Healing Hearts Family Counseling- Lake Country

10/24/2025

💙 Bullying isn’t always something we can resolve overnight.

At Healing Hearts Family Counseling, we recognize that bullying often stems from deeper pain — guilt, fear, or unresolved trauma. By planting seeds early through open conversations with our children, we can help them navigate tough situations with understanding and resilience.

True healing begins when we create space for accountability, compassion, and emotional growth. Let’s remind our kids — and ourselves — that facing our feelings isn’t weakness; it’s courage. 💙

10/24/2025

Beyond the Symptoms 💫
Long before research confirmed it, I saw this firsthand.
When I first started out, some of the best therapy sessions happened while fishing with clients, playing basketball, or even dodgeball. We made greater gains through movement than we ever did just sitting in a chair.

Now, science is catching up — showing that consistent exercise can actually rewire the brain and help release traumatic memories. Movement promotes neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells) in the hippocampus — the area that stores memory and emotion. Those new neurons help form healthier pathways and weaken the old, stuck ones that keep people reliving the past.

That’s one of the reasons Healing Hearts was built on this principle. It’s why we have a sensory room — because movement can regulate the nervous system, calm the body, and open the door to real healing. Sitting still isn’t always how we process things.

I figured out years ago that movement is key. That’s why we look at which athletic activities help each person most — and why. Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, it begins with a single step.

💬 What kind of movement helps you pull your system together when life feels off balance?

Enhanced neuron growth in the hippocampus, achieved through exercise or genetic methods, aids mice in forgetting strong, maladaptive memories, offering potential for new treatments for PTSD or drug addiction. Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada, and Kyushu University, Japan, discover

10/23/2025

Some seasons remind us just how big the waves can be.
But if you’re in one right now — don’t forget: you were made for this.

Healing doesn’t mean the waters calm instantly. It means learning how to float until they do.

What helps you remember that you were made for this — even when the waves feel big?

10/22/2025

💭 Did you know there are other ways besides talk therapy that can help you heal?

At Healing Hearts Family Counseling, we know that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, words alone aren’t enough — and that’s okay. 💙

Here are 4 powerful approaches we use to help clients connect the mind and body:
🧠 Neurofeedback
🎨 Sensory Therapy
🐾 K9 Therapy
🎵 Interactive Metronome

Each method supports emotional regulation, focus, and overall well-being — offering new paths to healing when talking feels too hard. 💫

10/22/2025

We see this all the time in therapy, families, and leadership:
You can’t make someone change just because you see the problem clearly.

True growth happens when someone feels safe enough — and supported enough — to want change for themselves.

Our energy is better spent creating that safety than trying to pull people where they’re not ready to go.

10/21/2025

Tuesday Reflection 🌿
When I was in school, I remember noticing something that didn’t make sense to me at the time.
There were so many students who seemed far more intelligent than I was — yet their grades and effort didn’t show it. I was at the top of my class, and I couldn’t understand why they weren’t.

Now I see it clearly. Intelligence alone doesn’t determine how far someone goes in life.
It’s grit — that mix of passion and perseverance — that makes the difference.

Many of those same classmates have graduated, but some never followed through on their potential. And I hear parents express frustration, wondering why their kids aren’t thriving despite their intelligence.

It comes down to this: Talent gets you started. Grit keeps you going.
Loving something enough to stay with it — even when it’s hard, boring, or uncertain — is what changes the outcome.

Are you seeing this in yourself, your partner, or your kids?
If so, it’s okay — we’re all wired differently. Some people have the drive to keep going through the slow and messy parts, while others crave new experiences or aren’t ready yet to commit to one path.

If you’re the partner or parent, maybe the question isn’t how do I fix this? but rather, how can I encourage grit — or recognize when someone just isn’t there yet?

Either way, awareness is the first step toward growth. 🌱

I’d love to hear your thoughts — do you see this in yourself, your kids, or your partner? What helps you keep going when things get hard?

Angela Duckworth’s research spans all ages, examining how both children and adults respond to extreme challenges.

10/20/2025

Sometimes we forget that it’s not the huge efforts that make the biggest difference.
We get inspired, dive in, and then things fall apart when life gets busy.

But consistency — even in small doses — changes everything.

I returned to swimming to help my neurology. Some weeks I can swim more, other weeks I can’t. When I miss, I notice. It’s not about duration; it’s about frequency.

Just showing up consistently made all the difference. Within three weeks, I started to notice improvement — and that was encouraging.

It’s often the steady effort, not the grand gestures, that produces the results we’re hoping for. The effort always pays off.

💭 When has consistency paid off for you?

10/20/2025

Motivation doesn’t just happen — it’s built through discipline.
Success shows up in moments like this: when no one’s watching, no one’s cheering, and you still choose to put in the work.

This young man, Jalen Wiggins, was seen doing schoolwork in the stands during a rivalry basketball game. With a 4.3 GPA and 12 Power 5 offers, he’s not just chasing a dream — he’s earning it.

Whether it’s healing, learning, or growing, progress is made in the quiet, consistent moments.

Every small choice to stay focused, stay steady, and show up — even when it’s hard — rewires the brain for resilience and long-term success.

10/17/2025

💬 Deflection and Bullying: What’s Really Going On Beneath the Surface
When someone bullies or lashes out, it’s rarely about strength — it’s often about shame.

Deflection is a way to avoid facing that uncomfortable truth. By blaming, mocking, or hurting others, the person momentarily escapes the pain of their own actions or insecurities.

At Healing Hearts Family Counseling, we understand that bullying is a symptom of deeper wounds — unacknowledged guilt, fear, or unresolved trauma. True healing begins when we create space for accountability, compassion, and emotional growth.

Let’s teach our children (and remind ourselves) that facing our feelings isn’t weakness — it’s courage. 💙

10/17/2025

When I started my path of healing from a brain injury, I wanted to improve — but “improvement” looked very different once I faced my new limitations.
What I didn’t expect was how much the connections and relationships I built along the way would matter more than any destination.

Just today, I met several new people at the gym who shared their struggles and triumphs — and it completely made my day.

It’s not about being the best. It’s about learning to enjoy the journey and all the people we meet along the way.

Have you ever had a setback that ended up teaching you something you couldn’t have learned any other way?

10/17/2025

We can’t undo a move...but we can always make the next one better.

Whether it’s in parenting, leadership, or healing — mistakes don’t define us, our next step does.

Growth isn’t about perfection, it’s about courage to learn and move forward differently.