Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Akman.
Hi Hilary, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a mental health therapist licensed in Florida and New Jersey, my path into counseling began with a deep desire to understand people. Growing up, I witnessed the emotional impact of anxiety, depression, and communication breakdowns within my own family. I often took on the role of confidante and helper—while not always healthy—showed me just how much I cared about helping others. By high school, I knew I wanted to major in psychology.
During my graduate training, I experienced firsthand how transformative therapy can be. It helped me understand how early experiences shaped my identity—and that I had the power to make different choices. I also attended a graduate program that integrated Christian counseling into the master’s curriculum, which deepened my ability to support clients who want faith woven into their counseling journey. That clarity shaped not only my personal growth but also my approach as a therapist: empathetic, insight-driven, and action-oriented.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Is the road ever smooth? Challenges started shortly after working in community mental health agency- while it provided a broad range of experience-you are thrusted into real clients lives and diagnoses that you must assess and treat. It is necessary work in order to receive the required number of hours to get licensed, which takes about 3 years.
Shortly after licensure, I quit community mental health and started my own private practice and haven’t looked back. I love working for myself and creating a schedule which works well for my life. The struggles with private practice are numerous and compounded with recent changes in google practices, the recent boom in online counseling conglomerates who have millions of marketing dollars that a solo practitioner can never compete with, and the advent of AI.
We’ve been impressed with Online Counseling Solutions, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I provide therapy for adolescents and adults and families in Florida and New Jersey facing anxiety, depression, and ADHD, and family conflicts.—both in-person (in Davie, FL) and via secure online sessions. My approach is structured, collaborative, and results-focused. Together, I help clients break big goals into manageable steps. Clients receive practical tools, personalized coping strategies, and helpful exercises between sessions to maintain momentum and reduce overall time in therapy.
Christian counseling can be integrated into the counseling process for those that prefer and request this approach.
I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which is the most empirically researched form of treatment for anxiety and depression- as well as adolescent and adult ADHD
I often hear from my clients who have been in counseling before that their experience was one of just venting during the session. While their therapist was compassionate and warm and empathetic, nothing really changed in their lives except feeling better temporarily. I always tell my clients that is not what I have to offer them. I want them to fell better, get better, and stay better. I help teach them to be their own therapist in effect. Building new skills around their areas of weakness while tapping into their strengths to help them achieve the transformation in their lives that made them call me in the first place
What’s next?
No actually- I know many therapists want to scale their practice up and grow it into a group practice. I like being a solo private practitioner. My practice is part-time and works for me. Currently the big changes are learning how to market myself with the rapid changes of google ads. My focus currently is local networking with schools, psychiatrists and churches.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onlinecounselingsolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilaryakman/?next=%2F
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hilaryakman8012
