Grace & Gratitude Counseling, PLLC

Grace & Gratitude Counseling, PLLC Toxic perfectionism, overthinking, panic, people-pleasing, guilt, and anger...Sound familiar?

When we shift from shame (“What’s wrong with me?”) to curiosity (“What was I adapting to?”), something opens up: compass...
01/27/2026

When we shift from shame (“What’s wrong with me?”) to curiosity (“What was I adapting to?”), something opens up: compassion, clarity, and new options.

In our newest blog, GGC clinician Jennifer Barrios explores how anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, and triggers can be signs of a nervous system doing its job — and how you can begin creating a new internal story over time.

Read the blog: https://www.graceandgratitudecounseling.com/blog/reframing-emotional-struggles
What’s one emotion you’re practicing meeting with curiosity this week?

01/26/2026

Sometimes humor is the life raft.
Sometimes it’s the armor.

At Grace & Gratitude Counseling, we don’t take your dark humor away. We get curious about what it’s protecting and help you carry the pain with a little more support and a little less weight.

You don’t have to be “serious enough” to heal. You just have to be honest. 🤍🖤

✨🛋️🌱

When I’m overwhelmed, my nervous system usually goes into…(no judgment — just noticing)💜Fix-it / self-criticism💙Pause / ...
01/22/2026

When I’m overwhelmed, my nervous system usually goes into…
(no judgment — just noticing)

💜Fix-it / self-criticism
💙Pause / curiosity

If you picked Fix-it / self-criticism — you’re not alone.
That’s often a learned protection strategy when emotions feel unsafe.

If you picked Pause / curiosity — that’s a powerful skill.
It creates space for choice instead of fear.

In our newest blog, GGC clinician Jennifer Barrios shares how meeting emotional pain with curiosity instead of shame can help you rewrite your internal story.
Read it here!: https://www.graceandgratitudecounseling.com/blog/reframing-emotional-struggles

01/21/2026

✨ We’re not here to minimize any intervention because healing is not one-size-fits-all.

At Grace & Gratitude Counseling, we tailor therapy to you and what actually works for your nervous system, your story, and your goals.

Our trauma-informed clinicians offer a range of approaches including IFS, EMDR, narrative therapy, somatic work, CBT, DBT, and ACT, and more.

Schedule a free consultation and discover what feels right for you. 🤍🧠✨

01/21/2026

Real talk, we try super hard not to steal our client’s epiphanies…but y’allllllllll. Sometimes a thing just gotta be SAID. Like “and how’s that working for you?” 🤣 or “stop”. Technically we can’t tell you what to do, but everyone can benefit from having a mirror held up for them every once in awhile, right? Get you one of them therapists who knows when to speak up!

Freeze doesn’t need force — it needs safety.Have you ever noticed small movements (stretching, tapping, rocking) help yo...
01/21/2026

Freeze doesn’t need force — it needs safety.

Have you ever noticed small movements (stretching, tapping, rocking) help you feel more present again?

Try this short somatic exercise when you feel foggy, stuck, or overwhelmed — and remind yourself:
Your nervous system is doing its best to protect you.

(from trauma-centered somatic practitioner and breath therapist Teresa, )
Somatic Exercises to Get Out of Functional Freeze — gentle body-based movements that reconnect you with your nervous system and help thaw shutdown. https://youtu.be/gq4gQWEbxZQ?si=O6r4G1Tfnfmnvhrw

What if your hardest emotions aren’t proof that you’re broken — but proof you’ve been adapting?In our newest blog, GGC c...
01/20/2026

What if your hardest emotions aren’t proof that you’re broken — but proof you’ve been adapting?
In our newest blog, GGC clinician Jennifer Barrios shares a compassionate, neuroscience-informed reframe: when you meet emotional pain with curiosity instead of shame, you begin to rewrite your inner story.
If anxiety, overwhelm, or triggers have been feeling heavy lately, this read is for you.
Full blog here: https://www.graceandgratitudecounseling.com/blog/reframing-emotional-struggles

Keara has this to say about her favorite book, "It is a very honest and authentic book about grief that one may experien...
01/16/2026

Keara has this to say about her favorite book, "It is a very honest and authentic book about grief that one may experience working in the helping profession and how that grief can in turn impact us. It also shows us that grief does not ever completely disappear but rather, we learn how to live with it."

A gentle reminder that learning to live with grief is part of the journey.

01/16/2026

Have a tendency to put wayyy to much on your plate? We get it. We also get how you want to karate chop people when they tell you to “just stop doing so much”. As high-functioning, over-achieving women, we know no other mode. Delegating and simplifying are things that don’t come easy - but are probably in your best interest to try!

You want to start.You know what needs to get done.But your body feels heavy.Your mind goes foggy.You feel stuck.This isn...
01/15/2026

You want to start.
You know what needs to get done.
But your body feels heavy.
Your mind goes foggy.
You feel stuck.

This isn’t laziness. You're likely in FREEZE.

What happens in your body when things feel like “too much”?
Drop a word or emoji that fits 💭🫥😵‍💫🧊
and learn more in this weeks blog.
https://www.graceandgratitudecounseling.com/blog/freeze-response-explained

01/14/2026

We’re not technically allowed to give advice…but the voices in our head might beg to differ.

01/13/2026

Grace & Gratitude Counseling is growing! Intentionally, wisely, and with solid direction. If you're looking for a private practice of that gives you autonomy, flexibility, a full caseload, benefits, and a tight-knit community of trauma-informed clinicians, we may be right for you!

You're right for us if you are an LPC/LCPC/LSW/LCSW/LMFT who is relationally centered, has lived or work experience working with women, especially moms, (we prioritize hiring "therapist moms" because so many clients request such!), and is interested in using EMDR and IFS in your work. Part or full time available! Downer's Grove, IL (hybrid options available - we see 75%+ telehealth and you can work largely from home if you choose).

Check out our vibes:
✨ IG - https://www.instagram.com/graceandgratitudecounseling/
✨ FB - https://www.facebook.com/graceandgratitudecounseling
✨TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/

APPLY:
👉 www.graceandgratitudecounseling.com/joinourteam (details and google form app)
Please feel free to pm or email me. Sarah.czopek@graceandgratitudecounseling.com

We can't wait to meet you!

Address

1401 Branding Avenue Ste 345
Downers Grove, IL
60515

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