JP Counseling

01/01/2026

Mondays with Mary comes to you on a Thursday this month for a special New Years edition. ✨

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have you already decided on your “New Year’s Resolution”? What is it? Eat less? Exercise more? Quit smoking? Stop drinking? SERIOUSLY? Unfortunately, most resolutions made at the beginning of the new year are abandoned before the end of January.

Why don’t we agree NOT to put ourselves under additional stress and focus instead on our relationship with our significant other. Can our committed relationship improve? Absolutely! I challenge you, instead of looking for your partner to change, YOU BE THE CHANGE!

Re-think the definition of LOVE. Love is more than a feeling, love is an action, an inner attitude. It considers and is loyal to the well-being of your partner. Love is kind. Love is gentle. Love is patient. Love is slow to anger. Love is unselfish; it is not self-centered. Love is truthful. Love is honest. Love goes the extra mile. Love encourages. Love is hopeful. Love is trusting. Love is understanding and caring, even when love is undeserved. Love endures hardships, disappointments, and sickness.

I don’t know about you, but this is the kind of love I want to receive and demonstrated not just on Valentine’s Day, but 24/7/365! How about you? It is not a fantasy. This can be your reality! In relationships, love is reciprocal. Regardless of the stage of your relationship, it is NEVER TOO LATE to create a lasting bond. Let change begin with you! How? I am glad you asked! Here are just a few tips:

FORGIVE – Let go of past hurts! Whether or not your partner has apologized, forgive. Your partner is not perfect; neither are you. Forgiveness is for YOU.

LOVE LANGUAGE – Know your partners love language and act on it: Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Physical Touch.

LAUGH – Learn to laugh again!

SPEND TIME WITH YOUR MATE – Close off everything around you and focus on each other, even if you start off with only 15 minutes a day.

VALIDATE YOUR MATE – Listen to your partners daily experiences and speak life to them by expressing what you have heard them say and provide empathy, understanding and encouragement.

BE A SAFE-SPACE FOR YOUR MATE – Create an environment where your mate can find solace from outside influences & turmoil.

LOVE YOUR MATE AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF – Love like you want to be loved!

CONSIDER COUPLES THERAPY – Be it just the two of you or couples group therapy, counseling helps people understand that others could share the same relationship concerns and experiences. It provides insight to create and/or rebuild a trusting relationship. Couples therapy can teach you coping tools to address your frustrations, teach you how to communicate better with each other and so much more!

Please contact me, Mary Hayes, at JP Counseling Center, Beaver, PA

724-494-6750

https://f.mtr.cool/cxbkjllzar

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year and a renewed and stronger relationship!

12/22/2025

Hey counselors! There’s still time to wrap up the year strong by joining our Saturday morning supervision group at JPC ❄️

Whether you’re pre-licensed, LAPC, LPC, or LSW, this group offers a cozy space to reflect, grow, and connect, with expert supervision from Josh McGee.

✨ Grab your hot coffee or cocoa, settle in, and invest in your professional journey every Saturday at 8 AM.

📧 Interested in starting the season with support?
Email training@jpcounselingcenter.org for more details!

12/20/2025

Last night, the JP Counseling team came together for an incredible evening at Frank G's Place to celebrate a year of hard work, growth, and shared successes, along with some holiday cheer. ✨ Instead of exchanging gifts this year, our staff chose to give back by donating to Big Brothers Big Sisters. In the true spirit of the season, our founder Jill Phillips and her husband Bill are generously matching the total with an additional donation to Austin’s Army. Grateful for this amazing team and the opportunity to spread joy beyond our walls this holiday season. ❤️🎄

12/15/2025

Wishing you a joyful season from JP Counseling ✨ As we honor Hanukkah, Christmas, and all the holidays in between, we celebrate light, hope, and togetherness in all their forms. May this season bring peace, reflection, and meaningful moments with those you love. Warm wishes to you and yours. 💙

12/11/2025

Jill Phillips, founder of JP Counseling, is here with a few gentle holiday reminders. 💚🌿

12/08/2025

College Square School Counselor, Mr. Staszewski, presented a session at the PA School Counselors' Association Conference yesterday. His session, "Brick-by-Brick: Learning Communication and Social Skills Through Lego," discussed the brick club interventions he facilitates. He is one of several BASD staff at CS, DR & MS trained in the Brick-by-Brick Program, through a partnership with CMU and Play Included.

12/05/2025

As we reflect on this year, our hearts are full. We are grateful for the trust our clients place in us, the progress we’ve witnessed, and the continued expansion of our team and mission.

Today, we’re especially excited to celebrate our newest staff member, Nils J. Palma! 🎉

Nils has already brought tremendous insight and passion to our practice, and we’re proud to share that he has been selected by the American Counseling Association to present at the 2026 Ethics of Counseling Virtual Summit. His proposal, “The Ethics of GenAI Self-Help,” was officially accepted, and he’ll be presenting on February 6, 2026.

This is an incredible achievement, and we’re thrilled to see Nils’s expertise recognized on a national platform. 💙

Please join us in congratulating Nils on this well-deserved honor. Here’s to continued learning, growth, and impact in the year ahead! 🌳

11/29/2025

🌟 The Holidays Can Be Hard on Parents — You Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone 🎄💛

As joyful as the holiday season can be, it also brings stress, big emotions, and tough moments for families. If your child is struggling with anxiety, anger, or big feelings during this time of year, support is available.

At JP Counseling, therapist Andrew Staszewski MA, Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified School Counselor, specializes in working with children ages 4–16.

Andrew brings warmth, experience, and a supportive non-judgmental approach to helping kids manage emotions. Helping them build coping skills and feel more confident, especially during stressful seasons like the holidays.

✨ Curious what therapy could look like for your child? Andrew is currently accepting clients and is here to help your child (and your whole family) find calm and connection this season and beyond.

💬 Learn more or schedule a session at JPCOUNSELINGCENTER.org

You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help. 💛

Request Appointment We are currently accepting new/return individual clients, Mental Health and S.A.P. D.O.T. Evaluations and Couples/Marriage (self-pay only), however, depending on your needs determined by your Client Intake Form you could be placed on a short waiting list. We are not accepting any...

11/24/2025

I have a love/hate relationship with the Autumn season. My love for it is due primarily to the stunning changes in the color of leaves and foliage; the beautiful reds, yellows and oranges mixed together is a majestic work of art. Sadly, the combination of cooler weather and increase of rain, cause those beautiful leaves to fall until once full and vibrant tree limbs are bare signifying (my hate) the approaching Winter season. I try to put on my imaginary brakes to hold on to Autumn but living in Pennsylvania, Winter is inevitable. So, I have a choice during seasonal changes; I can complain and fight against the cooler weather, shorter days, pending loss of amazing scenic views, and the approaching cold wintry season and all that it entails OR, I can embrace the changing seasons by living in and appreciating the moment while beginning to prepare for the certainty of Winter.

Relationships are much like seasonal changes. If we could just hold on to the passion, the closeness, the comfort and peace of our relationship. However, the dynamics change; the “honeymoon” is over. Do you find yourself arguing more…sometimes over the smallest of issues? Have your partners habits become irritating? Are you beginning to feel unheard…unseen…lonely…disconnected from your partner? Does the love of your life no longer feels like your best friend? Be honest…has your physical intimacy decreased? Do you feel more like roommates and not committed partners? What happened? When did it happen? Why have we drifted apart? Can we regain what we’ve lost?

The dynamics of relationships fluctuate constantly throughout their lifetime. How you navigate through these “changes” determines the outcome. Following are suggested “navigational” practices:

- Recognize that “CHANGE” starts with ME. What can I do to enhance my relationship with my partner?
- Acknowledge challenges and learn to de-stress by viewing the challenge as an opportunity for growth.
- Avoid comparing your relationship to others. Concentrate on building a relationship that works for the two of you.
- Remember why you fell in love with your partner and begin to date them again.
- Confront differences which were swept under the rug and actively address them which will help build understanding and trust.
- Listen to your partner and reflect back to them what you understand them to say.
- Be emphatic; show that you care.
- Learn your partners Love Language and make a conscious effort to meet their need.
- Agree to disagree understanding that disagreement does not change ones love for each other.
- Create rituals to strengthen your relationship; in-house movie time sitting close and sharing snacks or drinks, taking walks together, holding hands etc.

Embrace the seasons of your relationship through the ups and downs, the good times and more challenging times. Stay focused on your commitment to your partner. Loving your partner is a conscious decision.

Please allow me, Mary C. Hayes, to walk with you through your seasons of relationship. Contact me at JP Counseling Center, Beaver, PA. Call me at 724-494-6750 or at https://jpcounselingcenter.org/request-appointment/