Joshua Tree Counseling was founded as a supervised private practice in 2021 by Rachel Lohrman in Tucson, Arizona. Rachel believes that healing is best achieved through in person counseling with a compassionate, attuned therapist in a comfortable setting.  In 2022, Rachel plans to expand into a group practice, creating a collective of committed professionals to offer therapy in a comfortable setting, making it possible for even more clients to move from hopeless to healing. 

The name Joshua Tree Counseling was chosen in honor of Rachel’s brother-in-law Joshua. On a Saturday morning in July 2019, Josh lost his decade long battle of mental illness when he took his life to finally stop the pain. Few knew of his internal struggles because the Josh most people knew was the friendly guy who would talk to anyone and everyone and who lit up a room with his laugh and smile. Josh loved to always be learning something new and was a gifted teacher of his knowledge. He never missed an opportunity to help someone. He loved his dogs and he loved cars and hunting. He found comfort and peace with horses, and collected boots. He lived for music. He loved his beautiful home and enjoyed making home improvements. He loved adventure – traveling, hiking, exploring new places and meeting new people, and could not resist a good ghost tour. Most of all, he loved his wife and daughter. 

A Haunted Mind

Rachel describes Joshua’s experience as living in a haunted house inside his mind from which he could not escape. Tragically, Joshua succumbed to the belief that suicide was his only way out. Resolved to better understand the fractured state of Josh’s mind, she poured herself into trainings which led Rachel to chose to specialize in the treatment of complex trauma, dissociation, and suicidality. Since that time Rachel has been able to help many people who struggle with a sense of hopelessness.

Grief Flash Fiction

About a year after Josh’s passing, Rachel attended a training on grief. The instructor, Alyssa Drescher, encouraged participants to write their grief story in six words.  Still grieving the loss of her brother-in-law,  Rachel wrote this about Josh: Didn’t figure it out in time. Months later, Rachel connected Joshua’s legacy with her work as a therapist.  If not for him, she wouldn’t have pressed into her learning about dissociation which is the very thing that brought one of her client’s back from the brink of suicide. Realizing that Joshua’s life and death literally saved her client’s life, Rachel released the burden of Josh’s death and felt the swell of hope in that she could honor his life, his story.

The Joshua Tree

At Josh’s memorial service, a tree was planted in his name – the Joshua Tree. It is growing big and strong, just like Josh was in life. How could the practice be named anything else? This is how the name Joshua Tree Counseling came to be.

Josh, you are loved and painfully missed.

If you are ready to begin your healing journey with in person counseling at Joshua Tree Counseling, contact us or request an appointment online.