Gold Star Counseling

Hello, and welcome. My name is April Brandon, and I am a fully licensed professional counselor. I work with clients facing anxiety, grief, trauma, caregiver burnout, identity-related concerns, and major life transitions. I also have extensive experience supporting veterans, military families, LGBTQ+ clients, survivors of abuse and narcissistic abuse, and individuals navigating difficult life circumstances. A significant portion of my work focuses on grief, caregiver support, and helping individuals heal from difficult life experiences. I work with widows and widowers, surviving family members, Gold Star families, survivors of abuse and narcissistic abuse, veterans, first responders, and others navigating the lasting effects of trauma and loss. I also work extensively with caregivers of veterans and service members living with disabilities, chronic illnesses, injuries, chronic pain, and other long-term health conditions. The emotional, physical, and financial demands of caregiving can be overwhelming, and caregivers often find themselves exhausted while focusing on the needs of others. Caregivers deserve support, too. As a military Gold Star mother, I am personally familiar with profound loss and the grieving process. I understand that grief does not simply disappear. Instead, we learn how to carry it while continuing to find meaning, purpose, and connection in our lives. While every person's experience is unique, I believe healing is not about forgetting those we love. It is about learning how to honor their memory while continuing to move forward. I am particularly passionate about working with veterans and military families. In addition to counseling services, I provide VA required mental health evaluations for veterans pursuing VA disability benefits. These evaluations can address PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the emotional impact of service-connected injuries, chronic pain, disabilities, and other physical limitations. I work extensively with LGBTQ+ clients, including many transgender and nonbinary individuals, as well as people exploring questions related to gender identity, sexual identity, and self-discovery. Whether someone is questioning, considering transition, actively transitioning, or simply seeking a greater understanding of themselves, everyone deserves a safe place to explore who they are without judgment. As a mother to a wonderful transgender son, I have had the privilege of witnessing someone I love grow into his true, authentic self. I understand the importance of having supportive people in your corner while navigating identity, relationships, family dynamics, and major life decisions. I provide diagnostic confirmations to support clients seeking gender-affirming care. When clinically appropriate, I also provide Emotional Support Animal evaluations and letters. I additionally offer diagnostic evaluations that may assist clients and their primary care providers in reviewing treatment options, medication needs, and appropriate levels of care. My counseling style is open and nonjudgmental. I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Rogerian therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), humanistic approaches, logotherapy, solution-focused therapy, and client-centered techniques, among others, tailoring treatment to each individual's needs and goals. If you are ready to begin, we can work together to reduce anxiety and stress, process grief, overcome obstacles, prevent caregiver burnout, change self-defeating behaviors, and work toward the goals that matter most to you. I look forward to working with you.