Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria

Please help us in warmly welcoming a new LPC to the team: Edye Stolz! Edye is an alumna of Bradley University, right here in the heart of Illinois, and she is experienced in addressing concerns with stress, anxiety, depression, life stages and changes, trauma, grief, chronic illness, caregiver stress, and relationship concerns. She is ready to help you if you find yourself struggling!

Give our office a call, and we would be delighted to connect you with Edye or any of our other wonderful clinicians. We're here to help!

2024 Solar Eclipse
Healing Hearts Staff took time together today to witness the celestial event.

Here in Central Illinois we have enjoyed an unusually warm early March. In fact, many of us enjoyed sunny 70 degree weather for a couple of weeks and forgot (for a moment anyway) that old man winter was just fooling us. Now it is cold again. The sun forgot to shine today. But look closer.....for the first day of spring was upon us (March 19) and Spring is now beginning! The trees are budding and the seeds are sprouting from the ground. Soon the world will be saturated with chirping birds and beautiful spring flowers.

On a mental health and wellness note:

Spring is the perfect time to remember how wonderful change and new beginnings can truly be. It is a time for planting seeds and birthing new ideas, creative projects and new friendships. Spring is our reminder that winter never lasts forever, and life will become warmer. Day by day.

Midwest winters. Cold. Treacherous. Unpredictable. If you live here or grew up here, you understand.

An ice storm shuts it all down today. We are inclined to hibernate. Stay home. We cook hearty meals and sit by the fire. We call and check on the safety of those we love. We check on our neighbors. It's a Midwestern thing.

Winter nights like these are reminders that we need to slow down.....eat better and rest more....we need to nurture relationships that matter to us.....winter has a purpose. Like life.

Ice and snowstorms do not last forever. Marvel in the beauty of the winter ice and snow tonight. Rest, slow down and reflect. Check in on those you care about and love.

Happy winter from your friends at Healing Hearts.

Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria We all need perspective. Support. We are here. We understand. We offer real help for real people.

Even when the roads seem treacherous there are always signs to guide our way.
Also, we are never alone. Others are facing similar challenges. Finally, when things feel scary and "impassable," stand strong. Keep your eyes forward. You can make this journey. Carry on.

What do you want to experience in 2024?

Some of our thoughts:

Spend time in nature
Eat real food
Less screen time
Declutter your space
Simplify your time and schedule
Find humor in the day to day
Spend time with new people
Find something good every day
Read a book every month
Learn something new
Tell someone you love them
Move your body

Happy New Year!

Your Friends at Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria

Happy holidays to all of our clients! Without you, our success would not be possible. Thank you for your loyalty and your hard work. Looking forward to another great year together!

“A friend’s departure is a reminder to live a life that truly matters.”

I am better for knowing you, better for loving you, better for having met you. May you be as blessed in the next life, my friend, as I was in this one by knowing you.

This week I lost a friend so special....so unreplaceable....so unique and pure. Her love was an inspiration and testament to how we should all aspire to be. She loved despite adversity and pain. God knows she had plenty of it. Yet, she never complained. She loved and she served. Always putting others first. This past week our family mourned and celebrated a life lost too soon.

We know you have loved and lost too. We all have. We cannot experience love without this painful loss. Can we?

Sometimes someone so special comes into your life and changes you in good ways. You learn about love, friendship and loss. But you also learn about hope and perseverance. Someone who is so special, that they inspire you to become a better version of yourself, to love more deeply, and to inspire and care for the next generation with a passion unbridled. Yeah, that is what you did dear friend. I will do better day after day. At least I will try. I promise.

"Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart." — Santa from the Polar Express

Merry Christmas from your friends at Healing Hearts

Our team is excited to share some photos of ONE of our TWO new play therapy rooms! After a lot of hours and hard work, our Healing Hearts Kids are really enjoying our new space and creative choices offered to them during their therapy time!
We even have a therapy fish now, "Bob Sparkles." (More on that in a later post).

What is play therapy?

Play therapy uses activities, toys, arts and crafts that allow a child to express themselves. "While it may look like fun and games to an outsider, it is not. A trained play therapist uses play time to observe and gain insight about a child's internal conflicts, unresolved trauma, and relationships.

Using pretend characters, stories, or art, children have a safe outlet to work through and express their feelings and perception of the people, relationships, and events around them. Since the child leads the session, play helps them feel more confident in their abilities. Through play, they practice problem solving and develop new coping behaviors and social skills, (https://www.verywellhealth.com/play-therapy-5215918)."

Six Books That Might Change How You Think About Mental Illness These individual, honest narratives can help dislodge oversimplifications about mental health.

We're Therapists. Here Are 8 Things We Refuse To Do At The Holidays. Mental health experts tell HuffPost exactly how they stay happy during a stressful time of year.

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see." -The Conductor, The Polar Express

What is it you know to be true in your heart, but you can't see it?

Simple Holiday Stress Relievers!

A Therapist's Top 4 Ways to Stay Calm During Stressful Holiday Gatherings If you find your family dynamics stressful during holiday gatherings, you're not alone—so does therapist Jeff Guenther. Here's what to do.

Food affects Mood!

3 Amazing Things That Happen to Your Brain When You Follow the Mediterranean Diet And some of the top brain-friendly foods to add to your rotation.

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 and lasts until sundown on Friday, Dec. 15.

Happy Hanukkah from your Friends At Healing Hearts!

Mindful Monday

At Healing Hearts we suggest you focus on the following this holiday season:

Connect with community.
Practice self-care.
Limit social media/screen time.
Focus on connection not spending/gifting.
Practice random acts of kindness (anonymously).

Our mission: Five goals in seven days (out of one week). Keep track in a journal. Share. Or don't. You decide.
Collect experiences not things. It makes all the difference. Truly. Try it!

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” ...

"Santa, don't forget the Grinch. I know he's mean and hairy and smelly, and his hands are cold and clammy, but I think he's kinda... sweet." - Cindy Lou Who.

Everyone and we mean EVERYONE is capable of change. And it is never too late to try.

💚 #

This is our waiting room (one of three at our practice), in our new space. We are so proud of it! We designed it with YOU in mind.

We call it the "decompression" room. It was created for relaxation and includes low lighting (trauma informed), therapeutic sounds and a fireplace for visual relaxation. We knew adults would enjoy a quiet place to wait (private as well), but we have been pleasantly surprised to see parents setting up space in here before and after their session (or their child/teen sessions) to work on schoolwork or remote work (parents), and just generally "decompress" from the day's stress. We SEE YOU smiling and "simply being present with one another," before, during and after therapy sessions.

We are delighted to see kids and teens with sensory needs and or neurodiversity enjoy the sensory benefits before sessions but also DURING sessions in this space as well.

“I planned out our whole day. First we make snow angels for two hours, and then we’ll go ice skating, and then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we’ll snuggle.” – Buddy

Looking to spread the joy this Cyber Monday?

Take a look at CFPA’s Amazon Wish List and consider purchasing a few items for our agency.

You can view the wish list here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2EA2FO2JDKXGO

Peoria’s Christmas tree ready for decorating PEORIA, Ill. - One tree is already up and going at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, and a second soon will follow...

Motivational Monday~

Full moons are always magical. But tonight, it will be extra special. We have a full moon that will illuminate the night sky highlighting the beautiful four inches of snow that fell yesterday. Winter is here! Like it or not. Winter can be a great time to slow down, rest and reflect.

Here are some ideas for journaling and reflecting tonight:

What is your favorite winter memory?
What do you like most about winter?
What is your favorite winter activity?
What is one winter activity you are willing to try this winter?

People often focus on what they do not like about winter. Let's change that. Let's focus on what is good about winter.

Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria We all need perspective. Support. We are here. We understand. We offer real help for real people.

Angela Gilles is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (IL License 149.019012) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II (CCTP-II). Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bradley University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois.

Angela has been at Healing Hearts since 2018. Prior to starting here, Angela was gaining experience in social service and advocacy work, as well as, in providing diagnostic and therapy services to a wide range of clients. She has specialized training in EMDR, Complex Trauma, CBT, Trauma Focused- CBT, and Theraplay. She also has advanced training in Perinatal Mood Disorders.

Angela enjoys working with children, teens, and adults of all ages and is experienced in helping with anxiety, depression, mindfulness training, self-esteem issues, trauma, women’s issues, and life transitions. She hopes to help clients find healing, hope, and peace by empowering positive change.

When not working, Angela enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs. She spends as much time as she can in nature being a lover of gardening, walking, hiking, bicycling, and bird watching. Angela is passionate about houseplants, crystals and rocks, music, science fiction, crime mysteries/documentaries, and anything that makes her laugh.

Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria We all need perspective. Support. We are here. We understand. We offer real help for real people.

Your therapist isn’t there to solve your problems for you. Here’s how to make the most of your 45-minute session Is there a magic flow to the perfect therapy call?

The holidays are here. Please remember The Center for Prevention of Abuse when giving gifts and donating to charity at this time.

Our community is fortunate to have such a dedicated group of educators, helpers and healers to serve those who have experienced domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking. They serve kids and adults of all ages.

Many on our team at Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria have "roots" at the Center, were trained and encouraged by those who represent and serve the Center (past and present) and believed in the Center's mission to help all people live free from violence and abuse.

THEY are advocates for survivors of abuse in Central Illinois. The leaders in the field. They are therapists, caseworkers, counselors, speakers, trainers, crisis managers, and community educators. They inspired us then and they inspire us now. Healing Hearts Counseling exists in part because of these very people and services.

Please know faithful warriors at the Center of Prevention of Abuse who give and serve tirelessly, past and present. We see you.... we honor you....and please know we receive calls from all over Illinois asking for resources that are lacking in our surrounding communities. We always send them to you because we know you are the best. We stand with you and behind you.

Happy Thanksgiving! This year we are grateful for YOU; our supporters, partners, donors and friends.

Thank you for all you do. We hope you have a peaceful, joy filed day.

Christine Gilmore is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (IL License 149.021177) and her educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois.

Christine began working at Healing Hearts in the summer of 2019. Prior to being a part of the Healing Hearts team, Christine worked in a social service agency in the Peoria area working with substance use and addiction issues. She

Christine enjoys working with children, teens, adults and couples and is experienced in helping with behavioral concerns, stress, anxiety, life changes, depression, self-esteem, trauma, substance uses issues and relationship issues.

When not working, Christine enjoys spending time with her family and her four furbabies. She enjoys exercising and helping others achieve their fitness goals through group exercise classes. Christine enjoys a variety of interests in her personal life ranging from the great outdoors to Harry Potter and many things in between.

Healing Hearts Counseling Peoria We all need perspective. Support. We are here. We understand. We offer real help for real people.