Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Plotz.
Hi Aaron, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path into mental health counseling began with my own experience in therapy as a child and young adult. Receiving mental health support during those formative years was incredibly beneficial and gave me firsthand insight into the power of being heard, understood, and guided through life’s challenges.
Since high school, I’ve noticed that people naturally feel comfortable opening up to me—especially about the struggles they’re carrying. I’ve been a professional musician since the age of 15, and throughout the years of performing, it was common for audience members and even strangers after shows to seek me out to share their life stories. Those moments consistently reminded me how deeply people long to be seen, heard, and understood. Over time, I realized this wasn’t coincidence; it was a calling.
I genuinely enjoy helping individuals navigate obstacles, build resilience, and move toward the life they want to live. I have a particular passion for helping clients identify, process, and ultimately accept historical trauma through EMDR, creating space for healing that feels both empowering and lasting.
I started my private practice as a way to serve individuals who truly want to engage in the work of growth and healing. There is nothing more meaningful to me than witnessing someone gain clarity, experience freedom from the weight of their past, and step confidently into the life they want to live.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting my own private practice has been both rewarding and challenging. While I felt confident in my clinical skills, I quickly realized that being a business owner requires a completely different skill set. Building a steady caseload, marketing myself in an authentic way, and navigating insurance versus self-pay all involved significant trial and error.
Wearing multiple hats has been one of the biggest adjustments. In addition to being a therapist, I’ve had to manage billing, policies, technology, and the overall direction of the business. Balancing the emotional depth of trauma work with the practical demands of running a practice has required structure, boundaries, and resilience.
There have been moments of uncertainty and refinement along the way, but those challenges have strengthened me. Building my practice has allowed me to create a space aligned with my values and to work with individuals who are truly ready to engage in meaningful healing.
We’ve been impressed with Stay Strong Counseling LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Stay Strong Counseling is dedicated to helping individuals rediscover their inner strength, heal from trauma, and move toward the life they want to live. We believe that every person already possesses resilience within them—sometimes it simply needs to be uncovered and strengthened.
What sets Stay Strong Counseling apart is our intentional, individualized approach. We prioritize truly hearing each client’s story and collaboratively developing a treatment plan tailored to their unique needs, goals, and pace. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and we are committed to creating a space where clients feel understood, empowered, and actively involved in their growth.
We primarily work with late teens and adults of all ages navigating anxiety, depression, anger management, trauma, and relationship challenges. Our practice specializes in trauma treatment through the use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Logotherapy—focused on meaning, purpose, and the power of hope—and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
At Stay Strong Counseling, healing is not just about symptom reduction; it’s about helping clients build clarity, resilience, and confidence so they can live with greater purpose and freedom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.staystrongcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stay_strong_counseling/
