About April Hankins

If you're a mom who feels like you're drowning in shoulds—how you should parent, believe, feel, or be—I see you. I've been there. And I'm here to help you find your way back to yourself.

Hi, I'm April.

I'm a licensed therapist offering therapy for moms in Canal Fulton, Ohio, specializing in childhood trauma, religious and spiritual trauma, and concerns around intimacy and sexual desire during motherhood.

My claim to fame is that I was once Chuck E. Cheese. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and now living in Ohio—so yes, my heart still aches for Wawa. I'm a mom to two toddlers, have two little pups underfoot, and I rarely miss a We Can Do Hard Things episode. I lived for The Liturgists podcast during my own season of spiritual shifting, and I'm genuinely thrilled to have an in‑person therapy office right here in Canal Fulton.

If you ever spot me at the local Cherry St. Creamery, I'm ordering vanilla soft serve with sprinkles in a waffle cone.

How I became a therapist for moms

I attended Eastern University for youth ministry and spent years working at a large evangelical megachurch as a middle school pastor. I loved the relationships, the conversations, and the small‑group moments—but I also started noticing that the questions people brought into those spaces deserved more room, more honesty, and more care than I knew how to offer at the time.

That curiosity (and discomfort) led me to pursue my Master's in Counseling at Missio Seminary. Around the same time, my own beliefs began to shift. I started asking hard questions about faith, authority, sexuality, and belonging—and slowly moved toward a spirituality that is inclusive, open‑minded, and grounded in self‑trust rather than fear.

My faith deconstruction wasn't a loss—it was a reclaiming of my own voice and values. I know firsthand how disorienting and lonely it can feel to question beliefs you once held dear, especially when it means stepping away from a community or career you loved.

Then I became a mother. Although I’d been in therapy previously, my childhood experiences became louder and felt more pressing to address after motherhood. I realized fears, anxieties and triggers I held onto from childhood and was motivated to break cycles for my children.

Those two transitions—faith deconstruction and motherhood—shape how I practice therapy today. They're also why I'm passionate about providing counseling for moms navigating all of the complexity and beauty of motherhood. I personally understand loss, trauma, and the struggles of mom life—even as a mom with privileges of which I am aware.

Why I work with moms in Canal Fulton, Ohio

Motherhood can be beautiful and disorienting. Empowering and exhausting. Clarifying and deeply triggering.

Many of the moms I work with are thoughtful, capable women in their late 30s who are married, raising children in or near Canal Fulton, Ohio, and doing their best to break cycles they didn't choose. On the outside, life often looks "fine." On the inside, there may be:

• Childhood trauma resurfacing now that you're parenting

• Religious or spiritual trauma from rigid, fear‑based faith systems

• Guilt or anxiety about not enjoying motherhood the way you thought you would

• Confusion or grief around sexual desire, intimacy, or your changing body

• A quiet sense that you've lost touch with yourself

I understand this—not just clinically, but personally.

You don't have to be in crisis to seek therapy. Wanting support, clarity, or relief is reason enough.

EMDR and IFS Therapy in Canal Fulton: What working with me is like

My approach to therapy is warm, honest, and collaborative. I don't believe in fixing you—because you aren't broken.

I help moms:

• Rebuild trust in themselves and their intuition

• Understand how past experiences shape present‑day reactions

• Process childhood trauma and spiritual trauma

• Explore spirituality, sexuality, and identity without shame

• Decide their own path forward with confidence

• Set boundaries (even with family, church, or people you love)

• Manage the anxiety, rage, or numbness that comes with motherhood

I primarily use EMDR therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS)—evidence‑based, trauma‑informed approaches that work especially well for childhood trauma, religious trauma, and overwhelmed moms.

EMDR helps us process trauma so it doesn't keep running the show in your parenting, your relationships, or your body. IFS helps us understand the different parts of ourselves—the part that's angry, the part that's performing, the part that's exhausted—and bring compassion to all of it.

Sessions are paced, attuned, and grounded in nervous‑system safety. We move as quickly—or as gently—as your system needs. Most clients come weekly or biweekly. Sessions are 50 minutes, and we'll go at your pace.

Who I work best with

You may feel at home in my practice if you're:

• A mom in her 30s who is questioning everything you thought you knew about faith, parenting, relationships, or yourself

• Tired of performing and ready to be real

• Willing to do the hard work of healing even when it's uncomfortable

• Ready to break cycles, not repeat them

• Done minimizing your own pain and ready to take it seriously

• Seeking therapy for moms in Canal Fulton, Ohio

• Looking for religious or spiritual trauma therapy

• Interested in EMDR therapy for unresolved childhood experiences

• Needing support navigating intimacy, desire, or identity after becoming a parent

• Looking for a therapy space where you don't have to perform or have it all figured out

Your path does not need to look like mine. That difference is not only accepted—it's celebrated and respected.

My Specialties: Childhood Trauma, Spiritual Trauma & Sexual Desire Counseling

I provide specialized counseling for:

Childhood Trauma Therapy

Processing childhood trauma that's showing up in how you parent or relate to others. EMDR therapy can help you heal from past wounds so they don't control your present.

Faith Deconstruction and Spiritual Trauma Counseling

Working through the grief, anger, confusion, and freedom that comes with leaving harmful religious beliefs behind. Whether you're deconstructing from evangelical Christianity, processing church hurt, or navigating life after leaving your faith community, I understand this journey personally.

Sexual Desire and Intimacy Counseling for Moms

Reconnecting with your body and pleasure after kids, trauma, or purity culture. Low sexual desire is incredibly common for moms, and we can work through what's blocking your connection to yourself and your partner. Sexuality is often deeply connected to trauma, faith, and motherhood. This is a shame‑free space to explore what's coming up for you.

A note about therapy in Canal Fulton, Ohio

Having an in‑person therapy office in Canal Fulton matters to me. I love working with moms who are rooted in this community—women who care deeply about their families, their values, and the kind of life they're building.

You don't need to drive to a big city to receive thoughtful, high‑quality trauma therapy.

I welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ individuals and families. I believe in body autonomy, racial justice, and that all people deserve dignity and respect.

Serving moms in Canal Fulton, Massillon, North Canton, Canton, Akron, and throughout Stark County, Ohio.

Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy in Canal Fulton

Do I have to be in crisis to start therapy? No. Many moms begin therapy because they want support, clarity, or relief—not because things are falling apart.

Where are your clients spiritually? I work with moms across the spiritual spectrum—from still-attending a church to fully deconstructed to never-religious. I help moms process harmful or rigid religious experiences, faith deconstruction, and spiritual trauma in a non‑judgmental, client‑led way. You lead; I follow.

I’d like to address my sexual desire, but feel nervous talking about it. What will it be like? This is such a vulnerable thing to seek help for, and I'm glad you're asking. Low sexual desire is incredibly common for moms—it's often connected to everything else you're carrying (exhaustion, touch burnout, past trauma, purity culture messages). We work on untangling all of that and helping you reconnect with your body on your terms. It’s common to feel uncomfortable talking about sex, most of us were not encouraged to discuss, explore and or express our sexuality.

What if I don't know what I need yet? That's okay. We'll figure it out together.

What if I'm not sure I experienced 'real' trauma? So many moms minimize their own pain. If it hurt you, it matters. We don't rank suffering here. Your experience is valid, and you deserve trauma therapy and support.

What if my partner doesn't 'get' therapy? You get to make your own decisions about your healing, regardless of whether your partner understands or approves. I support you in that.

Do you accept insurance or offer online therapy? I currently accept insurance until September 2026 and then will be an out of network provider.

Ready to start therapy for moms in Canal Fulton, Ohio?

If something here feels familiar—if your body softened a bit while reading—you're likely in the right place.

I would be honored to support you as you reconnect with yourself, your voice, and your sense of wholeness. I'll walk alongside you with care, honesty, and respect—and yes, I'll remind you of the strength and badass I already see in you.

I love to help moms like you because I know you are full of integrity and deeply care about your impact on your children and the community.

Reach out when you're ready to take the next step.