Aaron Collins, LMFT, LLC

09/19/2026

There’s still time to register—and we still have openings!

Meet your facilitators for our upcoming Couples Workshop: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work:

Aaron Collins, LMFT — Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and owner of Akua Family Therapy. Born and raised on the Big Island, Aaron has over 20 years of Christian ministry experience and has led various workshops and trainings.

Frank de Gracia, LMFT, CSAC — Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with Enjoy Life Hawaii Counseling. Born and raised on Oʻahu, Frank has over 20 years of pastoral ministry experience and has led multiple Gottman couples workshops.

Together, Aaron and Frank will guide couples through an interactive, research-based workshop designed to help you improve communication, strengthen friendship, manage conflict, and build a deeper connection.

November 13–14, 2026 | Kurtistown, Hawaiʻi
Early Bird: $175 per couple through September 30
Use code: EARLYBIRD

Space is limited to 25 couples, so reserve your spot while Early Bird registration is still available.

Register: AkuaFamilyTherapy.net/Couples-Workshop

09/12/2026

Healthy love doesn’t just happen—it takes practice.
That’s exactly what our upcoming couples workshop is about: giving couples practical tools to strengthen friendship, communication, and connection.

Join us November 13–14 in Kurtistown for The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, a Gottman research-based couples workshop.

Space is limited to just 25 couples.

akuafamilytherapy.net/couples-workshop

09/09/2026

A stronger “us” might be closer than you think.

Better communication. Healthier conflict. Deeper friendship. More connection.

Join us for The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, a Gottman research-based couples workshop designed to give couples practical tools for strengthening their relationship.

November 13–14, 2026
Kurtistown, Big Island
Early Bird: $175 per couple through September 30
Space is limited to 25 couples

Learn more and register:
www.akuafamilytherapy.net/couples-workshop

07/29/2026

Back-to-school season is almost here, Hawaiʻi! 🎒🌈

A new school year brings new opportunities—but it can also bring worry, self-doubt, and anxiety. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or your teen is walking into a new grade, your words and support matter more than you may realize.

Here are 5 simple ways to help reduce anxiety and build confidence before the first day of school:

💚 Normalize their feelings.
⭐ Remind them of past successes.
⏰ Re-establish healthy routines early.
🌱 Praise effort over perfection.
❤️ Speak life into them every day.

Children borrow confidence from the adults who believe in them. A few encouraging conversations this week can make a lasting difference.

Try saying:
✨ “I believe in you.”
✨ “You are capable.”
✨ “You don’t have to be perfect.”
✨ “I’m proud of who you’re becoming.”

Save this post to revisit throughout the school year, and share it with another parent who could use a little encouragement.

If your child or teen’s anxiety begins to interfere with school, sleep, friendships, or daily life, know that support is available.

🌿 Akua Family Therapy is currently accepting new clients across Hawaiʻi.

📱 Call or Text: 808-646-3150
🌐 Complete a contact form at AkuaFamilyTherapy.net

ParentingTips ChildAnxiety TeenAnxiety MentalHealth Confidence SelfEsteem BigIsland Hilo Keaau AkuaFamilyTherapy

06/22/2026

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t what happened to you.

It’s that your mind and body still react as if it’s happening today.

You may find yourself:
• Replaying conversations over and over
• Feeling triggered by reminders of past experiences
• Struggling to trust people
• Feeling anxious in situations that should feel safe
• Carrying wounds from relationships, family, church, or past trauma

EMDR therapy helps the brain process unresolved experiences so they no longer have the same emotional intensity.

You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode.

Healing is possible.

Aaron Collins, LMFT
EMDR Therapy
Akua Family Therapy

Now accepting EMDR clients in Hawaiʻi.

If you’ve experienced church hurt, we also invite you to participate in our anonymous survey:
https://forms.gle/h8S5qyn1n4pmmu829

06/19/2026

Aloha friends,

I’m preparing for an upcoming Family Camp session titled:

**“Safe People See: Discussions About Finding Safety in Community and Fellowship.”**

As part of preparing for this discussion, I created a short anonymous survey and would deeply appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced what many refer to as **“church hurt.”**

If you have experienced hurt, rejection, judgment, exclusion, betrayal, spiritual abuse, or feeling unsafe or unwanted within a church or Christian community, I would be grateful if you would consider completing this form.

This includes experiences that may have led you to:

• Temporarily or permanently stop attending church
• Step away from serving or participating in church life
• Leave one church and begin attending another
• Continue attending while carrying wounds from past experiences

The purpose of this survey is to better understand people’s stories, experiences, needs, and perspectives so that we can have meaningful conversations about creating safer, healthier, more compassionate Christian communities.

Your responses are anonymous, and you may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering.

If you are willing to share your experience, please complete the form here:

👇
https://forms.gle/h8S5qyn1n4pmmu829

Thank you for trusting me with your stories and helping contribute to a conversation about healing, belonging, and reconciliation within the body of Christ.

Grace and peace,
Aaron

Aloha friends, I'm preparing a Family Camp presentation titled "Safe People See: Discussions About Finding Safety in Community and Fellowship." As part of this project, I am gathering anonymous feedback from individuals who have experienced hurt, rejection, judgment, exclusion, betrayal, spiritual a...

06/05/2026

06/03/2026

PTSD Awareness Month – June

Trauma can change the way we think, feel, relate, and experience the world. PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is a human response to overwhelming experiences.

Healing is possible.

With support, safety, and effective treatment approaches such as EMDR therapy, many people experience significant relief from symptoms and rediscover hope, connection, and peace.

If you or someone you love is struggling with the effects of trauma, know that help is available and you do not have to walk the journey alone.

05/20/2026

WAITLISTING NEW INSURANCE CLIENTS 🌺

Mahalo Hawaiʻi for your continued trust, patience, and support. Our insurance-based schedule is currently filling quickly and new insurance clients may be placed on a waitlist as we continue growing our team and services.

We are also excited to share that Jonette Fujitake is currently accepting new cash pay clients at Akua Family Therapy. ✨

📰 Hawaii to implement provisional licensing beginning July 1, 2026 — a hopeful step toward increasing access to mental health care across the islands.

At Akua Family Therapy, our mission remains the same:
A safe space to be heard, understood, and healed.

HawaiiCounseling ChristianCounseling CouplesTherapy FamilyTherapy TraumaTherapy MentalHealthMatters JonetteFujitake Waitlist CashPayTherapy HawaiiLMFT HIAMFT HealingHawaii TherapyKineTings