The Art of Living Counseling Center

The Art of Living Counseling Center We are a group of clinicians who have a passion for helping individuals, couples and families navigate the complexities of life.

Whether they be struggling with marital difficulties, a mental health illness, trauma, a difficult transition in life or simply a desire to develop deeper, more life affirming relationships; we as a group of clinicians strive to provide exceptional professional care.

Join us for a 12 week Story Group facilitated by Cyndi Mesmer, LCPCOften when we experience difficult moments in life w...
02/25/2024

Join us for a 12 week Story Group facilitated by Cyndi Mesmer, LCPC

Often when we experience difficult moments in life we lack healthy avenues to express and process the experience. We might not have language for the powerful feelings that arise or we might be too ashamed to even bring up the experience with another or just not have safe people in our life. Whatever the reason, these experiences remain hidden in the shadows of our heart. Hidden but not silent. The hidden experiences of our heart often wield unrecognized power over us and create structures of shame and self contempt in our lives. These places of shame are painful and so we create defenses around them to protect ourselves; unfortunately, these defenses further bind us.

Telling our stories also offers us a way to see ourselves more clearly. With this increased clarity we are able to understand what has gotten in the way of our ability to give and receive love. As we do the hard work of reconnecting with the hidden parts of ourselves we gain a greater capacity to participate in and create more life giving relationships. Seeing ourselves from this new perspective also helps us identify and live out our calling. This is what we offer in our story groups!

Our time will consist of teaching, group discussion and personal story engagement. Group is limited to 8 participants.

To Register go to artoflivingcounseling.com under groups; Story Group Level 2







She once radiated with life, immersed in her imagination and captivated by wonder. Her spirit was buoyant, carefree, fil...
02/03/2024

She once radiated with life, immersed in her imagination and captivated by wonder. Her spirit was buoyant, carefree, filled with eagerness and love. Her light was a thing of beauty, inviting those around her to rest in the glow.

Yet, there were those who sought to consume, to absorb, and extinguish that radiant light. In order to survive, she dimmed her beauty, her light, her very essence. Still, there were others with insatiable appetites, who demanded more.

For a season, she retreated, yearning to escape the harsh and cruel world that sought to diminish her. In the shadows, she clung to the few who truly saw her, those who wished only goodness for her. She found solace in rest, patiently waiting for a new life to emerge from within.

As she bore into life anew, she emerged cautious and wise, offering her light only to those who had proven to be safe havens.
She became discerning, protective of the purity of her essence.
Now, she stands regal, adorned with a calm beauty—a beauty that endures.






Ruptures are an inescapable aspect of life, permeating personal relationships, families, communities, churches, cultures...
01/16/2024

Ruptures are an inescapable aspect of life, permeating personal relationships, families, communities, churches, cultures, and more. These disruptions signify significant breaks in the connections between individuals, representing a breakdown in the typical harmony, trust, or understanding within relationships. They can manifest through emotional distance, conflicts, or breaches of trust, taking forms like betrayal among partners, workplace envy and insecurity, misunderstandings in friendships, or manipulation in organizations. Ruptures often bring intense pain and, in some cases, trauma.

In the aftermath of a rupture, many of us instinctively cling to the past, hoping to avoid the pain and the changes it has wrought within us. Rebecca Wheeler Walston, as part of our Trauma Focused Narrative Group Training, delves into the nature and impact of these ruptures. At their core, ruptures inherently alter our trajectory moving forward. Walston encourages us to reflect on what has changed as a result of the rupture and how to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead in the days to come.

Check out our next training cohort coming this Spring. Click on the link in our site.bio: Telling a Truer Story Training, for more information. We would love to have you join us.

Teachers & Trainers:a.wheelerwalston



Good News! Registration is now open for our Trauma Focused Narrative Group Training - Telling a Truer StoryJoin us for t...
01/14/2024

Good News! Registration is now open for our Trauma Focused Narrative Group Training - Telling a Truer Story

Join us for this life changing training where you will learn about the impact of Trauma - personal, generational and collective. Over the course of four weekends you will learn about the main categories in engaging trauma focused narratives in the context of groups and learn how to utilize the group process to further growth and healing.

Dates for Spring 2024 Cohort

March 1 & 2 9am-6pm CT
March 22 & 23 9am-6pm CT
April 19 & 20 9am-6pm CT
May 3 & 4 9am-6pm CT

Teachers and Coaches:
a.wheelerwalston





For this Spring 2024 cohort we are taking 30 participants, 15 of these registration spots will be reserved for our BIPOC participants. This is a hybrid workshop. Participants are welcome to attend in-person or virtually. We will be using Zoom to conduct this hybrid workshop. Scholarships available for BIPOC participants.

“This training was transformational both in my personal life as well as my professional life. The opportunity to learn and grow in a communal environment felt like a gift.” ~Jesús

“The wisdom of this team is something sacred to encounter and learn under. The content in and of itself is great, but these particular women create a space of learning and growth that is honest and vulnerable. The way their own experiences are offered for the greater communal wholeness is absolutely stunning. I know that I walk away more embodied and present to my own story and oriented differently to the stories of others in a way that offers more compassion, curiosity, and presence.” ~Rachel

For additional information and to register click on this link. https://artoflivingcounseling.com/training/
Or check out the training link in my bio site.

If you have any questions - please feel free to contact Cyndi Mesmer, LCPC at 815.444.9076 X2 or cyndi.mesmer@artoflivingcounseling.com

Look what we got in the mail from Suck a lovely book written by a dear friend and colleague Scott Gibson. This book tel...
11/25/2023

Look what we got in the mail from
Suck a lovely book written by a dear friend and colleague Scott Gibson. This book tells a story of how our furry friends offer us such a priceless gift of acceptance and safety. Some of us needed someone to tell our hurts and harmful experiences and have found solace and healing in our animals. This is a kind invitation to both children and adults to share our stories with safe and attentive listeners who attune well to the human heart.
This is a wonderful gift for anyone who understands the power of animals. Get your copy of Scout, Pip and the Boy, write. By Scott Gibson and Illustrated by Rachel Dueck. on Amazon.







BIGGEST SALE EVER! 50% OFF through December 5, 2023. Ever since I started doing story work I have had an imagination to ...
11/25/2023

BIGGEST SALE EVER! 50% OFF through December 5, 2023.

Ever since I started doing story work I have had an imagination to help individuals, who have been trained in the engagement of trauma focused narrative stories, to start and run their own Story Groups. I wanted to empower, trained and skilled facilitators like you, to launch story groups in their own communities. So I created the Story Groups-Unlocking You curriculum.

I and my team of collaborators have written and professionally filmed teaching topics that support and enhance story work engagement. We have also structured for you a 12 week and multi-weekend intensive Story Group format to run. We did this teaching and organizational work so that you can focus on doing what you love to do, engage people in their stories of harm. This curriculum is designed to be flexible. This is your group, in your unique setting; so feel free to use the curriculum as outlined in the leaders guide or cut and paste to fit your preference, your particular population, and your own artistry.

As a story group facilitator, you know; when people are in environments where stories are being told; people engage, they lean in. And when participants step into your Unlocking You - Story Group and tell their stories of harm; you are partnering with their brain and body to change their life’s narrative. I know from a decade of experience, that running Story Groups is incredibly rewarding and incredibly challenging work. That is why I included a 75 page leaders manual, 12 pre recorded video tips for each week of group and a year of live coaching sessions included with the curriculum. We cannot do this work alone! I would be honored to have you join me on the front lines of guiding people through telling their stories of harm and partnering with me in the healing power of Story Groups.

Start your very own Unlocking You, Story Group today!
Purchase at yourstorygroup.com or click on the Unlocking You Curriculum in my bio link.

Much Honor & Respect,
Cyndi Mesmer, LCPC









Do you feel stuck in old and repeated patterns in your relationships and life? Story Group’s allow us to engage our sto...
11/25/2023

Do you feel stuck in old and repeated patterns in your relationships and life? Story Group’s allow us to engage our stories of harm in a way that creates healing through a corrective experience. In story Group’s you get to travel alongside other people offering you support and attunement for areas in your live and story where you may have gotten little or no care. You also get to experience and practice what it means to be present and bear witness to others in a way that brings mutual healing for all. We have been harmed by people and we heal with people. Join us for our Monday evening Women’s Story Group that meets Monday from 6:30-8:30 CT in-person. We would love to have you join us!

Dates:
December 11, 2023- March 11, 2023 (off 12/25 & 1/1)

To register, go to artoflivingcounseling.com under groups, Level 2 and choose Monday evening group or click on the bio link for Art of Living Counseling Center and click groups. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out.














Join us for a Story Group!We were all given powerful stories that shaped and guided our development as people. Telling o...
11/22/2023

Join us for a Story Group!
We were all given powerful stories that shaped and guided our development as people. Telling our stories offers us a way to see ourselves and how we were shaped more clearly. Tell Your Story, and discover more about who you are becoming.

Our Wednesday night group will include teaching, group discussion and narrative story engagement. Join us virtually from the comfort of your home. Walk with others who have a desire to grow, learn and transform as they step into their stories and allow for freedom and liberation.

We have a couple spots open for our Wednesday evening Group - 6pm-8pm CT.

You can click on our website in the bio and find the group under the groups tab - Level 2 Group. Feel free to ask should you have any questions.

Partial scholarships available for our BIPOC participants. Contact Cyndi with inquires.

Are you a leader or therapist passionate about helping individuals overcome their past trauma? Introducing "Your Story G...
11/05/2023

Are you a leader or therapist passionate about helping individuals overcome their past trauma? Introducing "Your Story Group", a groundbreaking curriculum designed to provide you with the structure and resources you need to run effective story groups in your practice, church, or community.

What sets "Your Story Group" apart is its comprehensive approach and turnkey nature. With our curriculum, you’ll have everything you need to confidently start your own story groups, allowing you to focus your efforts on supporting and guiding participants rather than starting from scratch.

Your Story Group provides you with the following valuable resources:
~11 Curriculum Videos: These teaching topics for students cover a wide variety of issues
~12 Facilitator Training Videos: Gain insights and guidance from experienced facilitators.
~Practical Leader’s Guide: A comprehensive 75-page manual to help you set up and lead your story groups effectively.
~Participant’s Guide: A 50-page resource with teaching notes and reflection questions for participants.
~Live Coaching and Support: Join Cyndi Mesmer for monthly live Zoom sessions for coaching and assistance. Can’t attend? All sessions are recorded and available for later viewing.
~Lifetime Access: Enjoy unlimited access to all content, allowing you to revisit and reinforce your knowledge whenever needed.

Visit yourstorygroup.com for more information, a sneak peak at the curriculum and to purchase it at a discount of 50% off!!!!🤩
(Sale is limited until November 23, 2023.)

💔.
10/28/2023

💔.

Excited to read this one by 🎉🎉🎉
10/05/2023

Excited to read this one by
🎉🎉🎉



Research shows that those who experience a traumatic event and have caregiving that is loving, emotionally responsive, c...
09/21/2023

Research shows that those who experience a traumatic event and have caregiving that is loving, emotionally responsive, consistent, and reliable (secure attachment), are much better able to be resilient and that the trauma does not get embedded in their bodies. When we experience a traumatic event but do not have care, attunement and containment, than the trauma gets embedded in bodies - in the very muscles, organs and cells in our body, effecting our every day interactions. Resmaa Menakem states, “Historical trauma, intergenerational trauma, persistent institutionalized trauma, and personal trauma, when left constricted or not engaged, cared for or changed; as time passes we start to shape ourselves around the constriction. And when trauma is decontextualized, it can be handed down from generation to generation. This is when trauma becomes embedded in the body at times without a knowing or context. It is just felt in the body.”

When we courageously choose to lower our defenses and allow access to those hidden part our hearts change becomes possible.
This happens profoundly in story groups where kind and skilled individuals are present.

If you desire to be part of a story group yourself, check out our Story Groups at artoflivingcounseling.com under the groups section or contact Cyndi Mesmer to find out about new groups starting.

Do you desire to start your own Story Group and learn to guide others in the beautiful healing process of change and healing. Visit yourstorygroup.com to learn more about how you can start a group of your own with our structured curriculum and support.















Address

900 Pyott Road, Ste 102
Crystal Lake, IL
60014

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 9pm

Telephone

+18154449076

Website

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