All About Northern Roots

How did Northern Roots get started?

A lot of brainstorming... Mostly... That's the honest truth. I thought of several different names, ran them by my husband, my sister-in-law, my cousin, and wrote them down over and over again. But none of the names I originally thought of really hit home for me. I didn't feel connected to the name, nor did it feel right for my practice currently or in the future.

After much debating, I knew I wanted the word "Roots" in the name. Why? Well, roots signifies to me that the practice has an origin, a foundation, it's established, it's firmly planted. Think of a large tree, or even small trees, the root systems on trees are incredible. You can't possibly see a fraction of the roots unless the tree is plucked perfectly to showcase it's roots.

What are the "Roots" of Northern Roots Counseling? The core principles to this practice are integrity, compassion, and dedication. These are the "roots" that established this practice, and will be the foundation from which Northern Roots Counseling operates on a daily basis, now and in the future.

Why Northern? Well, to put it simply, I live in the north. Not only do I live in the north, I grew up in the northern part of the United States, and moved further north with my husband. I lived so far north at one point that I was only a short drive from the border to Canada. North is part of who I am, and it is clear that I will always be a northern woman.

So, what do you think of Northern Roots Counseling name? I hope my sarcasm will come across well here, but I want to say that even if you don't like the name - I can't change it now. I've got too much invested in the effort to create the name. The number one reason to like or even love this name is this - I didn't use AI to think it up, nor did I create it with ChatGPT or any other input. I felt the Holy Spirit spoke the word "Roots" to me, and the rest is history.

If reading all this makes you want to book a free 15 minute consultation, click here to find my schedule and let's start your counseling - today!

About Irene Eastland, LCMHC, LPC, MA.

All my life I've loved to help people. I used to try and help friends as a kid and teen with any issues they were facing. Not really knowing how to help made it challenging, but it taught me a lot about empathy, and recognizing that everyone is going through things we really can't see unless they share those things. Being entrusted with someone's difficulties was something I found rewarding...

After getting my Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2016, I began working towards my Master's degree in Developmental Psychology, which I graduated with in 2019. Afterwards, I started pursuing positions in the counseling and case management field. I began working as a case manager and counselor in 2019, and found another position solely as a counselor that same year.

In 2020, I decided I wanted to pursue my counseling degree. I began my courses online through Adams State University, and graduated with my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in May of 2022. Throughout my time in school I was practicing counseling under direct supervision, and after graduating I continued to practice counseling with a variety of people from young kids ages 3 and up, to older adults, families, and group counseling as well.

In 2024, I received my independent license to practice counseling in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and I added Maine to the list in February of 2025. As of this writing, I've been licensed for almost 2 years, and I've been practicing counseling for nearly 6 years now... Time flies!

I've always had a passion for helping others, and building them up. I started Northern Roots with the intention of continuing to help and build people up through counseling, including faith-based counseling, and other evidence-based modalities.

If you're seeking counseling at this time, feel free to reach out, and we can start your journey to better mental health - together. Proverbs 27:17 says that iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Through counseling I hope to sharpen you, and give you the tools you need to overcome the challenges you're facing.