HEART Counseling, LLC

09/05/2025

The sun has been setting earlier. Without looking at the clock, the body knows.

A shorter day can bring a shorter fuse, a foggier mind, an unexpected exhaustion.

There’s nothing “lazy” or “wrong” about that. Nervous systems register seasonal shifts long before the mind labels them.

As September unfolds, it may help to let the evenings soften with you:

• Turn on the lamps earlier than the rules in your head say to.

• Move one task to tomorrow without apology.

• Remember that tiredness is information, not failure.

The body is already in transition. Noticing that is the start of finding a gentler rhythm.

09/04/2025

We love being a Half-Pint Resale sponsor! We'll be bringing our HEART Counseling pens and chapsticks to the sale as usual. Can't wait to see it in the new space at Alliant Energy Center September 20 - 21! (Or September 19th if you volunteer and get access to the presale!)

08/29/2025

The end of summer doesn’t always bring relief. Sometimes you get through the chaos only to realize how tired you still are.

If you’re low-capacity heading into fall, here are a few small ways to reset your rhythm:

👉 Pick one thing to stop doing. Maybe it’s the extra scrolling at night, the automatic “yes,” or trying to keep the house perfect.

👉 Pick one thing that’s just for you. A playlist on your commute, five minutes of stretching before bed, a walk without your phone.

👉 Put it on the calendar. Not as a chore — as proof that your time counts, too.

Rhythms aren’t about doing more. They’re about finding ways you can actually breathe.

08/27/2025

Got a college student making a big transition? Here are some great tips from Hollie McRea Olson, MFT-IT. 🥰

The transition to college tips in this post can help new students feel more grounded and supported as they begin this big life change. Get gentle monthly support and mental health

08/26/2025

Happy Women’s Equality Day. 💜

For so many women, the pressure to stay small shows up in the tiniest phrases. The “I’ll handle it.” The “no worries at all.” The “sorry, just one more thing…”

Equality isn’t about polishing yourself into something palatable. It’s about the freedom to take up space - messy, honest, human, whole.

Today, we celebrate the women who are doing just that.

08/25/2025

Back-to-school season comes with new calendars, new alarms, new routines.

But the truth is - those rhythms often revolve around everyone else. Getting kids out the door. Keeping schedules straight. Making it all work.

What if you added one rhythm that was just for you?

A weekly pause that didn’t depend on carpools or deadlines.

Amy and Sunshine are taking new clients right now. A good therapist can become part of the steadiness you carry into the fall.

Because the school year shouldn’t only be about their growth - it can be about yours, too. 💜

👉 Get in touch here: https://heartcounselingllc.com/contact-erin-neill-phd/

08/22/2025

When you’re ready for counseling, the last thing you want to hear is: “there’s a waitlist.”

Good news - right now we have therapists with openings, and Amy Racki, LPC-IT, is one of them. No waitlist.

Amy works with pre-teens, teens, young adults, and adults through seasons of transition, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She’s especially drawn to clients navigating big stressors, like natural disasters, body image concerns, or the balance between work and life She also creates space for faith to be part of the work when that feels important.

Her mix of clinical training, real-life experience, and a grounded approach to wellness helps clients uncover strengths and move toward wholeness. 💕

➡️ Learn more about Amy on our website: https://heartcounselingllc.com/amy-racki/

08/18/2025

One of the best parts of being rooted in Madison is getting to know other business owners who share our values.

is one of them. Her work creates space for people to reconnect with their own bodies after seasons of giving so much to others. 💕

Some seasons feel like your body belongs to everyone but you. By August, even the smallest touch can feel like too much. 🫠

Kimberly’s movement sessions aren’t about fitness or performance. They’re about coming home to yourself - feeling your feet on the ground, placing your hands on your heart, breathing in a way that’s just for you.

She’s starting new in-person movement sessions this September. You can learn more on her Instagram or website: https://www.kimberlysmithmovement.com/

Sometimes reclaiming your body is the first step to remembering you’re still in it.

👉 More info here: https://www.kimberlysmithmovement.com/

08/16/2025

this season on ‘showing up for yourself’ - featuring your therapist as the main character. 😂 p.s. we love taylor swift forever 🫶

08/15/2025

There’s a reason late nights feel harder in August.

School mornings are creeping closer, and so is the pressure to “flip the switch” on your teen’s sleep schedule. 😴

The truth? You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight.

Shifting bedtime by just 15–30 minutes every few days can protect focus, improve mood, and lower anxiety when the school year starts.

Better sleep isn’t just about avoiding yawns in first period.

It’s about giving their nervous system the rest it needs to handle the social, academic, and emotional load that comes with middle and high school.

We just shared a new blog on mental health tips for parents.

👉 Read it here: https://heartcounselingllc.com/back-to-school-mental-health-tips/

08/14/2025

Sunshine Stephens is now accepting new clients - with no wait for counseling.

She works with adults, teens, and couples navigating trauma recovery, relationship challenges, stress, and life transitions. Her sessions are warm, collaborative, and focused on real-life solutions.

📅 50-minute sessions

💳 Check our website for current insurance coverage options

Learn more about Sunshine and schedule your first session here: https://heartcounselingllc.com/sunshine-stephens/

08/08/2025

New on the blog 👇

The school year always comes with a shift.

For some parents, that shift is bigger than supply lists and new routines. It’s the quiet change that happens when a child leaves home.

Pride and heartache can live in the same week.

Joy for what’s ahead and grief for what’s ending can sit at the same table. ❤️‍🩹

Our latest post talks about Empty Nest Syndrome - what it feels like, why it can catch you off guard, and ways to care for yourself in this new season.

If you’re in this transition and want support, Sunshine is currently accepting new clients.

Empty nest syndrome often shows up quietly—right around the time school starts. While many families are focused on supply lists and new routines, some parents are facing something deeper: the emotional shift that comes when a child leaves home.