☀️ May: Mental Health Awareness and More🌷

Considering Therapy,

But Don't Know Where to Start?

You're not alone. Relationship stress, world events, family conflict — these are part of being human. Sometimes your support network is enough. But when these issues start affecting your daily life, relationships, or well-being, professional help may be worth considering.

If you've never tried therapy, the idea of opening up to a stranger can feel intimidating — even a highly trained one. People worry about being judged, losing privacy, or simply the vulnerability of speaking their struggles out loud.

A few questions to ask yourself:

Is there something I know needs to change, but I don't know where to begin?
Am I leaning on friends so heavily that it's become the focus of most conversations?
Is stress from one area of my life spilling into everything else?

We're creating a podcast series to help you navigate this process. First up —Therapy 101: When to Seek Therapy (and How to Start Looking for a Therapist) — out May 15th.

Join us this month for a conversation with our newest staff therapist, Carolina Robles, LCSW, about managing high levels of stress. We discuss the current local, federal, and global environment where targeted communities are under higher stress levels than ever before. We discuss what you can do to take care of yourself if you're one of those targeted, as well as what others can do and not do to offer support to those communities. Tune back in mid-month on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for Episode 12, which will explore when to seek therapy.

Listen to Episode 11: Stress Management, An Interview...

Community Meals

Coming up soon on Wednesday, June 3rd, please join us for or share the word about our next free meal in the Burnsville area. Catered by Pig and Grits, doors open at 5:00 PM for a supper at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. These meals are a way for us to gather in places impacted by the storm to provide nourishment for body and soul — food shared in community, followed by an accessible, inclusive presentation by an All Souls therapist. Registrations are required by Wednesday, May 27th at noon. Click the link below to join us, and please share with your friends!

Marshall Lunch Recap

On April 20, we gathered at the Marshall Library with a lovely group to discuss resilience and self-care. All Souls therapists Susan Elaine and Jessica Ringle lead us in simple grounding and centering exercises that can be done in moments of overwhelm. The meal provided by Zuma Coffee — one day before celebrating their year reopening date after Hurricane Helene! — was delicious, and we had the pleasure of owner Joel Friedman delivering it himself. Many thanks are due to Billie Chandler, Branch Manager at the Madison County Public Library, for hosting us, and to all the librarians and community members who participated. We were thrilled to see attendees making connections and exchanging contact information after the event!

Welcome Carolina Robles, LCSW

We are delighted to have welcomed Carolina Robles, LCSW, to our All Souls therapists team in January.

Carolina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides therapy in both English and Spanish. She specializes in working with individuals experiencing domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, racial trauma, migration-related trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety. Carolina brings over eight years of clinical experience and is particularly passionate about supporting BIPOC communities. She integrates mindfulness, DBT, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and attachment theory into her work. Outside of her clinical work, Carolina enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and reading.

Carolina sees clients at our Arlington Street office and — thanks to an Episcopal Diocese of WNC Recovery grant — also sees clients in Burnsville on Wednesdays. People living in Burnsville are eligible for free services through this grant. To learn more, please call our office at (828) 259-3369.

Save the Date!

Lace up and join us on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for the Mental Health Matters 5k Walk/Run for Awareness! Hosted by All Souls Counseling Center on the UNC Asheville campus, this is a timed, family-friendly race with a purpose: normalizing conversations about mental health and connecting participants with support resources available right here in WNC.

Give!Local Appreciation

A huge thank you to everyone who supported us during the Winter Mountain Xpress Give!Local campaign — your generosity means the world to us and the communities we serve.

We're also thrilled to celebrate our prize winner, Cynthia, who stopped by the center last month to pick up her gift bag from Executive Director Meredith Switzer.

We are deeply grateful to our 2026 Hope is in Bloom Presenting Sponsor, First Bank, and our Keynote Speaker Sponsor, Pisgah Investments Foundation.

Thank you as well to our Table Sponsors: Beverly-Grant, Duke Energy, Hedrick Industries, Advent Health, Campbell Statley PLLC, The Cathedral of All Souls, Kudzu Brands, Modera Wealth Management, Vaya Health, and United Federal Credit Union. The support of these organizations makes Hope is in Bloom possible — and funds the vital mental health work All Souls provides across Western North Carolina.