About

Welcome to Soulstice Counseling, LLC, where philosophy, mythology, neuroscience, psychology, and counseling converge. Soulstice is a website where you can find educational resources and seek counseling services with me. Through resources, links, and written pieces, we explore the fundamental connections that underlie human knowledge, experience, and the process of self-understanding in counseling.

Read on to learn about the author and creator of this site.

Alex Ayvazian, M.S., LPC, NCC

I am Alex, a dedicated scholar, educator, and licensed mental health professional in Metro Atlanta, GA. With a background in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a passion for research, teaching, and philosophical inquiry, I am committed to advancing the counseling profession through innovative frameworks like Nexus Counseling.

As a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Mercer University, I combine my counseling practice with scholarly pursuits to explore meaning-making, narrative therapy, and multicultural competence. My work bridges modern neuroscience, ancient philosophies, and contemporary counseling techniques to deepen our understanding of human cognition and potential.

Education and Credentials

  • PhD Candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision
    Mercer University, Atlanta, GA (Expected late 2025)
  • Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
    Mercer University, Atlanta, GA (2022)
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
    California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA (2014)
  • Licensed Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Georgia
  • Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)

Research Interests

My research focuses on:

  • The factor analytic structure of Meaning-in-Life (MIL) for non-experts
  • Meaninglessness in Young Adulthood
  • Religious deconversion and trauma
  • Narrative Therapy as a treatment for anxiety and depression
  • Emerging referents in counseling, such as Internet Gaming Disorder
  • Novel counseling theories and approaches, such as Neuro-Narrative Counseling and Neuroscience in Counseling

Professional Experience

I bring a wealth of practical experience to my academic and clinical roles:

  • Founder & CEO, Soulstice Counseling, LLC.
  • Adjunct Faculty at Mercer University, leading group counseling labs for master’s students.
  • Registry Therapist at Emory University Hospital, facilitating therapy for individuals and groups with persistent mental referents.
  • Published author and conference presenter, contributing to advancing the philosophy of counseling studies.

Notable Publications and Presentations

  • Publications:
    • Ayvazian, V., & McNeill, M. (2023). Don’t Be Afraid: A Pilot Study of Religious Deconversion Experiences. [Unpublished]
    • Brackette, C., & Ayvazian, V. (2023). Practical assessment and application of imagery techniques in esports. Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity.
  • Conference Presentations:
    • De-converted: Navigating Religious Disaffiliation in Today’s Younger People (2023)
    • Meaning in Life: A Specialized Meaning-Making Instrument for a New Generation (2024)

Philosophy and Vision

Through Nexus Epistemology Theory (NET), I aim to reimagine how we understand and apply knowledge in counseling and beyond. I hope to empower individuals to find deeper meaning and connection by integrating universal patterns with personal narratives.

I (Alex Ayvazian) developed NET to address how humans know, understand, and make meaning. At its core, this philosophy is a metapsychological theory that stresses the connection between mental activity and the physical body. Further, it examines the relationship between individual and universal knowledge and consciousness.

In addition, I have recently created a philosophical approach to counseling known as Nexus Counseling (NC), which combines several counseling theories: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy (NT), Analytical Psychology, and Existential Psychology/Therapy. Nexus Counseling is the application of NET and emphasizes the interplay between universal and personal truths, helping us gain insight into ourselves and the world. I write a lot about this approach in my blog posts. Through concepts like ‘epistem,’ ‘referents,’ and ‘nexus,’ NET bridges the personal and collective experiences that shape us all.

This website is a booking platform for counseling and a hub for anyone interested in philosophical perspectives on counseling, knowledge, and human development. Through blog posts, articles, and resources, I aim to break down key ideas in NET and NC to show how they apply to everyday life. Whether you’re a counseling professional, educator, student, or someone interested in philosophical approaches to understanding, you’ll find ideas here to explore and expand your perspective.

Contact Me

Nexus Epistemology © 2024 by V. Alexander Ayvazian is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0