Life By Design Counseling

01/07/2026

01/06/2026

Many of us resist grief because we’re afraid our tears will never stop. We imagine that once sorrow is allowed, it will take over.

In truth, I’ve never met someone who drowned in their grief.

What I have seen, again and again, is the unintentional damage caused by avoiding it. Grief that is never acknowledged does not disappear. It settles, toxically, into the body. It shapes our relationships. It often gets passed down to the next generation as anxiety, numbness, anger, or illness.

The pain we don’t transform through grief gets transmitted to those closest to us. Imagine the kind of parent you might have had if grief had formed them into a more patient or kind person. Imagine the freedom that could come from grieving the early humiliations and embarrassments in your story, rather than organizing your life around never feeling that way again.

We simply have no idea the profound power of grief in our lives.

12/31/2025

As we embrace the holiday season, it’s essential to recognize the complexities that come with it. Not everyone feels festive, and that’s okay. Check out our latest blog post on navigating grief during this time: https://wix.to/acPmGHj

As the holiday season unfolds, we’re surrounded by symbols of joy—twinkling lights, perfect family portraits, festive gatherings, and a heightened expectation that happiness should magically appear simply because it’s December. For some, this season truly is the highlight of the year; the Chri...

12/25/2025

Jungian psychoanalyst James Hollis writes that somewhere around midlife, our provisional selves begin to break down.

The provisional self is a patterned way of maneuvering through the world to make life work. It is a set of strategies and habits formed early on, often in response to family dynamics, peer expectations, or adversity. It helps us survive, feel secure, and find solid ground. But it is not our true self.

That identity always reaches an expiration date. And the soul is not above using crisis to initiate us into a more authentic way of life. It may show up as infidelity or boredom in your marriage, exhaustion or disillusionment in your career, or an unsettling loss of faith.

The problem is that we often interpret these moments through the lens of failure rather than as a summons. Relying on unhealthy patterns, or requiring the world outside of us to validate us, becomes a shortcut that bypasses the harder work growth requires.

So if you are facing a crisis, you will need to deal with the debris. But after that, ask what your life might be inviting you to confront, claim, or become.

Growth is not rebuilding the old self more efficiently or fixing what broke. It is thanking what helped you endure, burying it with dignity, and doing the slow work that allows something more honest to emerge from the rubble.

What looks like collapse may be the beginning of a more honest life.

12/08/2025

12/08/2025

11/25/2025

In a world driven by technology, loneliness is becoming a significant issue. Did you know that 1 in 6 people suffer from loneliness? Let's explore how disconnecting from our devices can help us reconnect with our true selves and others. Read more: https://wix.to/eDme3O3

In today’s fast-paced, always-online world, more and more of us are finding ourselves feeling deeply lonely. In fact, did you know that about one in six people worldwide struggle with loneliness? According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2025), loneliness isn’t just an emotional weight .....

11/19/2025

11/07/2025

Coming soon to our neighborhood!

☀️ Good Morning from Bolingbrew Coffee Company!

We’re still waiting on our final inspection and license, but we’re busy behind the scenes getting everything ready to serve Bolingbroke some truly great coffee.

While we wait, we’d love your support in growing our page:
✅ Give us a follow
✅ Like & share our posts
✅ Tag a friend who’ll be first in line when we open

Your excitement keeps us going — and we can’t wait to welcome you in soon!
Bolingbrew Coffee Company
Coming soon to Bolingbroke.

09/16/2025

Every year, we lose nearly three-quarters of a million lives worldwide to su***de. It’s time to raise awareness and promote hope. Discover how we can make a difference together in our latest blog! https://wix.to/4tOTBBT ***deAwareness

Every year, the global community loses nearly three-quarters of a million lives to su***de. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 727,000 people die by su***de each year. Behind each number is a person, a family, and a story cut short.In the United States, the crisis is equa...

09/05/2025

Talking about su***de doesn’t cause harm—silence does. Break the silence. 💬

Call or text 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline to speak with a trained counselor anytime, 24/7. Learn more at nami.org/su***deprevention

***dePreventionMonth

09/05/2025

This ***dePreventionMonth, we want to remind you that connection is truly our greatest strength in the fight against su***de.

At AFSP, we foster a caring community of people who walk together, learn together, understand and encourage each other, and cheer each other on through their healing. Family, friends, neighbors, students and coworkers who’ve got each other’s backs, looking out for each other.

When people come together, hope can win.

Learn more, and connect with your local AFSP chapter: afsp.org