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STEUBENVILLE -- Think about the women you know -- wives, mothers, daughters and friends. No matter her relationships or stage of life, she is likely carrying some form of caregiving responsibility. Many also are working, studying or managing households at the same time. Women often shoulder a unique and demanding load in society.
Aim Women’s Center offers counseling to its clients, much of which revolves around pregnancy, in line with the center’s work and mission. Typically, Aim’s counselor sees a client for seven weeks before referring her to a more permanent resource.
This fall, thanks to its partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville, Aim will temporarily offer counseling to women from all walks of life. Counseling graduate intern Marianna Jimenez, under the supervision of Chelsey Marrow, a licensed professional clinical counselor-supervisor and instinctual trauma response traumatologist, will provide counseling as part of her graduate internship in clinical mental health counseling. Jimenez will continue her internship through the spring semester.
The free counseling sessions offered by Jimenez through Aim are open to all women who become clients of Aim. Topics may include anxiety and stress, depression and low mood, self-esteem, relationship challenges, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma recovery, pregnancy and postpartum adjustment, women’s health concerns, family conflict, personal growth and emotional wellness.
Jimenez, who completed a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology and is now pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, has worked in a variety of medical settings, including internal medicine, family care, neurology and OB-GYN/midwifery. Her role involved patient intake and administering routine mental health assessments, giving her the opportunity to witness some of the burdens women at all stages of life carry. She said that experience drew her to working with women.
“Many women feel that they have to carry their burdens alone, whether they have a partner or not, because it’s a societal norm,” Jimenez said. “But they don’t have to. We go to the doctor to take care of our bodies, and we should be supported in taking care of our minds. Some women have never had a safe place to even begin to share the experience of the burdens they’ve walked through in life. Going to counseling is the first step in caring for your entire self.”
Aim Executive Director Rebekah Cohen Morris said the center is pleased to offer Jimenez the opportunity to intern at Aim because of her concentration on women’s mental health.
“At Aim, we believe being pro-life also means being pro-woman. Our mission extends beyond pregnancy support because we are committed to helping women thrive in every season of life,” she said.
Aim offers counseling to its clients on a regular basis through Lynette Hawrot, LPCC-S. Hawrot sees Aim clients during pregnancy, after delivery and after abortion, providing supportive counseling for what are often complex life situations.
“Our clients have a multitude of daily concerns that compound their daily stress,” Hawrot said. “It’s important to help them try to find some consistency in their lives.”
Hawrot hopes to organize group counseling sessions through Aim and encourages any woman interested to contact the center.
Aim’s confidential, individual counseling offers a compassionate, supportive environment using evidence-based approaches combined with trauma-informed care. Aim is now scheduling fall sessions with Jimenez and taking contact information from those interested in group counseling. Call (740) 346-6705 to schedule an appointment or for more information.