My wife, Nerissa, and I have been married for 20 years. One of my greatest joys has been spending this time growing together, learning more about each other, and watching our marriage strengthen over time. We have 4 boys, who provide a sense of joy and pride, along with the typical shenanigans and noise that boys provide. We look forward to time together, whether that is Friday night movie night (mostly superhero movies), camping and vacationing together, boys’ weekend out trips, and family walks.

We have 3 dogs to add to the lovely chaos, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. FYI, the dogs are all female to try to balance out the equation. I personally enjoy a round of golf or some good cornhole with friends.

I received my MA in Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, in December 2003. All courses and related subjects are in agreement with the licensing board in Arkansas. Currently, I use skill sets from Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy). I am trained in CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) designed to treat PTSD. I am also a certified facilitator of the SYMBIS assessment, which stands for Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. This assessment is beneficial for those seeking premarital therapy or married couples who are seeking ways to strengthen their marriage.

I have 18 years of experience in the c`ounseling profession, earning my LAC in 2006 and my LPC in 2009. I began my practice working with at-risk teenagers in an alternative school setting in Mountain Home, AR. Upon moving to Fort Smith in 2014, I began working with adults in an outpatient setting at Perspectives Behavioral Health. I then transitioned to working specifically with those troubled by PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. I had the opportunity to serve as the director of clinical services for a little over a year, where I was responsible for training and supervising our team of counselors and case managers. In 2017, I transitioned to the private practice setting, where I enjoy working with the adult population who are battling PTSD, depression, and anxiety. One of my greatest joys in this profession is helping people realize their strengths and abilities, their gifts and talents that are typically buried under the many adversities and struggles that life brings. When clients shed those false identities and see who they can be, who they are, there is hope and passion that creates a whole new world of possibilities.

I also take great pride in working with married couples, seeking to bring healing and joy to their marriage. Helping and watching couples learn more about each other, how to communicate better especially during times of insurmountable conflict, how to love, respect, cherish, and appreciate each other, how to recognize their desires and expectations are the common goals when I work with couples. Although not entirely fun or comfortable, helping couples recover after an affair has become a part of my practice. It is difficult, long, and oftentimes painful work, but one that can be incredibly rewarding, not only for the couple, but for those that care about them. I can promise a safe environment to work through the many thoughts, emotions, and actions that a couple endures in these moments. A healthy, loving marriage is worth fighting for and I will be here to fight with you, or for you, whatever you need.

Jason Amerson is a Licensed Professional Counselor who sees clients both in the Fort Smith and Hot Springs areas. With a warm and welcoming approach, Jason brings over 15 years of experience to his practice, both as a paraprofessional, Licensed counselor after completing his Master of Science in Community Counseling from John Brown University in 2015.

Jason’s journey in the mental health field is marked by a passion for helping individuals navigate the complexities of their past while crafting hope for a brighter future. He provides compassionate care to those dealing with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders, drawing from his extensive experience with a diverse client background, including those with chronic mental health issues. Overcoming many negative life events drives Jason’s passion for focusing much of his practice on helping individuals navigate and heal from past trauma, with 7 years of experiencing utilizing EMDR therapy.

Outside the counseling room, Jason enjoys being a father of three sons, age 14, 20, and 22. He nurtures his creative spirit by playing guitar and singing, enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and running.

I grew up in small town Oklahoma, attending a Christian school until being homeschool from 7th grade onward. College was always a given, but the specific path would take multiple turns throughout my journey.

I began college at Carl Albert as a business major, since it seemed like a logical step towards a paycheck, but after one year, I changed paths and later graduated with an associate’s degree in psychology. I transferred to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK with an a “plan of attack”, that is until the guidance counselor asked which branch of psychology I’d had chosen. I didn’t know there were branches on this tree and had no answer to her follow-up question. She suggested “Human Resources if you want to get paid” and two years later, I graduated with a bachelor’s and began my professional career as a co-curator for a 100-year-old tourist farm.

During my 11 years on the farm, I met my wife, but as fate would have it, my company downsized, and I became unemployed just five days before my wedding. It probably goes without saying but that first six months of marriage was very trying. Eventually, I found a job selling water filters and although the job barely paid anything, required a lot of time, late hours, and many, many miles, I did become much more comfortable in conversation.

Through a coworker, I found out about a job at Bost, Inc. working with people with disabilities. Although I normally struggle during an interview, she had convinced me that it was just a formality, and the job was already mine. Now armed with confidence, I interviewed and accepted the job, where over the next 15 years I would hire, train, and supervisor a team of 150 people. During this period, however, I could not help but remember the time when the career rug had been yanked out from underneath. That anxiety paired with the fact that my wife and friends were much more highly educated created the perfect recipe to start moving eggs into another basket.

So, 14 years after graduating with a BA, I began college for the third time. I guess it really is a charm. Two years later, I had completed the coursework, passed the tests, sat through the panel interviews, finished my internship, and began working part-time at various community-based mental health clinic. It quickly became clear that I had moved enough eggs to make my job at Bost look more like a hobby and show me that it was time to do the thing for which I was now trained.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. I work with couples, children, teens, adults, both male and female. My clinical approach leans toward CBT but regularly utilize practices from others as well. I am trained in EMDR. I work with a variety of struggles including relationship counseling, anxiety, depression, OCD, grief, trauma, ADHD, and Autism. I believe life is less about the destination and more about the journey. I view counseling as a partnership where I can provide education and encouragement while continuing to grow through the stories of the people I support. I enjoy hard work, being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with my wife.

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with a deep-seated belief in the power of active listening and a person-centered approach to therapy. My practice is grounded in creating an inviting, non-judgmental, and safe space where individuals can freely work through life’s challenges. I specialize in supporting individuals who are navigating the complexities of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, whether stemming from challenging childhood experiences or hurdles encountered later in life. Recognizing that we are multifaceted beings, each with our own intricate stories, is precisely why I became a counselor – to offer compassionate care and understanding, guiding each person on their unique mental health journey.

I hold a passionate commitment to the understanding and support of Adult ADHD, dedicating myself to helping individuals recognize, plan for, overcome, accept, and manage the myriad symptoms that intertwine with daily life. My therapeutic toolbox includes advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), techniques that I tailor to fit the unique needs of everyone. I’m licensed as an LPC in both Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Beyond my professional life, I am an enthusiastic flea market scavenger, a hobbyist gardener, an advocate for spending time in nature, and my trio of dogs keep me entertained. I also enjoy watching and attending community theater plays, believing in the power of art to heal and connect us.

I have worked in the mental health field for almost 18 years and have been a licensed counselor since 2011. I have experienced working with all ages with a wide array of presenting struggles, though I currently primarily work with teens and adults in the private practice setting. I take a person-centered, goal-oriented, and collaborative approach to counseling. I am also a busy wife and mother of three children. Outside of work I enjoy vegging out at home, relaxed family outings, and weekend trips.

I have been in the helping profession as a Social Worker for 20 years, with 17 of those years being in the mental health field. Since obtaining my LCSW, I have worked with kids and teens in the school setting and adults in clinics, as well as community interventions, administration, and clinical supervision.

Sometimes life unfolds in ways we don’t expect. And, mine is no different. Marriage found me a little later in life than I expected. I have been married to my husband Daniel for 10 years. We met online and all of our pre-marital relationship was long distance. Although we had our “non-negotiables” in common, we come from different ethnicities and have worked through many hurdles in that arena. Again, not something I expected. We endured infertility treatments for a couple of years before ultimately being blessed with two beautiful girls, now ages 8 and 5. In that time, I experienced severe postpartum depression and anxiety after both pregnancies. For the first time in my life, I experienced the therapists’ office from the other side. As our first born grew, we discovered that she is facing her own “unexpecteds” in several areas of neurodivergence. I have devoted much time and attention over the years to her own treatment and growth. All of this gave me much more insight and empathy for my clients. These trials and “unexpecteds” prompted me to not only seek traditional treatments such as medication and talk therapy, but to begin searching for more integrative approaches to whole person mental wellness. Two years ago, I completed a certification as an Integrative Mental Health Provider (CIMHP) and love to offer these insights and approaches when it aligns with the client’s own goals.

My passion in work is to help clients work through life’s hurdles and “unexpecteds” with more strength and peace than they ever expected to find. Although I have formal education, training, and experience, I am just a resource. You are the expert on your own life. You are capable of making it through this human experience and maybe even finding some joy in the process. And I am honored to be here to help. I have previously obtained certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), and most enjoy working with clients experiencing trauma, depression, anxiety, and mental illness co-occuring with physical ailments.

One more “unexpected” for me happened two years ago when we decided I would homeschool our daughters. Being a homeschool mom was never on my radar. But as we know…life has a way of changing our trajectory very quickly. We are in our second year of homeschool and are loving it. As such, I am still considered a full-time stay at home mom. Therefore, I am open for clients just a few hours a week. It’s the best of both worlds right now.

In our free time, my family enjoys playing in our backyard, going for bike rides, hiking, watching movies, having living room dance parties, and playing board games.  We’re also involved in Girl Scouts, dance, tumbling, and various homeschool activities in our community. Our family values our faith and we love attending church together where my husband and I lead worship and I am the Director of Community Outreach.

I am also currently available for LMSW clinical supervision. Please contact our office for information

Hi! I’m Kelsey Buchfink—a wife, mother, foster parent, and passionate therapist. I have been married to my husband for thirteen years and we have three energetic boys who keep life exciting. Being foster parents from time to time has added an extra layer of joy and purpose to our lives, while teaching us to meet others where they are. As a family, we enjoy being outside, family game nights, and traveling. Some might also call me a serial hobbyist, so there is really no telling what else I’m into right now.

As a former junior high teacher turned stay-at-home mom, my journey in the world of education has profoundly shaped my understanding of human connections. Witnessing the struggles faced by friends and family, I decided to return to school to become a therapist.

My mission is to offer a safe and down-to-earth space for individuals who feel burdened by the pressure of “having it all together.” I believe that authentic healing arises from the therapeutic relationship, and I put great emphasis on building meaningful connections with my clients. While I enjoy working with a diverse range of clients, I hold a special place in my heart for those dedicated to serving others in helping professions. Whether it’s educators, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, ministers, social workers, or stay-at-home parents, I am deeply committed to providing the support they deserve. I also enjoy working with couples or individuals who are experiencing relationship issues. As a mom myself, I have a heart to help women as they navigate the sometimes challenging prenatal and postpartum phase of their lives.

In my practice, I am trained in EMDR—an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I also have training in the Gottman method and utilize the techniques in couple’s counseling.

I am honored to walk alongside my clients on their journey of self-discovery and healing. Together, we will navigate life’s challenges, uncover strengths, and cultivate resilience. If you’re seeking a compassionate and understanding therapist, I am here to offer a listening ear and a helping hand.

Hello! I am a Licensed Associate Counselor in the state of Arkansas. After earning my bachelor’s of science in education degree, I spent 17 years in education and then 27 more years as a school counselor in the Van Buren School District. I enjoy working with children and teens by utilizing the therapeutic interventions of play therapy and Sand Tray Therapy. My office is full of puppets, sand trays, and art supplies so that children and teens can express themselves through play. Benefits of Sand Tray Therapy include:

Sand has a unique kinesthetic quality (it assists in nervous system regulation)
It creates a helpful therapeutic distance
Sand Trays naturally provide boundaries and limits
It creates a place for the client to experience control
It is effective in overcoming client resistance
It cuts through verbalization used as a defense
Sand Tray provides a needed and effective communication medium for client with poor verbal skills
It gives expression to non-verbalized emotional issues (example: trauma memories stored in right hemisphere of the brain)
It provides unique setting for emergence of therapeutic metaphors
Deeper therapeutic issues may be accessed more thoroughly and more rapidly

 I have experience working with all ages in the areas of grief, trauma, attachment, and couples/relationship counseling. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Traumatic Stress, Grief Treatment, SandTray Therapy, Seed Digging, Internal Family Systems, SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts) and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. I work with clients who are addressing issues related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and identify as LGBTQIA+.

My passion, as a widow, is grief counseling. I enjoy working with all ages and being able to bring hope and joy into my client’s lives. My hobbies are reading science fiction and vintage murder mysteries, traveling, working out at the gym, and participating in weightlifting competitions. My gorgeous Corgi, Izzy, and I live quite happily, in Van Buren, Arkansas.

My name is Erica Longoria and I am a counseling intern at Anchored Hope Counseling. I am currently a student with Northwestern University studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling (with child/adolescent specialization). My Bachelor of Arts degree is in Psychology from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, and I minored in Sociology. I married my amazing high school sweetheart in October of 2022. I am a Fort Smith native and love living in Fort Smith.

Using client-centered therapy, I work alongside my clients to foster growth and healing. My goal is to provide encouragement, support, and validation

Hello, I’m Jennifer.  I have been married to my husband, Shannon, for almost 25 years. Together we have a blended family of 5 grown children and are Gigi & Poppa to some amazing grandchildren! When I’m not in the Anchored Hope Counseling front office, I enjoy reading fiction or sci-fi and spending quality time with those amazing grandchildren!

I have 20+ years’ experience in early childhood education and office management.  I am the newest team member at Anchored Hope – just started in December 2023 and I am so blessed to be a part of the business administration team. Some of my responsibilities include answering phones, scheduling, greeting/checking in clients, and supporting the other administrative staff plus 20+ counselors at AHC. I am learning the processes at AHC and appreciate that my years of experience in office management is valuable to them. I am looking forward to learning and growing in my responsibilities and contributions to the team

Hi! My name iz Waffles!  I joined AHC in September 2020, I am a Pandemic Puppy.  Youz  might say I am a dog for the Hoomans, I love to meet new folks and always try to bring a smilez to their face.  Whether it’s meeting you on the desk, in the lobby or while you’re walking in the hallway, I lovez to let you pet me cuz my fur is soft, and it makes you feel better!  Occasionally, if a Hooman is having a tough day I will sitz next to you until you are ready to talk to one of my colleaguez.

When Imz at home, I love to go on long walks and I go nutz for large, yellow tennis balls.  I also like to watch womenz softball becuz they use the same kind of ballz I love.  I just cant ever find the ballz when they hit it with those sticks. Come see me at Anchored Hope Counseling. I’ll be looking out the window for you.