I’m Doug Essig, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, tennis coach, husband and soon to be dad. As a Colorado River guide, I watched people put down their phones and reconnect with each other and the world around them.  That experience planted the seed for Healing Hobbies.

 

 

Later, at Jacksonville University’s Counseling Center, I worked with a student experiencing a severe panic attack who struggled to speak. We walked toward the river, and he began opening up. When we stopped walking, he stopped talking. That moment changed how I approached therapy.

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Today, I bring together movement, nature, science and faith to help people work through what feels heavy and build practical tools for everyday life. Faith has shaped my story, and there is room here for yours.

 

 

Outside of counseling, you’ll find me coaching tennis, surfing, kiteboarding or with the people I love. My work is about helping you reconnect with the people, purpose and experiences that make you feel alive.