The Gift of Group Therapy: An interview with PRN therapist Carmen Aranda

From time to time in our newsletter we like to highlight the different therapists who comprise the Philadelphia Renewal Network team. This fall it seemed fitting to highlight the work of Carmen Aranda, MA, who is launching an Anxiety Support Group this November, while continuing her good work as a therapist specializing in anxiety, depression, and trauma.

PRN: Hi Carmen! We’d love to talk more about the upcoming Anxiety Support Group, but can you begin by sharing how you decided to become a counselor in the first place?

CARMEN: It stemmed from my own experience of receiving counseling beginning at age 15. Counseling gave me a space to process, understand, and master my emotions. Before then, I didn't even know that counseling was a job that you could have because I wasn't exposed to it as a career opportunity! In my adult life, I moved to Philadelphia to join a church plant and was counseled by a woman named Arlene Navarro of Re:Story Counseling. It was my first experience with a woman of color as my therapist and I felt seen in many ways, and God used her to help transform my heart. As we met I felt a calling to contribute to my community in the same way, joining the 7% of therapists in the US who are of Latino descent.

PRN: And once you discerned that you wanted to become a counselor, what next steps did you take?

CARMEN: My next step was to talk with my community about the calling I had felt, and I received nothing but support and affirmation. I researched programs and chose to pursue the Master’s in Counseling program at Missio Seminary - a program that allowed me to merge both my faith and scientific approaches to help individuals in their therapeutic journey. I also enjoyed pursuing this track because I took confidence knowing my professors held the same convictions. It was tough to figure out how to work full-time while also doing the counseling thing full-time, but it was the right move. 

PRN: What has your experience as a counselor been like so far?

CARMEN: I love it! It is the most satisfying career that I could have ever asked for, especially since my faith impacts a lot of the work that I do. As God meets me in the work, I get to sit with people and offer hope, and I feel like it's an ongoing refining relationship for both me and the person I am counseling.  

PRN: I know you’re trained to help people in many kinds of situations, but do you have particular specialties that you’d like to share with our readers?

CARMEN: I enjoy working with survivors of trauma. A lot of times individuals come in for anxiety and depression without realizing these may be symptoms of past trauma. However, even without a trauma history, I love working with individuals navigating the difficulty of emotions and empowering them to slow down the "flood of overwhelm" with tangible tools. 

PRN: On the point of anxiety, you are beginning an Anxiety Support group on Tuesday 11/12. Can you tell us more about that?

CARMEN: Yes! The Anxiety Support Group can be helpful for anyone who struggles with anxiety, but it’s specially designed to help people who are anxious about the holidays and the difficult family dynamics, loneliness, or related experiences associated with the holiday season. We’re going to help participants understand why they feel on edge in various settings, to recognize the societal norms that may not be helpful depending on their situation, and to help identify their emotions and work through them in the healthiest way, without letting negative emotions completely overtake their whole experience. 
We'll integrate biblical concepts like boundaries and grief that relate to our experiences and empower one another through working together. 

PRN: And why might a group setting be uniquely helpful for someone struggling with anxiety?

CARMEN: With mental health, sometimes individuals feel alone and may say to themselves, "What's wrong with me? Why can't I handle this? Everyone else is managing fine on their own." Group therapy can both normalize and validate the discomfort and pain emotions cause in our daily lives, as well as connect us to individuals with similar experiences. Group therapy can also uncover feelings of shame caused by experiences - moving us to feeling like an "other" in the room and becoming a part of a collective group of individuals trying to figure it out together. And at the same time you have access to a counselor who offers insight, group management, and the best therapeutic approaches to finding freedom and relief. It’s also worth noting that it is usually significantly less expensive than an individual counseling session. 

PRN: Thanks Carmen, for sharing part of your story and offering this Anxiety Support Group. We’ll keep spreading the word about the group in the weeks to come!



The Anxiety Support Group begins Tuesday 11/12 from 6:00-7:30pm. The cost is $60 for each 90 minute “double session,” and the group will run for nine weeks. Please pre-register here, or email carmennicolearanda@gmail.com