Abide Counseling & Co

09/07/2023

Hey everyone! I'm doing some market research for a new product I'm creating. Looking to talk to 5 moms of young children who want to implement a tear-free goodbye routine. If this is you, leave a comment down below, and I'll follow up with you to schedule a 15-minute zoom call ❤ (you'll get to ask me some free questions if you're willing to chat ;))

08/21/2023

Wish you had a therapist mom friend you could just call in the moments of “what do I do?!”

I think we could all benefit from that…

And trust me, I wish I could be that for everyone but I can’t in a sustainable way YET 🙂

Until then…please use this resource for all ages (there are 4 quizzes depending on what age your child is) to help you see what is “normal” and what may need some extra attention with the help of a therapist or parenting workshop.

🤍🤍

Introducing the Boundary Script Practice Guide, specially crafted for women like YOU who are ready to communicate your needs effectively to your spouse. 🚀 Are you tired of feeling resentful and angry all the time? 🚀 Sick of not knowing what to say to communicate your needs? 🚀 Maybe want to ...

08/21/2023

Upcoming webinar on how to help your child through separation anxiety.

Finally turn tears into peaceful goodbyes. No more peeling off your child from your body or mama tears in the car as you’re pulling out the driveway.

Sign up here or tag a friend who would be interested!

❤️

I know firsthand the challenges you're facing as a caring parent dealing with your toddler's separation anxiety. The emotional toll, from the guilt and helplessness to the exhaustion, can be overwhelming. But I'm here to offer you hope and practical solutions. As both a therapist and a mom who has w...

08/15/2023

Be sure to check out the boundary script guide before I take it off my site tomorrow!

A guide to empower women to express their needs, feelings, and boundaries in a compassionate and confident way. By using these statements, you can cultivate healthier relationships and create a more balanced and fulfilling life.

06/27/2022

A part of why therapy is so healing is because we get a space to share our story. Did you know that having a support person or loved one listen and hear what you are saying after a significant event, someone hug you and tell you they are there with you, or someone to look at you and say that YOU matter to me and you matter to God, are all protective factors?
In honor of Abide’s upcoming 2nd birthday & 1st year celebration in the new space…this shirt will be ON SALE this week only. Local orders available for free shipping with code: KCLOCAL
I recommend sizing up if you want a relaxed fit or ordering your regular size for fitted. Each unique is dyed individually so the color of shirt is unique to you.
Just click link in bio to order 🤍

06/15/2022

Do you agree or disagree? Do you think we should be aiming towards balance or integration?

In 2018, I wrote an article for Naturae’s Path on Work-Life Balance . When I wrote this article, I was single, had no children, and was about to take the clinical license exam for social work for Kansas. If you don’t know, it’s a big test after many years of supervision and job changes for me....

01/04/2021

Most would agree your 20s are a time of self exploration and discovery, but can also be a time of feeling utterly lost and confused. Your 20s encounter a fair share of ups and downs as you navigate the various transitions that occur in those 10 years. Even still, there is so much to be gained from t

09/22/2020

before the leaves turn 🍁

09/09/2020

The darkness can seem overwhelming. Like there is no way out. It tells you lies that no one cares and that you're better off gone--that even your kids will be better off without you.
Let me be clear: these are lies from the devil himself. He uses the darkness to bring you in closer, and his lies can seem all the more believable the longer he's whispering them.
Any thoughts that try to prove this to you are FALSE. You do belong. Even if you are struggling. Your life DOES matter. Even if you're not like you used to be. There IS a way out of this.
Someone you know may be thinking of ending their life. Continue asking the hard questions. Continue encouraging therapy. Continue offering support and telling people they matter. Continue giving them reasons WHY they matter.
Continue.
***depreventionawarenessmonth ***deawareness ***deprevention

09/08/2020

For all the mamas out there.
Peri and post-partum depression and anxiety can manifest in these ways and a variety of others. If you have felt these symptoms during pregnancy or after pregnancy, please know that this can be PPD symptoms!
This does not mean you are doing something wrong.
Awareness of these symptoms can help PREVENT and TREAT so that it doesn't escalate.
Late onset PPD is also a thing - months after baby is born - if you're feeling like this isn't all you thought it to be and find yourself struggling to get out of bed, labile mood, and other symptoms, this again, can be PPD.
You are not alone. You are not crazy. Finding a therapist who can help navigate these waters is IMPERATIVE to you and your baby's mental health.
***depreventionmonth

09/04/2020

This week is all about prevention. The next few weeks will be geared toward other specific categories such as post-partum suicidal ideation and anxiety leading to depression.
Many times we question whether we should ask someone we know is depressed if they’ve thought about ending their life. PLEASE ASK. “Have you thought about ending your life?” is a scary question, but asking it does NOT put those thoughts in their head. They’ve already been there and have likely not been able to talk to anyone about it.
Here are some other ways you can be a support to someone in a crisis.
Encourage them to text or call the National Su***de Line.
Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Encourage them to seek professions support.
If you are struggling, you are not alone. Your life is important, and it matters.

09/02/2020

What to do with anxiety- some actual techniques to try at home!

09/02/2020

Let's talk about coping skills.
Depression sucks. It's a liar. It's like the devil himself whispering in your ear about how terrible you are and how miserable you make everyone else. Sometimes it looks like not being able to complete tasks, struggle with showering, difficulty making own meals. It hits you at the core of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Depression is not like your annoying little brother. It is like the meanest bully you could ever think of.
If this is you or someone you know, try any of these and as always, a therapist can help you get started.
* Talk to a friend.
* Challenge your thinking. Recognize all the lies the devil is whispering to you. If your thoughts are not KIND, FACT-BASED, GOOD, or ENCOURAGING, they are not for you, and they are not from God. 2 Corinthians 10:5: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
* Make a list of 100 things you like about yourself or worth living for. I don't care if it's one thing your friend told you about that one time that they liked. Add it. Don't stop until you get to the complete 100 because again, depression is a liar and getting started on this activity will be hard.
* Write a letter to depression. Start with "Dear Depression,...". Write a letter telling it what it's done to your life and to you. Act like it's sitting in the room with you and write directly to it.
Therapy offers a space to sit down and do this work. If you're not in a space for that right now, schedule time with yourself. Put. It. On. The. Calendar.
This is like a doctor's appointment. It cannot be canceled. Time with yourself is THAT important.

09/01/2020

Warning signs for adults may look like the following. Children with suicidal ideation tend to act more impulsively- maybe without as much planning or thought going into taking care of matters.
These are pretty self-explanatory but wanted to note this last point. If your friend or loved one has been depressed and struggling, and all of a sudden you notice a dramatic change, to where they see life in a new way or all smiling and peaceful, ASK. Ask "have you thought of ending your life?" I know. It's so uncomfortable. But doing so may save someone's life.
***depreventionawarenessmonth ***dewarningsigns

09/01/2020

September. The month where things start changing. The weather. The mood. The anticipation for holidays. The dread of the cold. The longing for more than a week of cool, crispy weather with bright red and yellow leaves falling. The desire for things to be different or wishes for the year to have gone differently as another one ends.
September. Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. Most people are afraid to talk about this. We shy away from asking the question "Have you thought about ending your life?" because we're afraid we are going to put a thought into someone's head that maybe wasn't there or not know what to say.
However, if someone has contemplated or had passing thoughts of su***de or feeling like people would be better off if they weren't here, you asking that question isn't going to magnify it. It's already been the elephant in the room inside his/her own mind.
Through this month, I will be sharing warning signs, questions, support, coping, crisis intervention, resources, and what the heck to do with depression. Stay tuned. Stay kind. We all need it right now.
***depreventionawarenessmonth ***decoalition ***deprevention

08/31/2020

It takes anyone.
It doesn't care how much money you make. It doesn't care what you look like. It doesn't care whether you are married or single. It doesn't care how much schooling you have or what kind of car you drive.
Depression impacts anyone. It doesn't discriminate. Some of us are more susceptible based on environmental or genetic factors, but this aside, it can impact any single one of us.
Read full blog on website - link made easy to access in bio. I believe therapy is something that we can do to love ourselves and love others well. Lord knows that we need a dose of this. Psalms 145:14 "The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads."
We can't do this alone, and you definitely no longer have to.

It takes anyone. . Depression doesn't care how much money you make. It doesn't care what you look like. It doesn't care what your name is, what kind of car you drive, where you live, or what you do. It doesn't discriminate. "The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads." Psalms...

08/28/2020

Many of my clients see me as their first time seeing a therapist and are often curious what this is supposed to look like, what's normal, etc.
Therapy is largely about your relationship with your therapist. If you don't feel it, then it may not be a good fit! Unless it's a definite NO (which is like when you try on a really bad pair of shoes), then give it a few sessions before deciding. Sometimes the discomfort of the situation is overpowering.
If after a few sessions, it still doesn't "feel" right, you are completely welcome to go shopping again or ask for recommendations. Transparency in your treatment is KEY to finding the best fit.
Finding a therapist is like trying on shoes: sometimes you know right away when you put them on if they will work (often times you will notice this after looking at a therapist's website, even). Other times you immediately know that the shoes don't fit. A large other portion of the time, the shoes are great shoes and a great fit for you, but you have to break them in a little bit before they completely feel right.
Breaking in shoes is the best way to describe the beginning of a therapeutic relationship. These are intimate conversations that can happen AT YOUR PACE.

08/24/2020

“Joy is in the journey” is the basis from which Abide operates. It’s not about seeking a destination or constant state of happiness or of an “if ____, then _____” approach to fulfillment. We are all on a journey in this life and in it, you can find joy in the small, hard, painful, and beautiful moments. Sometimes, we just need a little help seeing it. ❤️