Inspiring Conversations with April Hankins of April Hankins Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Hankins.

Hi April, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in church world on and off and it became a place of belonging for me as an older teen. When college time came, I attended Eastern University for youth ministry. I graduated then worked at an evangelical megachurch. I was their middle school pastor, a fun and meaningful job. I realized my favorite part was leading the small group discussions and this combined with my shifting values led me to pursue a masters in counseling at Missio Seminary. At that time, professionally and personally a lot changed for me. My husband began to question his spiritual beliefs, which felt terrifying to me at the time, and then I also began to also question things. My spirituality then shifted in significant ways which impacted us relationally, emotionally, financially and caused many ripples in our family and friend relationships.

Due to my personal experience, when I began my private practice in 2020 I knew I wanted to help others with their spiritual wounds, deconstruction and spiritual trauma. My faith transition was the biggest identity shift I had experienced and since then, alongside it would be transitioning into motherhood in 2022. I now also specialize in maternal mental health and focus on helping moms reclaim their spirituality, sexuality and recover from their own childhood trauma.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges for me was initially deciding if I wanted to resign from my community mental health job and launch a private practice. It was a risk, I was supported at my full time job and had great supervisors and also knew I wanted more flexibility and agency over my work. One day while talking to a friend on the phone, she helped me take the final leap by just reminding me I was ready and to just make it happen. I am so thankful for the gift of her friendship and how she showed up for me in that moment.

A challenge has been navigating motherhood and maintaining a business. I know it’s a privilege to be a business owner and to be able to survive off of my husband’s income and for that I am grateful, especially in a season of parenting two toddlers. Due to the flexibility, it has presented countless opportunities for me to always wonder if I could be or should be doing things differently; more hours? in office or just virtual? lead groups? accept insurance? Because of my anxious and perfectionism tendencies, I can get fixated on decisions, choices, options and wanting to do everything “right,” instead of tapping into my flexible, intuitive, compassionate self.

Due to taking time off after my kids’ births and then having limited hours, I recently started to increase my caseload and I have found the environment is quite different than when I launched in 2020. I moved states, from Pennsylvania to Ohio, there are lots of online therapy options, the economy has impacted people’s ability to afford therapy, people have less flexibility in their work schedule so growing my referral sources has been slower then when I initially launched. I had a helpful session with my therapist when I was feeling discouraged and she confidently told me, “you can do this.” Her belief in me was what I needed, therapy can be so beneficial for that, the mirror we need to see ourselves more accurately. She was right, more referrals started coming in very soon after that session.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about April Hankins Therapy ?
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor in Ohio and Pennsylvania. I help overwhelmed moms heal from childhood trauma, spiritual trauma and reclaim their sexuality. The two main modalities I use are Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) along with a focus on somatics and attachment.

I have a personal and professional understanding of how spirituality can be beautifully healing and also incredibly harmful. Something that I think sets me apart is my commitment to holding nuance, tension and multiple things can be true. I am a spiritual trauma therapist and my husband is a pastor at an open and affirming United Church of Christ. I attend with our kids, teach their Sunday school class, and lead book discussion groups for adults there. The books have included, “Good Inside,” “Real Self Care,” “Anxious Generation” and “Raising Antiracist Children.” Grandparents have joined some of these conversations. I love that! Some of these are topics that never would happen in many church contexts. We march in the Akron pride parade. The church is up to some incredibly meaningful work and also, I don’t agree with 100% of everything, and I see them aligning with anti-oppression practices.

The biggest gift my spiritual journey gave me was releasing beliefs of there being “one right way” and instead an openness and curiosity about all of the different places people land spiritually. I work with clients and share life with people who identify as spiritual. atheists, agnostics and most of the time, the “it’s complicated.” Because many of the clients I work with have experiences in purity culture, often, we explore sexuality and reclaiming their own desires.

I offer in person therapy services in Canal Fulton, Ohio and virtually throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. I have two services; weekly one hour therapy or EDMR intensives, which are 3 hour sessions designed to take a deep dive on one main goal. I accept most major insurances.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was a quiet, conscientious kid who loved reading, shout out to Babysitter’s Club books! Lisa Frank was of course an obsession, Polly Pocket toys and then boy bands, Spice Girls and Britney Spears. I enjoyed ballet class, my pug dog Max and my American Girl doll. My happy place was my maternal grandparents home around their kitchen table, my grandfather was always the happiest person to see me and always left me feeling special.

Pricing:

• Therapy Session – $150
• Intensive Session – $675

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aprilhankinstherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emdrwithapril/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@emdrwithapril