Rene Askanazi

Rene has enjoyed counseling and mentoring in a variety of community settings since acquiring her B.A. in Psychology from Hope College, Master of Divinity/Pastoral Counseling from Eastern Mennonite University, and MA in Counseling from Cornerstone University. Rene has experience with clients struggling with issues of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, substance abuse, and facing difficult life challenges. Rene has assisted with support groups in local jails and has provided counseling in nursing homes, the City Mission, as well as in client’s homes. Rene currently provides outreach counseling through DHHS to support families involved with CPS or Foster Care, as well as those with private insurance.

Rene provides therapy from a Solution-Focused & Strength-Based Approach. Rene utilizes interventions drawn from CBT, TF-CBT, Emotional Regulation, Narrative therapy, and Positive Psychology to increase the client’s level of hope, self-efficacy, and resilience. Clients often comment that they feel comfortable and accepted by Rene and leave with increased levels of hope and confidence to meet their challenges. Rene believes all clients have been given the gift of choice and her goal is to join with them to support their goals and help them gain the skills needed to increase their healthy living.