Welcome to Forward Conscious

The path that led me here...

I’m Dr. Rachel Spero-Hoy, a Licensed Psychologist currently practicing in Washington, Kansas, and 41 other states. I specialize in trauma and mood disorders, with over a decade of training in these areas. But enough about credentials—you want to know about me, right?

I spent years studying PTSD, Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), and resilience, and a decade helping Veterans overcome some of life’s hardest moments. And then, trauma came for me. In 2021, just as my Active Duty Army spouse and I moved across the country, my daughter was born prematurely at 26 weeks, weighing just 1 lb. We both fought for our lives—and won.

But trauma doesn’t stop, just because we survive the event. It shows up in subtle triggers like difficulty feeling safe. Having a hard time trusting others. Feeling unempowered. Avoiding intimacy. Poor self-esteem. And in myriad other ways. As a trauma psychologist, I knew this. As a mother to a medically fragile micro-preemie, I had to remind myself that I knew these things.

I started putting to practice all the evidence-based skills I had gathered over my training. After a long, and sometimes painful road, I reached Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). 

PTG is the positive change that can follow trauma—a chance to find new purpose, gratitude, deeper connections, and a fresh sense of strength. My own journey through PTG has led me here. Forward Conscious is a space for healing and growth. Let me guide you on your journey to your highest timeline.

Expertly trained to support these special populations:

PTSD  |  Trauma Recovery  |  Postpartum Mood Disorders  |  Veterans  |  Therapy for Therapists

Specialized training to bring you the best support:

I have specialized training and am prepared to provide additional support for those struggling with PTSD, Reproductive Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, Phobias, Panic Attacks, and Migraines.

Education and previous experience:

Dr. Rachel Spero-Hoy has a PhD in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University, where she also completed her BA in Psychology. Dr. Rachel also has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Frostburg State University, in Maryland.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Rachel has specialized in the research and treatment of PTSD and cooccurring mood disorders. She has worked at various prominent VA Medical Centers, to include: Pittsburgh, PA; Topeka, KS; Temple, TX; and now serving Veteran’s across the state of Texas as a PTSD and Mood Disorders Specialist for the VA’s VISN 17 Clinical Resource Hub.  Dr. Rachel is an expert clinician and trainer in the treatment of PTSD.