By: Diane Spell, MSW, LCSW As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, I find myself reflecting on how deeply my identity is shapedby the strength and sacrifices of my family. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for mymother’s courage to leave everything behind and start anew in a foreign country. Being the firstin […]

By: Diane Spell, LCSW We were diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. I say “we” because the diagnosis impacted not just our amazing little one, Sam, but us as parents as well. At first, it was scary and lonely. We found ourselves grappling with sadness and confusion, wondering why this happened. Over time, […]

By: Joseph Lowe (he/him), LCMHCA   Introduction   Are you a cautiously optimistic clinical counseling graduate student in North Carolina trying to figure out the licensure process? You’ve come to the right place. The anxiety around submitting licensure application materials to the counseling board and overcoming the fear of making a mistake is a palpable […]

By: Jharnell Cherry (she/her), MSW, LCSW Have you ever asked your child how their day was at school and they said, “Good?” Have you ever asked them what their favorite part of the day was and they responded, “Recess?” When you finally ask them about what they learned today and they respond with silence or […]

By Joseph Lowe When you hear the word “journaling”, what first comes to mind? For the longest time, The Diary of A Young Girl, the journal depicting two years of Anne Frank’s life hiding from the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, always came to my mind. The book exemplified the sentiment of many Jewish individuals […]

By: Adeeba Issa, LCMHCS In everyday conversation, the terms “nice” and “kind” are often used interchangeably, but they convey subtly different qualities, especially within the therapeutic setting. Understanding this distinction can help us cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships and interactions, while holding space for both boundaries and empathy.     Nice: Surface-Level Politeness Being nice generally […]

By: Joseph Lowe How long did it take you to find your therapist? Did you call up a local agency? Or did you walk into your college counseling office? Did you exhaust your researching skills or did you look for someone who looks like the right fit from their site bio page? Did you trust […]

Rethinking Men and Therapy by Joseph Lowe For as long as I’ve been aware of clinical counseling services, I’ve heard the same mantra regarding men and counseling: “Men don’t seek out counseling as much as they should be.” By looking at the numbers, the concerned masses are not too far off base. Women are much […]

Me, Myself and Her By Stephanie Levin (she/her), LCMHCA, NCC If I tell you that I recently went through a breakup, I feel insecure, pitiful. If I’m being particularly unkind, I may call myself unlovable. I might even create a narrative about all the relationships I’ve had that have ended and turn it into a […]

In honor of each team member’s work anniversary, Three Oaks donates $100 to an organization of their choice. Below is a list of organizations our team has proudly supported: 2 Paws Up The Afiya Center Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) American Association of Suicidology American Foundation for Suicide Prevention American Red Cross Angelman Syndrome Foundation […]