Request Free Counseling

Category Archives: Friendly Advice

Surviving the Holiday Season: Tips to Protect Your Peace

Author: Jennifer Burch, MA LPC   Introduction: Embracing Joy While Managing Stress The holiday season is a time of joy, laughter, and togetherness, but it can also become a whirlwind of obligations and stress. As women, we often feel the pressure to create magical moments for our families while managing our emotional well-being. This year, […]

Voluntary Open Adoption and Could It Be for Me

Voluntary Open Adoption and Could It Be for Me

Maybe open adoption has crossed your mind, but it’s one of those options you quickly pushed aside—maybe because of things you’ve heard or because it just feels too heavy.  But what if adoption today is different from what you’ve been told? If you’re feeling lost and unsure what to do next, that’s completely normal. It […]

Birthright St. Charles - Listening

Listening with Purpose: Building Bridges in a Divided World

In today’s world, people seem less willing to accept differing viewpoints. Even when presented with facts, personal agendas can overshadow rational thought. It feels like anger and emotion dominate, leaving little room for understanding someone else’s perspective or finding common ground. While I’m not perfect in this regard, I strive to keep an open mind. […]

community

From Isolation to Community: The Journey to Meaningful Connections and Support

Loneliness is something I’ve frequently felt throughout my life. Like many, my memories of loneliness begin with school, where I often felt isolated and sad. Questions like, “Why wasn’t I invited to that party?” and “Why don’t I have any friends?” haunted me. It reminds me of that silly saying, “Nobody likes me, everybody hates […]

Breastfeeding in Public

I remember with clarity the first time I attempted to breastfeed my newborn son in a public setting (in actuality, though amidst a group of people, we were still in the privacy and comfort of a good friend’s home.) I was doing my best to make breastfeeding work since I had learned during pregnancy all […]

learned helplessness

Learned Helplessness: Living Beyond Your Past

By: Jami McDermott, Outreach Coordinator In our minds, we all have some funky mental stuff going on, right? It’s what psychologists call “complexes.” They’re like the mental patterns that shape how we see ourselves and the world. They come from past experiences, trauma, belief systems, and upbringings. So, what are these “complexes”? Think of them […]

Love’s Comfort: A Valentine’s Reflection on Self-Adoration

By Jami McDermott, B.S. Speech Comm., Outreach Coordinator Seasonal holidays offer a wonderful opportunity to express affection and create lasting memories by exchanging gifts, planning special outings, and writing heartfelt notes. The joy experienced during these festive times is mutual, making everyone involved feel cherished and appreciated. However, once the holiday season comes to an […]

Lights On, Hearts Open: A Holiday Guide to Connecting with Neighbors

By Jami McDermott, B.S. Speech Comm., Outreach Coordinator In a world that can often seem dark, especially when focusing on the negative, our instinct is to retreat by turning off the lights, closing the blinds, and isolating ourselves. However, perhaps a few simple actions could bring about positive change, especially during the holidays—an ideal time […]

shaping the unseen

Shaping the Unseen

By Jami McDermott, B.S. Speech Comm., Outreach Coordinator The atmosphere in a room is not just about the physical air composition; it’s more about the intangible ambiance influenced by your presence, mood, actions, and preconceived attitude towards the place, people, situation, topic, or activity. This means that you can shape and transform the overall feeling and […]