About Rising Tides
The person, passion, and purpose behind the practice.
Madison Lowe Askins, LPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina and the founder of Rising Tides Psychotherapy. I believe genuine connection and curiosity help us better understand ourselves, and that self-awareness is key to meaningful change. My approach is compassionate and collaborative, while recognizing that therapy should reflect the individual rather than follow a one-size-fits-all approach.
Throughout my clinical work, I have had the opportunity to work with children, teens, adults, and families across a wide range of concerns and stages of life. I have a particular passion for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety-related disorders, while also enjoying work that helps children, adolescents, and families navigate behavioral concerns, relationships, identity, and significant life changes.
My Approach
My approach to therapy is rooted in an existential perspective, which means I’m interested in more than simply reducing symptoms. I want to understand the whole person—their experiences, relationships, values, choices, environment, and the meaning they make of what happens in their lives.
I also take an integrative approach to treatment, drawing from evidence-based methods based on each client’s individual needs. This may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), DBT-informed skills, narrative approaches, mindfulness, and experiential interventions.
Rather than simply telling clients what to do, I value curiosity and collaboration. Therapy can be a place to ask questions, recognize patterns, challenge what may no longer be working, try something different, and better understand what matters to you.
Where Passion Meets Purpose
Animals have always been an important part of my life, and bringing that passion into my work as a counselor felt like a natural fit. My journey into experiential therapy began with horses and eventually led me to become a Certified Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist through EAGALA.
What started as a personal love for goats later grew into my own herd—and another way to bring together two parts of my life that mean a great deal to me. Today, my experiential work includes horses, goats, nature, and the farm environment as meaningful parts of the therapeutic experience.
Meet the goats behind our experiential work at The Doting Goat.
My path to becoming a therapist began with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina Asheville, where I also competed as a Division I cross-country and track athlete. I later earned my M.S. in Clinical Counseling from Charleston Southern University and am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies at Regent University.
Since becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina, I have continued pursuing specialized training in OCD and anxiety treatment as well as experiential approaches, including becoming a Certified Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist through EAGALA.
Education and training shape the work I do, but I believe the relationship you have with your therapist matters just as much. My goal is to create a space where you can be curious, honest, challenged, and fully yourself.
The Journey Behind the Work
A Space to Be You
Rising Tides was created to be a place where you can show up as yourself.
Whether we’re meeting in the office, through telehealth, or spending time outdoors at the farm, therapy can look a little different depending on what feels most helpful for you.
And of course, Steve, my very small co-therapist, may occasionally make an appearance at the office.