Ellie Mental Health - Bannockburn, IL - Lakeside Dr

08/08/2025

Big emotions in little bodies can feel overwhelming-- for them and for us. Here’s how to respond without losing your cool. 💥➡️💞

08/05/2025

Back-to-school season is here and for many families, so is back-to-school anxiety.

Whether it’s the fear of new routines, separation from parents, or social pressure, the transition can bring up gigantic feelings for kids of all ages.

In this blog, therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW shares:
✅ Common signs of back-to-school anxiety in kids and teens
✅ Practical tools and coping strategies to try at home and in the classroom
✅ Book recommendations to support emotional wellness
✅ Simple morning and evening routines to ease transitions
✅ When it might be time to seek additional support

Let’s normalize school jitters and empower our kids with the tools they need to thrive (not just survive) the school year. 🍎🎒

📖 Read the full blog here:
https://elliementalhealth.com/calming-first-day-fears-a-parents-guide-to-back-to-school-anxiety/

Help kids conquer back-to-school anxiety with practical tips, calming routines, and coping strategies for a smooth transition.

07/30/2025

Today, on , we hold space for the losses that changed us— the ones we speak of often and the ones we carry quietly.

Whether your grief is fresh or decades old, visible or invisible, your pain is real. We're thinking of you today.

Here are some tips and book recommendations from one of our therapists for helping kids navigate grief and loss.

07/28/2025

Ever zoned out during a meeting, driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there, or felt totally disconnected in a stressful moment?

These aren’t just quirks.... they can be signs of dissociation, a powerful and often misunderstood coping mechanism.

In therapy spaces, we talk about dissociation often. But outside of them, people may not recognize it or know what to do when it shows up. For folks with trauma histories, dissociation isn’t just occasional spacing out—it’s the nervous system protecting itself when things feel too overwhelming to process.

➡️ In this new blog post, Ellie therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW, breaks down:
- What dissociation actually is (and isn’t)
- Why the body uses it as a survival response
- How trauma-informed approaches like EMDR, parts work, and somatic therapy can help
- Practical grounding strategies that reconnect people to the present

Whether you're a clinician, a mental health advocate, or someone who’s felt disconnected and didn’t have a word for it—this is worth the read.

🔗 Check it out here: https://elliementalhealth.com/feeling-disconnected-a-therapists-guide-to-understanding-dissociation/

🎧 Bonus: Watch this related podcast episode featuring trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for more insights. https://youtu.be/2Cxr5KB8Atg?si=p-mTzj5ZgGmwveOx

Explore how dissociation serves as a trauma coping mechanism and discover therapeutic approaches for healing.

07/15/2025

In a recent blog post, Ellie therapist Dr. Christy Sim, LMSW, breaks down a critical truth about trauma work: traditional talk therapy often misses the mark when it comes to treating trauma, because it relies on language and cognition—parts of the brain that shut down during traumatic events.

Sometimes trauma healing requires more than words. Some alternate options might be to:
🎨 Use imagery to engage the midbrain
✍️ Let writing come before speaking
🗣 Gently assign language after connection is made

Trauma disconnects people from their voice, their sense of safety, and their agency. The right kind of therapy can give all of that back.

Read the full article:

Explore trauma healing beyond talk therapy: art, writing & somatic exercises for creative, consent-based empowerment.

07/08/2025

Struggling with self-confidence? You’re not alone.

Swipe through for small mindset shifts and practical tools that can help you build lasting confidence-- straight from one of our awesome therapists, Rayna Larson, LLMSW.

Read more here: https://elliementalhealth.com/building-self-confidence-8-practical-tips-to-boost-your-self-esteem/

07/07/2025

What if building confidence wasn’t about “faking it”, but about changing the way you relate to yourself?

In a recent blog, Ellie therapist Rayna Larson, LLMSW, shares 8 practical ways to build self-confidence, and it goes far beyond pep talks and mirror affirmations.

A few tips that really stood out:
✔️ Challenge negative self-talk: Start with notice, evaluate, replace.
✔️ Celebrate small wins: Your progress counts, even when it’s not loud.
✔️ Practice assertiveness: Saying no can be an act of self-care.
✔️ Lean on positive influences: Your environment matters more than you think.

Self-confidence isn’t a trait you’re born with, it’s a skill you can build. Whether you’re navigating burnout, people-pleasing, or just feeling stuck, Rayna’s piece offers grounded, compassionate strategies that anyone can try.

Read the full blog here:

Boost your self-confidence with practical strategies: challenge negative self-talk, set achievable goals, embrace strengths & communicate assertively.

06/01/2025

Happy Pride Month from all of us here at Ellie! 🏳️‍🌈

We celebrate love, identity, authenticity, and the courage it takes to live your truth. To our LGBTQIA+ clients, community, and allies: we see you, we support you, and we’re proud to stand with you.

Your mental health matters. Your story matters. You matter. 💛

05/23/2025

Starting therapy from your couch? 🛋️💻

Here are a few quick tips to make it smoother:
✅ Strong internet connection
✅ Quiet, private space
✅ Good lighting
✅ Headphones if needed
❌ No multitasking (especially not driving!)

Remember: it’s okay to be nervous. What other questions do you have? Let us know in the comments!

05/22/2025

The version of you that feels stronger, more confident, and at peace?

➡️ They’ve been there all along. Therapy helps us uncover those parts of ourselves, break through what’s been holding us back, and grow into who we want to be.

05/19/2025

We recently dropped a powerful new podcast episode all about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and it's chalk FULL of awesome insights and tips.

Our therapist guest, Shelby, breaks down DBT in a way that’s practical and helps you (or your clients) make changes. Whether you’re a therapist or someone curious about mental health tools, this episode teaches:

✅ How DBT helps you manage intense emotions
✅ Practical skills like TIPP (Temperature change, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, and Progressive muscle relaxation)
✅ Ways to build healthier relationships using DBT

Listen now for practical tips and game-changing insights that could transform your approach to stress, relationships, and emotional balance:

This week we are joined by Shelby Finley, a Clinic Director for Ellie Mental Health in Kansas City. Shelby shares her expertise on Dialectical Behavioral The...