Awaken Counseling

09/02/2026

We loved connecting with Premier Children’s Therapy! 💛

Our therapist, Megan Heller Foley, LCSW, recently had a wonderful visit with Jess, a pediatric occupational therapist at Premier Children’s Therapy. Their facility is incredible and offers such a wide range of resources and services for children and families.

We especially enjoyed learning more about their work with feeding concerns and how they approach these challenges from both speech and occupational therapy perspectives.

We’re always grateful for opportunities to connect with other professionals in our community and learn more about the resources available to the children and families we serve. Thank you, Jess and Premier Children’s Therapy, for having us!

08/30/2026

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a useful therapeutic approach because it teaches practical skills you can use in your everyday life. Rather than staying abstract, it gives you a real toolbox for coping with the world around you.

At first, these skills might feel like a formula you’re following step by step, but over time, they become deeply ingrained into how you naturally respond to life’s challenges.

Read more in our latest blog about DBT and the skills you'll learn in sessions.

https://awakencounseling.com/inside-dbt-therapy-and-the-skills-youll-learn/

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a useful therapeutic approach because it teaches practical skills you can use in your everyday life. Rather than staying abstract, it gives you a real toolbox for coping with the world around you.

08/28/2026

Back-to-school season can be a big adjustment for kids—and having consistent routines can make the transition feel much easier.
Routines help children:

🍎 Know what to expect - Predictability can reduce anxiety and help kids feel more secure.

🍎 Build independence - Repeating everyday routines helps children learn to complete tasks with less adult support.

🍎 Manage emotions and transitions - Knowing what comes next can make mornings, after-school time, and bedtime feel less stressful.

🍎 Strengthen executive functioning skills - Routines naturally build planning, organization, and time-management skills.

🍎 Feel more confident - When children know their routine and what’s expected of them, they can feel more capable and prepared for their day.

It doesn’t have to be perfect! A few simple, consistent routines around waking up, getting ready, homework, meals, and bedtime can make a big difference in helping children feel ready for a successful school year.

08/27/2026

We had such a great time welcoming Deena Spital, PA-C, and Lindsey Nichols, APRN, from Perimeter Behavioral Health to the Awaken Counseling office! 💚

We’ve been referring clients to their team for psychiatric and medication management services for years, so it was especially nice to spend some time together in person, learn more about their services, and connect as fellow providers.

One of our favorite parts of this work is building relationships with other professionals in our community. Collaboration and coordination of care are so important in supporting our clients and making sure they have access to the resources they need.

We’re so thankful Deena and Lindsey took time out of their busy schedules to visit us. We truly enjoyed having you both and appreciate the work you do in our community!

08/25/2026

August is National Wellness Month 🌿
Wellness is about so much more than physical health. It includes our mental, emotional, social, and overall well-being. This month is a great reminder that making time to care for yourself isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.

For both children and adults, wellness can look like:

▪ Getting enough sleep
▪ Moving your body regularly
▪ Eating nourishing foods
▪ Taking breaks from screens
▪ Spending meaningful time with people you love
▪ Practicing healthy ways to regulate emotions
▪ Creating consistent routines
▪ Making time to rest and recharge

Although wellness habits should be regularly, use National Wellness Month as an opportunity to choose one or two small habits that help you and your family feel healthier, calmer, and more connected.

08/21/2026

Separation anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and it usually shows up somewhere between infancy and the early school years. In your child’s earliest months, you’re their whole world—always close by, always available. But as they grow, life naturally starts asking them to be apart from you: school, work drop-offs, a weekend at grandma’s, or a week at camp.

Learning to tolerate that distance is a real skill, and like any skill, it takes practice and a little discomfort along the way.

Separation anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and it usually shows up somewhere between infancy and the early school years. In your child’s earliest months, you’re their whole world—always close by, always available.

08/20/2026

We love connecting with other trusted professionals in our community! 💚

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Jacqueline O’Connell to Awaken Counseling to learn more about the psychological testing services she provides for children and adults—and to share more about the work our therapists do at Awaken.

Part of providing excellent care is knowing when our clients may benefit from additional services and having trusted professionals, we can confidently refer them to. Building relationships with other providers in our community helps us connect clients and families with the right resources when they need them.

Thank you, Dr. O’Connell, for taking the time to visit our office and connect with our team! We loved having you!

08/18/2026

Do you ever feel stressed, caught in a cycle of overthinking, unable to stay present, or struggle to fall asleep because your mind won't slow down?

Meditation may help.

One of the biggest misconceptions about meditation is that you're supposed to "clear your mind." In reality, meditation isn't about eliminating thoughts—it's about noticing them without getting carried away by them.

Instead of judging your emotions or trying to force them away, meditation teaches you to observe your thoughts with curiosity and compassion.

With regular practice, meditation can help:
▪ Reduce stress
▪ Improve focus and attention
▪ Support better sleep
▪ Increase emotional awareness
▪ Bring greater mental clarity
▪ Build self-compassion

You don't need a perfectly quiet mind to meditate, you just need a willingness to notice what's happening, one moment at a time.

If stress or anxiety feels overwhelming, you don't have to navigate it alone. Therapy can help you develop practical tools to find greater peace and balance.

08/16/2026

Shame and Guilt Are Not the Same

Many people use the words guilt and shame interchangeably, but they have very different effects on our mental health.

Guilt says: "I did something bad."
It focuses on our behavior and can motivate us to take responsibility, apologize, and make things right.

Shame says: "I am bad."
It attacks our identity, convincing us that we are fundamentally flawed or unworthy of love, acceptance, or belonging.

The difference is powerful:
Guilt focuses on what we did.

Shame focuses on who we believe we are.

When we learn to separate our actions from our identity, we create room for self-compassion, accountability, healing, and lasting growth.

08/13/2026

Join us for our Parent Book Group at Awaken Counseling as we dive into Untangled by Dr. Lisa Damour—a must-read for parents navigating the teenage years.

This supportive, therapist-led group is designed to help you better understand your teen daughter’s emotional world, build stronger communication, and gain practical tools for guiding her through today’s challenges.

📅 Starts August 25 | Limited spots available
📍 In-person meetings at our office in Marietta, GA

Message us or email to reserve your spot—we’d love to have you there! 📚