New to Grow
Atrews Bell, LMHC, has been a Regional Mental Health Manager for Armor Correctional Services since 2023. Prior to transitioning into this role, he served as the Mental Health Director at St. Johns County Jail in St. Augustine, Florida, where he not only provided direct supervision to Behavioral Health Counselors, Psychiatric Technicians, and Discharge planners but he developed and implemented successful treatment plans for the use of Crisis Management. Additionally, as a strategy to decrease habitual detention and substance abuse within the community, he created and implemented a successful multifaceted quality improvement initiative, such as the re-entry program groups and substance abuse follow-up plans. Atrews is a Florida State University graduate, earning his Bachelor of Science in Criminology in 2001. With a strong desire to obstruct the prevalence of mental health illness and behavioral health challenges across the globe, he obtained a Master’s of Science Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Psychology from Troy University in 2012. Atrews fosters a well-established background in Mental/Behavioral Health and Leadership. As a servant leader who protects the mission and vision of the organization, he will serve and empower his team. In addition, he is well known for his positive energy and unique ability to inspire and motivate individuals across the lifespan naturally. He has over a decade of experience with corrections serving in various roles, such as Forensics Case Manager, Behavior Specialist, and Mental Health Counselor. His strong desire to work corrections traces back to his childhood. He was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, in an area where becoming an endangerment to society was imminent. As a result of his ability to overcome adversity, he is a known leader in his community. In his spare time, he enjoys overseeing and leading his nonprofit organization, which aims to mentor/counsel youths who lack resources.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Typically the first session is a meet and greet for myself and the client and to als....hat has brought the client to therapy.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My strength as a therapist is being able to communicate with a multitude of different people without being judgmental and understanding my strengths and weaknesses as a therapist.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal client is someone who seeks understanding and growth although understanding that this is a process that takes time.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Over the past twenty-three years, my work as a therapist has been grounded in the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and shaped by the opportunity to support individuals across the lifespan. Working with juveniles, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients has provided a broad perspective on how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact at different stages of life. Throughout my career, I have focused on helping clients recognize the connections between their thinking patterns and their emotional and behavioral responses. Using CBT techniques such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, problem-solving skills, and psychoeducation, I have supported individuals in identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing healthier, more adaptive ways of coping with life’s challenges. With juveniles and adolescents, therapy often centers on building emotional awareness, strengthening self-esteem, and teaching practical coping and communication skills. Sessions frequently incorporate developmentally appropriate strategies that help young clients understand how their thoughts influence their feelings and actions, empowering them to manage anxiety, behavioral concerns, peer conflicts, and family stress. Working with adults involves addressing a wide range of life stressors including relationships, work pressures, mood disorders, trauma, and life transitions. CBT provides a structured and collaborative framework that helps clients examine beliefs, challenge cognitive distortions, and implement behavioral changes that improve overall functioning and well-being. In geriatric populations, therapy often focuses on adjustment to life changes such as health concerns, loss, retirement, and shifts in independence. CBT techniques are adapted to support resilience, promote meaning and purpose, and manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, or cognitive decline while respecting each individual’s life history and experiences. Across all age groups, my approach emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and empowerment. The goal is not only symptom reduction but also helping clients build practical skills they can use long after therapy ends. Over two decades of practice have reinforced my belief that when individuals learn to examine their thoughts and develop healthier behavioral patterns, meaningful and lasting change is possible at any stage of life.