About Me
![Andrea (Andi) O'Connell Andrea (Andi) O'Connell](https://alocounselingandwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/andrea-andi-o-connell-headshot.jpg)
Welcome to ALO Counseling & Wellness! My name is Andi O’Connell, and I am thrilled to have you here. Life can present us with various challenges, and it’s important to remember that you don’t have to face them alone. Whether you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or uncertain about your next steps, I am here to offer you the support and guidance you need.
As a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor and Certified Personal Trainer, I have a unique skill set that allows me to help you find or rediscover your strength, both inside and out! Throughout my own life, I have relied on practices from my psychological and strength training education to make positive changes in my life and I like to help my clients do the same. For me, mental wellness cannot be separated from other facets of life. I believe that our mental health is intertwined with our physical, relational, environmental, and spiritual practices.
I have over 10 years of experience working in the mental health field, and 7 years of experience as a strength coach. Throughout both endeavors, I have accumulated many different professional experiences that allow me to support a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, life transitions, self-doubt, and more. Many of my clients feel stuck, unsure of where to go next, or in need of help finding strategies to manage their life stressors. Others may need help finding their voice and the confidence to live authentically. In addition to traditional mental health and wellness concerns, I also enjoy utilizing sport psychology principles to support competitive athletes.
Personally, I am a wife, mother, daughter, friend and athlete. I strive to live a fulfilling, calm, and authentic life that matches up with my values of family, strength, and connection. Just as I encourage my clients to, I regularly check-in with myself and my body to determine what practices are serving me in any season of life. I also believe in practicing what I preach, and while I cannot and have not experienced everything that my clients have and will, I have worked through my own challenges as a “Highly Sensitive Person” and former people pleaser to show up for you in the best way that I can!
At ALO Counseling & Wellness, I provide a range of services to meet your unique needs.
Here are some of my areas of specialty:
- Individual Counseling: Tailored one-on-one sessions where we can delve into your personal experiences, emotions, and challenges to help you gain insight, develop coping strategies, and foster personal growth. Many clients seek therapy for the following reasons:
- Relationship Concerns: Helping you to unearth patterns that keep you stuck in unhealthy or unfulfilling relationships. Our work together can help you develop new and meaningful relationships, fix unhealthy patterns within existing relationships, and/or leave relationships that are no longer serving you.
- Stress Management: Assisting you in managing stressors in your life, developing effective coping mechanisms, and promoting overall well-being
- Life Transitions: Supporting you through major life changes such as career transitions, relationship changes, attending a new school, entering parenthood and adjusting to new environments.
- Anxiety & Depression: Providing a compassionate and safe space to explore and address symptoms of anxiety and depression, offering tools and techniques to manage and overcome these challenges.
- Sports Psychology: Using sport psychology principles allows me to help athletes overcome barriers that get in the way of achieving their athletic goals. To be your best as an athlete, we need to nurture you as a whole person, too. We will survey and address any variables in your daily life that are bleeding into your sport and learn techniques to help you overcome mental barriers holding you back from being the very best athlete you can be.
- Parent Coaching: With training in Functional Behavior Assessments, I help parents determine the “why” behind their child’s behavior. Together, we will address the variables that lead to problematic behaviors and create a plan for you to get back to connecting with and enjoying your child again!
Movement-Based Therapy: If you’re not sold on traditional talk therapy, this may be a great option for you! Within Movement-Based Therapy, we can take our sessions outdoors on a walk or hike, or into a private gym setting to incorporate strength and conditioning movements into our work together.
Strength Training & Programming: I can help you build your muscular strength and cardiovascular health. These are integral tools in your mental health toolbox and I am excited to be able to offer my clients this service. Aside from my ISSA CPT certification, I utilize my competitive athletic background as a powerlifting athlete to help clients build strength and find confidence by achieving goals that once felt unattainable. Additionally, I hold a certification in Pre and Postnatal Personal Training to help new and expecting mothers safely navigate strength training in their new bodies.
I am committed to being your partner on this transformative journey, guiding you towards a more fulfilling and authentic life. And if you’re open to exploring alternative therapy methods beyond traditional talk therapy, I am here for you! Together, we can find an approach that resonates with you and helps you achieve your therapeutic goals.
Take the first step towards positive change and reach out to ALO Counseling & Wellness today. I look forward to walking alongside you on your path to healing and personal growth.