Hi, all!  My name is Tanya Hamilton, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I began my counseling career in 2007, working with clients who were incarcerated in the state prison system.  That experience solidified a belief that people are more than a sum of their worst choices and are all deserving of respect and compassion.

I moved on to community mental health treatment in 2016, where I served clients who came in seeking help with a host of issues, including but not limited to substance use, depression, anxiety, and trauma. 

I began to understand through the work in both corrections and community settings, how impacted many of my clients had been by childhood experiences, neglect, trauma, or abuse. 

In 2017, I shifted my focus to working with children and adolescents, first as a therapist and then as a clinical supervisor at a residential treatment center.  I continued to focus on trauma-informed treatment practices and understanding the relationship between trauma and mental health. 

Over the last year, I have continued to serve the children in our community as a middle school counselor, where I supported our students as we navigated the challenges of a pandemic together.  

Creating Agape Counseling

All of these experiences lead me to creating Agape, a place where we can work together toward your positive change, outside of some of the limitations of a school, residential, or community mental health setting.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the cornerstone of the work I do.  Basically, if we can think better, we can feel better, and then we can do better.  I also utilize some techniques and interventions from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. I strive to build a supportive and authentic relationship with my clients. I believe that you are the expert in your own life, and my role is to facilitate change and help you become the best version of yourself. 

I understand that beginning therapy is a big step, and I want to make that process as comfortable as possible.  You likely have some difficult things to talk about.  That doesn’t mean that therapy has to be “heavy” every session.  I believe in being able to laugh, relax, and be honest with each other. 

I truly feel my nearly 15 years of experience, along with the huge range of patients and many different areas I have worked in, are what sets me apart. When treating you, I can draw from so many different areas of experience to come up with a plan that works best for you. 

I look forward to working with you and appreciate your time and consideration. 

Kehly is trained to offer a specialized technique of acupuncture known as acudetox, acupuncture detoxification, or five point ear acupuncture protocol. The NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol, is a five point ear acupuncture intervention used for individuals with a history of trauma, substance misuse, abuse, dependence and/or behavioral and mental health history.

The technique consists of five sterilized small needles which are inserted into specific points of each ear and remain there for 30-45 minutes. Individuals who have undergone the NADA protocol have reported to be more clear minded, had reductions in cravings, decreased anxiety, less sleep disturbance and a decreased need for pharmaceuticals.

This technique is a good option for clients who want to explore alternatives to medications for symptom management, in conjunction with their therapy sessions.

My name is Felicia James, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have been working in the mental health field since 2015 as an undergraduate student; working in a residential treatment center for youth in the foster care system. Doing this work became more than just a job- it became a passion for serving high-risk youth.

After obtaining an undergraduate degree, I knew that I wanted to further my education to learn more skills to better serve my target population- high-risk youth in underserved communities. I wanted to learn the skills to help youth overcome challenges they have faced as a result of adversities, trauma, depression, anxiety, substance use, etc.

While pursuing a master’s degree, I worked with an anti-human trafficking agency serving survivors of sex-trafficking while also working in a children’s hospital in an urban community. I obtained a master’s degree in clinical social work in 2018.

Since then, I have had the opportunity of working in community mental health- and found my way back to serving high-risk youth in a residential treatment center. These experiences provided me with the opportunity to work with individuals with a multitude of mental health disorders, behavioral issues, cultures, and backgrounds.

Being a military spouse, I have moved around the country frequently, and find that I am consistently searching for a new sense of community. I joined Agape Counseling Service due to their aligned values of providing the community with judgment-free, trauma-informed care, while offering compassion and empathy to the clients they serve.

I use a variety of therapeutic approaches within my work including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I understand that there is not a one size fits all approach to therapy, as people have individualized needs.

I strive to build a trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients by assisting them with overcoming life’s challenges through empowerment, building confidence and resiliency. I believe assisting clients in building their problem-solving, communication and social skills can vastly improve relationships in several domains of their lives.

I feel that therapy is a safe space to relax and decompress from life’s stressors. It is a space to foster growth and change to create a better quality of life. Attending therapy can be an extremely vulnerable experience. I feel that I have a down-to earth, fun-loving approach with the people I serve.

I would love the opportunity to get to know you and see how we can best work together to meet your individualized needs.