Aaron Mitchell

Aloha e, Aaron Mitchell has been a licensed mental health counselor for over a decade. He approaches therapy differently in that he frames it to your culture/values, faith or spirituality. This way, therapy makes sense and it doesn't feel like someone is trying to change all things that make you wonderful. I utilize many therapeutic approaches from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Solution Focused Therapy; whatever works best for you. I avoid rehashing traumas. If this is your concern, I’ve got you covered. If you’re concerned about saving face, there really isn’t much need to go into too much of the details. If you have the tools, you know what to do. I don’t judge or search for blame, as this solves nothing. Instead, we focus on what is working and how to build on this. I like to make therapy fun by integrating approaches like Art or Dream Therapy.

My approach

My approach is commonly known as Cultural Psychology. I have over a decade of experience working across cultures with a focus, but not limited to trauma, depression, anxiety, racism, and healing from abuse. I have worked with numerous cultures from Indigenous cultures to cultures from nearly every continent. I focus on empowerment, teaching my clients tools to address their life issues now and in the future. Our best teacher and healer is our own life experience. Hidden in our life experiences are the things we have been looking for, we’ve just been missing them. Half of our healing often involves accepting the gifts that are already there in our life. I too, have been through trauma and know what it’s like to be working through difficulties like anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, doubt, trauma, grief, suicide... I know what many of these things are like while trying to live life. Healing is possible. I know because I’ve done it. I will be your advocate and healing companion, and I will be that bridge over the gap for you. The only thing between you and healing is yourself.

My focus

"I love a good challenge so, I don't shy away from the most difficult of situations." Aaron has worked with clients who were treated for 50 years for stubborn symptoms and they didn't start making real progress until entering treatment with Aaron. Aaron has primarily worked a lot with PTSD (trauma) whether it be from abuse as a child or the terrors of combat. Aaron has worked extensively with depression, anxiety, gender dysphoria, and dissociative disorders. With over a decade of experience, there really isn't a disorder he hasn't treated, from schizophrenia to the rare trichotillomania. That being said, Aaron has also worked extensively with less severe issues like adjustments to life changes (divorce, retirement, grief, graduation, new parent), couple's problems, family disputes, and cultural adjustments.

My communication style

Aaron's therapy is open and accepting without judgment. It will feel like a long trusted friend has come to your side to give you some tools to work through what you've been dealing with. Typically folks walk away feeling empowered and ready to take on life.

My journey to mental healthcare

I never liked what therapy stood for when I was a teen. It appeared to paint folks into boxes and limit their potential. It wasn't until I went through some trauma trying to rescue some friends from drowning in a frigid river one wintery evening, that I decided I needed to talk to someone. I found myself talking with the police department's psychologist who specialized in trauma like this. However, I quickly ran into a wall during the first session. He didn't understand my culture and all the values that I had around healing. This was pre-tele-health so, I had to move over 500 miles back home to talk to my kapuna (elders). Disappointed with the shortcomings in psychology, I went to school to study Cultural Psychology. Now I provide culturally sensitive and competent therapy that makes sense regardless of your culture or faith/spirituality. Unfortunately, my skill set is rare but I am hopeful more and more therapists will learn the importance of culture in therapy. Therapy should feel like we are opening doors to new possibilities and maximizing our potential. We should feel like we are finally becoming who we were always meant to be or wanted to be.

My goals for you

Setting goals isn't always appropriate for everyone. Some cultures and faiths are deeply anchored in the present moment. For some, goals will be just another form of disappointment. However, goals can be very helpful if they give someone a destination to work towards. So, goals are approached based on your preferences.

My first session with you

This is a chance to get to know one another. Folks share their struggles and I usually share stories to relate so we can start looking at things differently. Most folks feel better with the first session with a newfound optimism about their future. I usually teach folks a coping tool they can start using right away.