Imperfectly Perfect Counseling Services

04/03/2025

There is no magic formula to ensure a child doesn't experience a mental health challenge. Being proactive requires parents and caregivers to meet their child's basic needs first.

Mental health is how individuals interact with the world (environment) around them, which affects their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (actions).

In the past few years, there has been a significant increase in mental health disorders in youth, like anxiety and depression.

Unfortunately, parents are often on the intervention side of their child's mental health and not on the preventative side.

✨In the comments, share other proactive steps for supporting children's mental health.

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

07/14/2023

Once upon a time, I was a perfect parent. Then I had children. 🤪

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

03/27/2023

Many young people struggle to navigate their feelings while facing the unique challenges of adolescence. Adolescent counseling tailors to those unique struggles with stress, peer pressure, low self-esteem, identity insecurities, feeling overwhelmed about their future, dating drama, mood instability, feelings of sadness, etc. Many adolescents or teens suffer in silence because they lack a safe, non-judgmental space to share themselves. Feeling connected and supported are essential ingredients for being understood.

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

03/10/2023

“I read somewhere that an empty room is an opportunity.” -Joy

I am so excited about my new office in at . Creating a therapeutic environment that assists in healing, growth, safety, awareness, and play is essential to me. Play is natural learning. Having a therapeutic space that fosters play sets the stage for children and adolescents to express their emotions and work through everyday problems.

Welcome to Imperfectly Perfect Counseling Services.

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

03/10/2023

“I read somewhere that an empty room is an opportunity.” -Joy
I am so excited about my new office in at . Creating a therapeutic environment that assists in healing, growth, safety, awareness, and play is essential to me. Play is natural learning. Having a therapeutic space that fosters play sets the stage for children and adolescents to express their emotions and work through everyday problems.

Welcome to Imperfectly Perfect Counseling Services.

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

12/13/2022

Affirmations can make a child feel good in the moment, but they can also have long-term effects on how a child thinks and feels about themself. Affirmations are statements and specific phrases toward yourself to encourage positive self-talk, improve motivation, uplift self-esteem, and build self-confidence and resilience.

Learning positive affirmations as a child helps manage mental health, and it allows them to take control of their belief system (positive self-talk). No matter how old your child is, there are times when they need to hear positive reassurance and affirmation from you.

Start now! In the comments, type a positive affirmation a parent can say to their child to engage in positive self-talk that can help combat negative thoughts.

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.




10/12/2022

It might seem crazy what I am about to say, but stop telling your child to “Always listen to adults.”

Kids need to know when it’s okay to question adults and trust their guts regarding people. Telling your child to tolerate anything that makes them uncomfortable because it’s the “nice” thing to do is taking their power to set boundaries away.

Boundaries define us. They represent what is me and what is not me. Are setting limits, where you end, and I begin. Allowing your child to voice their boundaries teaches them that it’s okay to say no.

Talk to your child and be clear on what’s appropriate vs. inappropriate as they learn to set boundaries. Children deal with hurtful children, peer pressure, uncomfortable requests from adults, etc. Role play with your child to practice setting boundaries and appropriate responses in various situations they may encounter.

* Example Scenario: Aunt Rachel says, “Come here and give me a kiss.” Your child does not want to kiss her, making them very uncomfortable.
• Acknowledged their feelings and validated them using empathy
• Make communication safe and discuss how to set clear, appropriate boundaries
• Teach and role-play boundary words - Child says, “Hi, Aunt Rachel. No, ma’am, I don’t feel comfortable with a kiss, but I can hug you.”
• Follow through with support

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

10/10/2022

Make Mental Health a Priority!
Children’s Mental Health Matters!

Mental health is the way a child thinks and feel about themselves and how they interact with the world around them. It is estimated that 1 out of 5 children experience a mental disorder in a given year. A child’s mental health is equally important as their physical health, but unfortunately, nearly two-thirds get little or no help.

Make Mental Health a Priority!
Children’s Mental Health Matters!

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

10/05/2022

6 Assumptions Parents Commonly Make

1. There is a magic formula. - Parenting is hard, and I am sorry to tell you, but there is no magic formula. Raise your child with an eye on the future and go beyond the present of your personality, childhood, the need of the moment, or fears. We are raising our children to be responsible adults.

2. Do as I say, not as I do. - Parents are models for their children. Learned behavior means that your child learns from the examples you put in front of them. How we react to situations and treat people is how children learn how to respond to and treat others.

3. “My child would never…” - We all would like to think how we raise our children impacts their decision-making for the better. However, even the most well-behaved child had fallen to peer pressure, rebelled against authority, and just made a dumb decision. Be realistic. All of us are one second away from one misguided decision.

4. Praising my child will not stop their negative behavior. - Overpraising your child can reduce motivation and set unrealistic expectations/standards. Praise also can become a form of manipulation, especially empty praise, “You are so smart.” A child can learn to be dependent on your evaluation and approval instead. Try encouraging your child, “You worked hard on that project.”

5. Discipline is bad. - Discipline means to teach, and when disciplining your child, their behaviors are not random. Misbehaviors are symptoms, not the actual problem. Effective discipline teaches right or wrong, a new skill, empathy, and builds confidence to make better choices.

6. I can control my child. - Parenting is not about controlling your child. Setting realistic expectations and standards, listening, and understanding your child based on who they are, not who you want them to be.

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.

10/03/2022

It’s my birthday!!! Celebrate with me by intentionally allowing happy thoughts to run through your mind. You can thank me later.

09/18/2022

Hello Facebook!!!

Follow me on Instagram. 😃

Jessica Lumpkin, LMHC, NCC shared a post on Instagram: "Therapy is not the easy way out. • Parents should be involved in their child's therapy process. Therapy for a child works best when parents and the therapist work together. A good relationship with the mental health professional treating your...

06/01/2022

This summer, ensure that your child continues to build and practice social and emotional skills. Children with healthy social and emotional skills are more likely to succeed in school, work, and life.

Social and emotional skills help children:
* Build and maintain friendships
* Gain confidence
* Resolve conflicts
* Understand and manage emotions
* Learn social norms
* Make appropriate decisions
* Resist negative social pressure
* Learn strengths and weaknesses

Build momentum this summer and register today!

Bloom. Shine. Grow. We are all imperfectly perfect.