Why Sherri Hanks, Resident in Counseling, Believes You Are the Author of Your Own Story
- Melissa Londry, LPC
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
One of the questions I often ask our clinicians is, "What do you hope your clients remember long after they've left your office?"
For Sherri Hanks, Resident in Counseling, the answer isn't a specific coping skill or therapeutic technique. It's something much more personal. She wants clients to remember that they are worthy of support, compassion, and healing...and that they have the ability to write the next chapter of their own story.
That philosophy is woven throughout every aspect of Sherri's work.
A Career Built on Relationships
Before entering private practice, Sherri spent 24 years working in education as both a teacher and school counselor. During those years, she worked alongside children, adolescents, parents, educators, and families navigating everything from everyday stress to significant personal challenges.
She quickly realized something that remains true in counseling today: People rarely struggle in isolation. Relationships, life experiences, family systems, and major transitions all shape how we think, feel, and interact with the world. While she originally found purpose supporting students in schools, she eventually felt called to expand that work beyond the classroom. Clinical counseling became the next chapter of her own story. Today, she brings that unique perspective to individuals, couples, and families looking for support during life's most difficult moments.
What Does It Mean to Feel "Stuck"?
Many people who begin counseling don't necessarily describe themselves as anxious or depressed.
Instead, they use a different word.
"I feel stuck."
Stuck in unhealthy relationships.
Stuck in grief.
Stuck in old habits.
Stuck in negative thinking.
Stuck repeating patterns they desperately want to change.
Sherri has developed a passion for working with clients who recognize that something in their life isn't working anymore, even if they aren't exactly sure how to change it.
She explains it this way:
"My ideal client is someone who is feeling 'stuck' in patterns that no longer serve them and is ready to take an active role in their own growth."
That doesn't mean clients need to have all the answers. It simply means they're willing to explore what life could look like if those old patterns no longer had control.
Counseling Isn't About Someone Else Having the Answers
One of the things that makes Sherri's counseling style stand out is how she views the therapeutic relationship. Many people imagine therapy as sitting across from someone who tells them exactly what to do. Sherri believes something different. She believes therapy works best when it is a partnership. Rather than directing the journey, she collaborates with clients to understand what matters most to them and how they want their lives to change. Her role isn't to write someone else's story. It's to help clients rediscover that they are holding the pen. That collaborative approach is reflected in the three words she uses to describe her counseling style:
Empowering. Supportive. Collaborative.
Hope Doesn't Require Perfection
Another thing that stood out to me while talking with Sherri was how she defines healing. Many people imagine healing as arriving at a destination where life suddenly becomes easy. Sherri doesn't see it that way. She believes healing is less about eliminating every struggle and more about developing greater clarity, confidence, and peace while remaining true to your values.
Healing is learning to respond differently.
Healing is recognizing your own strength.
Healing is believing you deserve joy even after hardship.
Healing is choosing yourself again and again.
Bringing Decades of Experience Into the Therapy Room
Sherri's professional background gives her a broad perspective that benefits clients from many walks of life.
Throughout her career she has worked with:
Children and adolescents
Adults
Couples
Families
Groups
Individuals navigating crisis
People experiencing significant life transitions
Her therapeutic toolbox includes several evidence-based approaches, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Family Systems Theory
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Rather than relying on a single approach, Sherri believes therapy should be tailored to each individual person's needs, experiences, and goals.
Strength Doesn't Mean Doing Everything Alone
One of the myths Sherri hopes to challenge is the belief that asking for help is somehow a sign of weakness. Our culture often celebrates independence. But true strength isn't pretending everything is fine. It's recognizing when you need support and giving yourself permission to receive it.
As Sherri explains:
"Reaching out for professional support is actually one of the most courageous things a person can do."
You don't need to wait until you're overwhelmed.
You don't need to wait until you're in crisis.
Therapy isn't reserved for emergencies.
It's an investment in your future.
The Person Behind the Therapist
Outside of the counseling office, Sherri finds restoration in simple moments.
Watching a sunrise.
Listening to music.
Reading a good book.
Traveling somewhere new.
Enjoying meaningful conversations with friends.
Spending time in nature.
Her favorite book, Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, reflects her appreciation for vulnerability and courage, which are qualities she witnesses in her clients every day.
If You're Ready to Write a Different Chapter...
Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, family challenges, relationship concerns, or simply feeling like you've lost your direction, Sherri believes change is possible.
She doesn't promise quick fixes.
She doesn't pretend healing is always easy.
What she does offer is something many people have been searching for:
A safe place to pause.
Someone who will truly listen.
A collaborative relationship built on trust.
And the belief that your story is still being written.
If you're ready to move beyond simply surviving and begin creating the life you want, Sherri would be honored to walk alongside you.
Schedule with Sherri Hanks
Sherri Hanks, Resident in Counseling, is accepting new clients through Body and Mindfully Healthy. If you're looking for a therapist who combines decades of experience, evidence-based treatment, genuine compassion, and a collaborative approach, we invite you to connect with Sherri and begin your next chapter.
Because no matter where your story has taken you so far...
The next chapter is still yours to write.
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