About Us
Our Mission
Our goal is, by the grace of God, to bring peace to those who seek it.
What does "Pax" mean?
“Pax” has Latin roots (particularly in religious tradition), meaning “peace,” which we believe is a pivotal indicator of human flourishing. We view the concept as a state of being rather than simply a transient emotional experience.
Our Philosophy
The Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person (CCMMP)
Since psychotherapy is such an intrinsically personal process, we find it beneficial to disclose our own philosophy prior to initiating therapy. After all, we all have one! Our therapists have been trained in, and embrace, the “Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person” as a means of making sense of our nature as human beings. In short, the meta-model informs the conceptualization of our clients and everyone else in this world. The meta-model is (very!) briefly summarized in the numbered bullet points that follow. Please refer to The Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person if you’d like to learn more about this framework.
We make a few assumptions about each person who walks through our doors:
You are a person who has been made in the image and likeness of God.
You were made by and for divine and human love.
You were created to flourish.
You are unified in nature. That is, you are body and soul.
You have intrinsic goodness, dignity, and worth.
Our Team
Steven Hryniewicz
MS, LPC, LPCC, NCC
One of our founders, Steven works with adolescents and young adults (typically aged 10-30). Often, his clients come in struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma that gets in the way of living the life they desire. He has over 5 years of clinical experience, working mainly in community mental health and college/university settings.
Steven values humor, flexibility, and compassion in the therapy room.
Julie Hryniewicz
MSW, LISW-CP
A founder of the practice, Julie primarily focuses on providing couples counseling to married or pre-marital couples. She uses her extensive experience studying and working with family systems to help couples work through conflict, build a solid foundation for their connection, and work through difficult life events together.
In therapy, Julie commits to fostering humility, wisdom, and support.
Lucy Sammons
MA, LPC, NCC
Lucy joined our team in 2023. She specializes in working with an age range of 8-25 and her goal as a counselor is to help young people make positive changes to their lifestyle and mindset so that they might confidently handle challenges that impede their ability to thrive. A 2022 graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Lucy comes to us with experience working in community mental health with young children and their families.
Lucy values authenticity, curiosity, and compassion in working with her clients.
Andrea Witt
MS, LPC
Andrea joined our team in 2023. She enjoys working with clients across the lifespan, helping them build on their strengths, deepen their values, and to foster healing and resilience. Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she takes an integrative, person-centered approach and is also a Certified SYMBIS facilitator who enjoys working with couples. A native of Ohio, Andrea has called South Carolina home for over 25 years.
Andrea values authenticity, faith, and the dignity of every person, striving to create a compassionate space where healing and growth can take root.
Our Safe & Comfortable Offices
It is of top importance to us that you feel safe, comfortable, and respected while you are visiting our offices. We have done our best to create a relaxing and warm atmosphere in our appointment spaces so you can focus on happiness and healing. We hope you'll let us know during your visit if there is anything we can do to make our spaces more inviting and comfortable for you.
