Daily Inspiration: Meet Areanna Haynes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Areanna Haynes.

Hi Areanna , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If you had told me years ago that I’d be a clinical mental health therapist working with children, teens, adults, and couples — holding sacred space for grief, anxiety, trauma, and healing — I’m not sure I would’ve believed you. My journey didn’t start in a therapy room. It began with music.

I graduated from the illustrious Clark Atlanta University with a bachelor’s degree in Music. I originally set my sights on music therapy — drawn in by the idea that sound and rhythm could heal hearts. But as life unfolded, so did my purpose. I realized I was being called into something deeper. Not just to walk alongside others through pain, but to help them find themselves again — even in the mess, even in the ache.

I went on to earn my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Augusta University. I’m now a clinical mental health therapist under the supervision of Katie Richard, LPC, RPT, CPCS — a mentor who has poured into me with wisdom, grace, and intention. Currently, I work with children, teens, adults, and couples dealing with a wide range of challenges — from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief, to the everyday struggles of being in this world.

Faith has been a guiding force throughout my journey — not just as a belief system, but as an anchor during seasons that tried to unravel me. Life has thrown its share of challenges my way, and there were moments I questioned everything. But it was in those valleys that I realized something powerful: healing doesn’t always look like fixing. Sometimes it looks like being with. Sitting in the dark with someone until their eyes adjust to the light. Reminding people they are not alone — and that they never were.

One of the most transformative parts of becoming a therapist has been learning to let the mask come down — both mine and my clients’. I’m learning that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be seen in our fullness: messy, vulnerable, unsure, and still worthy. As a therapist, I hold space for others to be human — not to perform healing, but to experience it. And I do that by allowing myself to be human too.

Play therapy has especially opened up a whole new world for me — not only as a clinical tool but as a language of the soul for children who don’t yet have the words. It’s taught me how deeply connected we are to our inner child, and how, no matter our age, we all crave safety, expression, and the freedom to be ourselves. It’s more than toys in a room. It’s about creating a space where children — and adults too — can explore, process, and heal in the most organic way possible.

I don’t take lightly the honor it is to witness someone’s story. To sit with a child learning how to name their feelings. To guide a teen trying to make sense of their world. To support an adult unraveling years of silent pain. To walk with couples rediscovering connection after heartbreak. I consider it holy work — and my faith gives me the strength to continue showing up, heart open.

Today, I am a bubbly, compassionate, empathetic, therapist with a deep belief that healing is possible — even when it feels far away. I bring joy into the room when joy feels scarce. I bring calm when everything feels chaotic. I meet people where they are, and walk with them — one step at a time — toward who they’re becoming.

So yes, my journey started with music. And in many ways, it still is music — just a different kind. The kind that plays when someone feels safe enough to cry for the first time. Or laughs out loud in a therapy session. Or says, “I never thought I’d get here.”

That’s the song I’m honored to be a part of now.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to becoming a therapist is one filled with self-discovery, discomfort, growth, and at times… fear. For a long time, I carried this overwhelming fear of messing up. Even in grad school, there were moments I questioned myself. Moments where I thought, “What if I’m not good enough? What if I say the wrong thing?” That fear stood tall in me, almost like a shadow — constantly present, quietly whispering doubts.

It wasn’t until I graduated that I began to truly confront that fear. A mentor of mine — someone I hold close in my heart — would always tell me, “Even when you feel like you’re not doing therapy, you are.” That reminder grounded me. It helped me understand that therapy isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about showing up with empathy, honesty, and intention — even when you’re unsure. Especially when you’re unsure.

Developing yourself, both personally and professionally, is never easy. Becoming a therapist means doing the internal work too. And that work? It’s no joke. You’re not just learning theories and techniques — you’re learning you. You’re unpacking your own triggers, your own past, your own wounds. Because how can you hold space for someone else’s pain if you’re not at least willing to explore your own?

There were times when I felt the weight of imposter syndrome. There were growing pains in learning boundaries, in trusting my voice, in knowing that I don’t have to have all the answers to be helpful. I’ve had to grieve old versions of myself — the ones that sought perfection over connection, certainty over curiosity.

But through every obstacle, I’ve grown. And more than that, I’ve become. Every challenge has shaped me into a more present, compassionate, and grounded therapist. Developing yourself — especially when you feel called to a deeper purpose — is hard. It stretches you. But it’s worth it. Every time I sit across from a client and see a glimpse of their healing, I’m reminded why I do this.

The truth is, we don’t become who we are without struggle. The path may not have been smooth, but it’s been sacred. And I wouldn’t trade the bumps for anything.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently work at Connected Counseling and Wellness, with locations in both Cumming and Alpharetta, Georgia. I work with children, teens, adults, and couples navigating everything from anxiety, trauma, depression, and grief, to life transitions, identity exploration, and the quiet aches we often carry in silence.

But beyond the titles and techniques, my work is really about connection — the kind that meets you where you are and gently walks with you toward where you’re meant to be.

What sets me apart is the way I blend clinical care with creativity, faith, and real human connection. I don’t just offer a space to talk — I offer a space to feel, to explore, and to be. Whether we’re using play therapy to help a child express what they don’t yet have words for, or unpacking years of emotional pain with an adult, my approach is always warm, personalized, and deeply attuned.

I’m known for creating an atmosphere that feels both safe and sacred — where clients can finally take the mask off and breathe. Where laughter and tears can exist in the same session. Where healing doesn’t feel like a task, but a journey back to yourself.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how I help my clients rediscover their voice — the one that’s been buried under pain, people-pleasing, or performance. Whether it’s a teenager learning to set boundaries, a child discovering how to name big feelings, or a couple finding their way back to each other — I hold space for transformation that’s gentle, authentic, and lasting.
Life is hard, messy, and unpredictable — but I believe in the power of healing, even in the most broken places. And I believe you don’t have to go through it alone.

So, what sets me apart?
– I don’t just listen — I see you.
-I don’t just do therapy — I help you live freer.
-And I don’t believe healing has to be cold or clinical — it can be warm, human, even joyful.

If you’re looking for a therapist who will walk with you through the hard, hold space for your story, and maybe even make you laugh a little along the way — I’m here. And I’m honored to do this work.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes — I just want to remind anyone reading this: you don’t have to have it all together to begin healing. You don’t have to be “bad enough” to go to therapy, and you don’t need to explain away your pain to make it valid. If something in your life feels heavy, confusing, overwhelming — you’re not broken, you’re human. And there is room for you here.

Therapy isn’t about fixing you — it’s about meeting you. It’s about holding space for your story, in all its complexity. It’s about learning to be kind to yourself, maybe for the first time.

I know what it’s like to be afraid to start. To wonder if anyone will understand. But healing doesn’t have to be loud. Sometimes it starts with a whisper: “I need help.”

Whether you’re a parent trying to help your child through big feelings, a teen trying to find your place, an adult holding silent grief, or a couple trying to reconnect — please know this: you are not alone. And I’d be honored to walk with you.
My sessions are full of compassion, curiosity, and (yes!) a little bit of my bubbly personality. We may laugh, cry, color outside the lines, and learn new ways to breathe again. Whatever it looks like — we do it together.

So, if no one’s told you lately: you are worthy of healing. You are worthy of peace. And I see you.

Pricing:

• 125 for Individual Sessions
• 150 for Couples

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.connectedcw.com
• Instagram: Areanna.m
• Facebook: Areanna Haynes

Image Credits
Ty Myrick
Owner
Ty Myrick Photography
Email: tyrone@tmyrickphoto.com
Phone: (770)880-0280