Atrews "A.B." Bell
Meet Atrews Bell, LMHC Atrews Bell, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor with more than a decade of experience supporting individuals navigating mental health, behavioral health, substance use, and life challenges. His approach is grounded in compassion, respect, and the belief that meaningful change begins with feeling heard, understood, and supported.
He has over a decade of experience with corrections serving in various roles, such as Forensics Case Manager, Behavior Specialist, and Mental Health Counselor.
Throughout his career, Atrews has worked with individuals facing complex and challenging circumstances, including crisis situations, behavioral health concerns, substance use, and major life transitions. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on the many factors that can affect a person's emotional well-being—and the importance of creating a safe, judgment-free environment where clients can be honest about what they are experiencing. Since 2023, Atrews has served as a Regional Mental Health Manager with Armor Correctional Services, providing leadership and oversight for behavioral health programming and clinical operations. Previously, he served as Mental Health Director at the St. Johns County Jail in St. Augustine, Florida, where he supervised a multidisciplinary behavioral health team and developed crisis-management treatment plans and quality-improvement initiatives. His professional experience has also included developing re-entry programming and substance-use follow-up planning designed to help individuals successfully transition back into their communities. These experiences have strengthened his understanding of resilience, recovery, accountability, and the importance of having the right support system during difficult seasons of life. As a therapist, Atrews brings both clinical experience and genuine compassion to his work. He understands that reaching out for counseling can be a significant step, and he strives to meet each client where they are without judgment. Whether you are working through stress, emotional challenges, relationship concerns, substance-use issues, life transitions, or simply want to better understand yourself, Atrews is committed to helping you identify your strengths, develop practical tools, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.
First session
TypicaWhat to Expect During Your First Counseling Session Your first counseling session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a safe, trusting, and supportive relationship. You will have the space to share what has brought you to counseling, discuss any concerns or challenges you may be experiencing, and identify what you hope to gain from the therapeutic process. During our first session, we will: Discuss your current concerns, experiences, and personal goals. Explore what has been impacting your emotional and mental well-being. Talk about your strengths, needs, and areas where you would like support. Review confidentiality, the counseling process, and what you can expect moving forward. Begin identifying possible steps toward growth, healing, and positive change. You do not need to prepare anything special or have all the right words. Whether this is your first time in counseling or you have attended therapy before, you are welcome to show up exactly as you are. My goal is for you to leave your first session feeling heard, supported, understood, and hopeful about the journey ahead. Counseling is a process, and we will move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. This is your space, your journey, and an opportunity to prioritize yourself.
Strengths
As a therapist, I strive to create a space where people feel safe to be honest, vulnerable, and completely themselves. I believe that therapy should be a judgment-free environment where you can share your experiences, challenges, and emotions without fear of being criticized or misunderstood. My approach is grounded in compassion, empathy, and genuine connection. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to be both compassionate and transparent. I believe clients deserve honesty, even when the conversation may be difficult. I will meet you where you are, listen to understand, and provide support while also gently challenging you when necessary. My goal is not simply to tell you what you want to hear, but to help you recognize patterns, explore what may be holding you back, and identify healthier ways to move forward. I also bring a genuine passion for inspiring others. I believe that every person has strengths, potential, and the ability to grow, even when they may not see it in themselves. I want to help you discover your voice, build confidence, understand your experiences, and become the best version of yourself—not someone else's version of who you should be, but the person you truly want to become. My role is to walk alongside you throughout that process. I am here to listen, encourage, challenge, and support you as you navigate life's challenges and work toward meaningful change. I believe growth happens when we feel both supported and empowered, and it is an honor for me to be part of that journey with my clients.
Ideal clients
My Ideal Client My ideal client is someone who is ready to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, work through life's challenges, and create meaningful, lasting change. They may be experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, relationship difficulties, life transitions, low self-esteem, emotional overwhelm, or challenges with setting healthy boundaries. They may feel stuck, uncertain, disconnected, or overwhelmed by circumstances in their lives. They are seeking a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where they can feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. My ideal client is open to self-discovery, personal growth, and developing healthier coping strategies. They may not have all the answers or know exactly where to begin, but they are willing to take the first step toward healing and positive change. My goal is to support individuals in recognizing their strengths, building confidence, improving emotional wellness, developing healthier relationships, and creating a life that feels more balanced, purposeful, and fulfilling. I strive to meet each client where they are, honoring their unique experiences while helping them move toward their personal goals at their own pace.
Origin story
My journey to becoming a therapist began long before I understood what therapy was or what it meant to help others through their struggles. Growing up with a single mother, I learned early about resilience, perseverance, and the importance of having someone who believes in you. There were times when I struggled academically and found myself falling behind in school. I knew I wanted to do better, but I did not always understand how to express what I was feeling or what I needed. Even as a child, I knew there was something different about me. I experienced and processed things in ways that I did not always know how to put into words. I often kept my thoughts and emotions to myself because I did not have the language to explain them. Looking back, I realize how much I could have benefited from having someone who truly understood me, listened without judgment, and helped me make sense of what I was experiencing. Those experiences became a source of motivation rather than something that defined me. Watching my mother work hard to provide for our family and experiencing my own challenges taught me the value of compassion, determination, and support. I began to recognize that people can struggle silently, and sometimes what a person needs most is someone willing to listen, understand, and walk alongside them. As I grew older, my desire to help my family and others became an important part of who I am. I wanted to become the person I needed when I was younger—the person who could help others find their voice, understand themselves, and recognize their own potential. Becoming a therapist allows me to turn my experiences into purpose by creating a safe space where people can feel heard, valued, and understood.
Ongoing work together
What Ongoing Counseling Will Look Like Our work together will be a collaborative journey focused on your personal growth, emotional wellness, and healing. Each session will provide a safe, supportive, and judgment-free space to explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and challenges. Throughout our time together, we will work on identifying patterns, understanding emotional triggers, developing healthy coping skills, strengthening self-esteem, establishing boundaries, and creating healthier relationships. We will regularly revisit your goals, discuss challenges, celebrate progress, and adjust our approach as your needs evolve. Progress in counseling looks different for everyone. You may begin to notice that you are managing stress and anxiety more effectively, responding to difficult situations differently, communicating your needs more confidently, setting healthier boundaries, or feeling more comfortable with who you are. You may also notice increased self-awareness, emotional balance, confidence, and the ability to navigate life's challenges with greater resilience. Healing is not always a straight path, and growth takes time. There may be difficult days along the way, but those moments can also provide opportunities for learning and growth. My goal is to empower you with the tools, insight, and confidence to recognize your progress and create meaningful changes that extend beyond our sessions. Together, we will celebrate the small victories, work through the difficult moments, and continue moving toward a healthier, more balanced, and fulfilling life.
Treatment methods
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.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- FloridaLicense MH13154
- GeorgiaLicense LPC013717
- PennsylvaniaLicense PC018371
- TexasLicense 91138