Advice from Our Counselors on Healing, Growth, and Connection
“The ways we cope, the stories we tell ourselves, even the deepest wounds—they don’t have to define us forever. ”
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to reduce the stigma around mental health challenges and promote the importance of caring for one’s emotional well-being. For LifeWorks, the goal of solving youth homelessness is deeply connected; dealing with such challenges can have a very real impact on a young person’s journey to stability.
The LifeWorks Counseling Division provides support for individuals and families who are facing issues such as family conflict, abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, and the stress of everyday life. It is one of the largest providers of affordable mental health counseling in the Central Texas community. Peer support and group/individual counseling create a safe environment, one where barriers to service are reduced. As a result, youth and their families can receive necessary support at an important stage of development in their lives.
In the spirit of the month, we asked providers from the LifeWorks Counseling programs to share their top piece of advice regarding mental health.
“Healing is possible because almost anything that can be learned, can be unlearned. The ways we cope, the stories we tell ourselves, even the deepest wounds—they don't have to define us forever. Therapy helps us untangle old patterns and rewrite what no longer serves us. Every step toward unlearning is a step toward reclaiming our peace.”
- Kiki Avilez, Counselor for Youth & Adult Counseling
“When you struggle with your mental health, things can get better. What I mean by that is that sometimes when things get rough, we may be tempted to believe the lie that says we can't get better, or that we will live with this condition for the rest of our lives. In fact, countless studies in the field of neuroscience attest to neuroplasticity, which is the human brain's ability to grow and change. In so many cases, struggling and fighting the good fight can yield tangible results. Your mental health can improve, and the struggle is not futile. Keep fighting.” -Geoffrey Ralls, Counselor for Youth & Adult Counseling
“I always let my peer support clients know that mental health resources are always available to them. It's better to have them and not need them right now than to need them and not have them in a time of crisis.” - Brittane Coleman, Family Peer Support Specialist
“Growth happens in connection with others, not when we feel isolated. Isolation is powerful and can make the pain that one carries feel so heavy. But with growth-fostering relationships (such as the ones in therapy) where mutual empathy, authenticity, and curiosity are provided, we feel more supported and validated and in return we heal ourselves little by little.”
-Esteban Guerrero-Ortiz, Counselor for Community-Based Counseling
“One piece of advice I often come back to is this: Mental health isn't about feeling good all the time—it's about building the capacity to face what's hard without losing your sense of self. So much of the conversation around mental wellness gets framed around happiness or calmness, but real resilience often means learning how to stay grounded during discomfort, uncertainty, or emotional pain. It’s okay if some days are messy—mental health is about staying connected to yourself through those moments, not avoiding them.”
-Dimitra Vourliotis, Counselor for Youth & Adult Counseling
“It’s okay if some days are messy. Mental health is about staying connected to yourself through those moments, not avoiding them.”
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for free, 24/7 support.