone else.

Now we are rested, and it is time to hop back in.

I am so excited to return to traditional supervision and walk alongside these clinicians one on one, with several completing their 100 hours this year.

Pouring into future clinicians, leaders, and entrepreneurs never gets old.

07/18/2026

If you’re not familiar with Mrs. Angela Gaines, who I affectionately call Mrs. Ang, you’re missing out.

Her presence is electric. Whether she’s speaking or singing, she has a way of capturing your attention and speaking directly to your heart.

She opened by talking about the importance of tending to and not forgetting the younger version of ourselves. That part of her message really resonated with me because, as a clinician, I often meet adults who appear fully grown on the outside, while younger parts of them are still carrying hurt, fear, rejection, or unmet needs. We don’t outgrow those parts simply because we get older. We heal them by acknowledging them and giving them the care they deserved all along.

While that was my personal takeaway, Mrs. Ang’s overall message was about one thing: Power Up. Her encouragement was to recognize your potential, embrace your strength, and become the best version of yourself.

Thank you, Mrs. Ang, for sharing your wisdom with all of us today.

07/18/2026

A picture is worth a thousand words. Literally.

One of our expert speakers, Jadarius Evans, LPC-A, introduced our teens to PhotoVision and demonstrated how a single image can tell a story that words sometimes cannot.

PhotoVision is a therapeutic activity that uses photographs or images to encourage reflection, conversation, and emotional awareness. An image can spark memories, uncover feelings, reveal personal strengths, or help someone express experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

In mental health, PhotoVision reminds us that healing doesn't always begin with talking. Sometimes it begins with noticing, reflecting, and finding meaning in what we see.

07/18/2026

Did you know there are different types of worry?

Not all worry is the same.

Practical worry is about a problem you can actually solve.
Example: “I forgot to pay my phone bill.” You can make the payment or set up autopay.

Hypothetical worry is driven by “what ifs.”
Example: “What if I don’t get the job?” or “What if something bad happens?” These thoughts are often focus on situations that haven’t happened and may never happen.

Chronic worry is when your mind seems to always be searching for the next thing to worry about, even when nothing is wrong.
Example: You solve one problem, only to immediately start worrying about something else. Over time, this can leave you feeling mentally and physically exhausted.

The next time you catch yourself worrying, ask yourself:
Is this a problem I can solve today, a “what if,” or a pattern I’ve gotten stuck in?

Sometimes naming the type of worry is the first step toward managing it.

07/18/2026

The 3rd Annual Mental Wellness Symposium is officially underway!

One lesson has already stood out: mental flexibility is just as important as physical flexibility.

I am a planner by nature, but every event reminds me that something will almost always go differently than expected. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s the ability to adapt without losing your purpose.

Today is a reminder to practice mental flexibility, extend patience to yourself and others, and be willing to pivot when needed. Sometimes our greatest growth happens in the moments we never planned for.

07/16/2026

Mental wellness is not a solo journey. It is something we build together. Join us this Saturday, July 18 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM at The Dream Center in Easley for a morning of real conversation, practical tools, and community connection. Bring a friend. Bring a teen. Bring yourself.

07/16/2026

07/12/2026

Meet Jadarius Evans, NCC, LPCA, leading our Teen session "PhotoVision: How We See Mental Health Around Us."

Photo Guide: The symposium is one week away! Between now and Saturday, July 18, take 1–2 photos that represent what mental health looks like to you: stress, hope, resilience, belonging, loneliness, healing, support, or anything else that reflects your perspective. Please avoid photographing identifiable people without their permission. Bring your photos on your phone or printed out to the symposium, where we'll explore the stories behind them together.

Full PhotoVision Reflection Guide: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:6e612a28-4010-41bf-8241-1ad265115145?x_api_client_id=edge_extension_viewer&x_api_client_location=share

07/10/2026

Meet Kemeako Dillard, LPC/S, LAC, CS, leading our Parent/Adult session "When the Thinking Starts Stinking."