Healthy Living
If you or someone you know are struggling with substance abuse, self-harm, or suicidality, Still Waters Counseling wants you to know there is hope.
Mary Emeline Dawson, MA, LPC is one of the Still Waters therapists ready to help you on your journey to freedom from these thoughts and feelings. Dawson has worked in the mental health field since 2014 and became a licensed counselor in 2021. “I hope to be a safe place for people to uncover these dark parts of themselves and to reflect the love and light that Jesus has for them, just as counselors have done for me,” Dawson shares, adding that after experiencing therapy herself during her teen years, she realized how valuable therapy is. “After undergrad, I felt God’s nudge to pursue a degree in counseling, with the goal of coming alongside other hurting people, just as the Spirit does for us so faithfully.” 
Dawson worked for an Intensive Outpatient addiction program for several years. During this experience, she realized “there are so many layers of addiction, including neurological and environmental factors. So often, it comes hand-in-hand with mental illness and a history of trauma. It’s crucial to explore and develop an understanding of the whole person and their experiences, not just to treat the symptoms of substance abuse. The same can be said for self-harm and suicidal ideation,” Dawson says. During counseling sessions, Dawson’s goal is to help clients understand what is “driving these thoughts and behaviors, not just replace them with healthier coping skills, so that deeper healing and transformation can begin.”
A Helping Hand. Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer for NAMI, shared in 2024: “Our country is experiencing record suicide and overdose rates, and more people than ever are seeking mental health services.” If you are concerned for someone in your life who is battling suicidal ideation, self-harm, or substance abuse, Dawson explains there are signs you can look for including isolation, withdrawal, changes in language, or mood shifts. “If you have a sense that someone is hurting themselves or thinking about it, it’s okay to ask.” She explains that people are often relieved when someone notices their struggle and offers them support and love. Why therapy? “We all need connection and support in life- it’s how we were beautifully designed,” Dawson says, adding, “A therapist or counselor can be that support, with the goal of helping you be more connected in life outside the therapy room. They provide a safe and confidential space for unbiased feedback and perspective.” Click here to read more from Mary Emeline Dawson on the topic of finding restoration in chaos.
Watch the video below to learn more about the help and hope that is available when you seek counseling.
Still Waters Counseling offers mental health counseling from a Christian perspective in-person in Mtn. Brook and Madison, Alabama and therapy on-line anywhere in Alabama. They accept most insurances in addition to offering private pay rates based on annual household income. To learn more, visit www.mystillwaters.org, email [email protected], or call 205-825-1423.
-Melissa Armstrong
