Balanced Life Counseling & Wellness

11/03/2025

It is that season where we are seeing a lot of CANCELATED feelings!
What could cancelated possibly mean??
It is that relieved feeling you get when plans (like holiday obligations😅) are canceled. Remember this holiday season you are allowed to cancel when you need to relax during this busy season!
Do you struggle with giving yourself permission to cancel or put yourself first? Reach out to our clinicians to get a session scheduled at www.balancedlifegr.com
Found in the book The Emotionary by Eden Sher explaining feelings we do not have words for.

10/31/2025

What does Patricia do in between sessions??
She often is found stretching or laying on the floor for some grounding time! This allows her to connect with her body and her space before the next session starts.
If you are thinking about adding more grounding to your toolbox, reach out to Patricia at www.balancedlifegr.com/patricia-barlowbray-llmsw
to get sessions started!

10/30/2025

This is an easy way to find food banks near you! Share with anyone who may need support or can donate to help support others!

Feeding America West Michigan and our hundreds of agency partners stand ready to assist our neighbors who are feeling the impact of the federal government shutdown. We can assist federal workers who aren’t getting paid. In addition, we can help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who are facing a delay in their November benefits.

If you are struggling to buy nutritious food, visit https://www.feedwm.org/findfood/ for locations and hours of food distributions throughout our 40-county service area.

10/29/2025

Patricia found this amazing self-care book and we're like, 'frog-get about it, we're sharing it!' 🐸
This book is packed with quotes that remind us to be kind to ourselves (because let's be real, we can be pretty mean sometimes). And can we talk about the adorable illustrations? They're toad-ally cute! ♥
Connect with our clinicians via www.balancedlifegr.com

10/28/2025

We absolutely love supporting local businesses, especially when the owner is someone who is passionate about empowering and building up others around them! Heather Mahoney Co. is a local photographer who has a true gift of helping people feel confident in front of a camera, and our very own Ashley Troszok recently had an opportunity to work with Heather!

Thank you Heather for your post, we love being part of the community with you!

✨ Meet my friend Ashley Troszok ✨
She is the owner and a therapist at Balanced Life Counseling & Wellness, where her team provides trauma-informed therapy for children, teens, and adults. Each therapist has their own area of focus, allowing them to support a wide variety of needs and ages.
Ashley personally works with women who have experienced trauma, struggle with feeling like they’re either too much or not enough, and moms navigating the postpartum phase of life — including postpartum depression, anxiety, and birth trauma.
She loves the quote from Alice in Wonderland when the Mad Hatter tells Alice, “You have lost your muchness; you used to be much muchier.” 💖
Ashley’s passion is empowering women to embrace their “muchness” — to rediscover their strength, voice, and sense of self.

10/27/2025

Monday vibes 🌞!
Time to get your zen on with the mini-humans!
Need some fun ways to trick your kiddo into being mindful?
Try the jellyfish activity from Mindful Minutes for Kids - it's a real catch! 🐠 Our clinicians are all about sneaking mindfulness into playtime, because let's be real, who doesn't need a little more chill in their life? 😅
Just a few minutes a day can make a huge difference in your little one's mood, emotional regulation, and body awareness. And if you need some extra help, our awesome clinicians Patricia and Sierra are here to lend a hand (or a mindful ear) at www.balancedlifegr.com!

10/26/2025

✨We believe in the power of authenticity!✨
As we explore our values, we're reminded that being human first is a necessity at Balanced Life GR. We're dedicated to crafting a sanctuary that's safe, connective, and real for every individual. Our hope is that each person walks into their sessions unapologetically themselves, knowing they'll be met with unwavering acceptance and support.
🌼You deserve a space to flourish! 🌼
Check out our website to discover more about our values and our incredible providers! www.balancedlifegr.com

10/24/2025

Round 2 of “what in the world do therapist do between session” !!
Sierra shares that she loves to read in between sessions to relax and rest!
Reading can be an activity to lower stress, anxiety, or even remind yourself to take a break. When your therapist is not sharing different skills with you , we may be utilizing them for ourselves!
Interested in connecting with Sierra for sessions? Visit www.balancedlifegr.com/sierra-bates

10/22/2025

When a client brings origami paper to sessions, we learn how to origami! ♥
Patricia has had multiple clients ask for , and even brought in, origami to do during art therapy allowing her to learn something new! 😅 During art therapy we get to explore creativity, stress tolerance, and self beliefs. It is always so fun for Patricia to bring in her client's hobbies or interests in sessions! She would love to tie in your favorite things into sessions, you can schedule sessions through our website www.balancedlifegr.com to get started.

10/20/2025

Patricia empowers survivors of s*xual and domestic violence to reclaim their voice and build their trust in themselves. By embracing a s*x positive mindset, they help individuals overcome intimate struggles and break free from shame and guilt.
✨Remember, you are not alone in your journey towards healing and self-love! ✨
Rather it is from general shame and guilt or s*xual trauma, you deserve safety and confidence.
Connect with Patricia via https://www.balancedlifegr.com/patricia-barlowbray-llmsw to schedule a consult for sessions if you are interested in learning more!

10/20/2025

MiGen is partnering with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan and the Grand Rapids Pride Center to offer FREE Open Enrollment appointments TOMORROW for LGBTQ+ aging adults!

This vital service helps older adults save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars a year—while improving access to quality care and coverage.

10/17/2025

We are not in sessions 24/7, so what do we get up to in between sessions??
Stay tuned to see each of our clinicians explain what they do with their breaks.
Starting with Ashley! She enjoys some grounding while getting her paperwork (lots of paperwork 😅) done for the day.
www.balancedlifegr.com