HEART Counseling, LLC

11/17/2025

Heads up - HEART Counseling will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th in observance of Thanksgiving.

We encourage you to learn more about the native lands where you live and work: https://native-land.ca/

11/15/2025

Love this blog post written by our wonderful intern, Elise! 🍁

Starting fresh with fall routine tips can make the season feel calmer and more doable — especially here in Madison, WI. Get gentle monthly support and mental health tips

11/13/2025

What a beautiful day - Happy World Kindness Day from HEART Counseling! 💜

11/12/2025

We’re joining our Middleton community to support WayForward Resources, as many local families face food insecurity this season.

HEART Counseling is now collecting nonperishable food items to help stock local pantries.

You can drop off donations in our office or click the link below to donate online. 💕

Every small act of care makes a difference - especially now. 🧡

🌐 Online donations: https://www.wayforwardresources.org/support-us/financial-donations/

11/07/2025

Sometimes calm isn’t something you find - it’s something you choose, one small moment at a time.

This week, that might look like:

🍂 Walking the trails at Pheasant Branch Conservancy until your breath slows down.

☕️ Sitting at Barriques, taking slow sips between thoughts.

🕯 Letting your body rest at Dragonfly Yoga.

📚 Reading in the quiet corners of Sequoya Library.

🍦 Grabbing a scoop from Chocolate Shoppe and actually tasting it.

Before the season speeds up - maybe this is your reminder to move through one evening without rushing it. 💕

11/05/2025

Ever notice yourself doing normal things - cleaning, walking, making dinner - like you’re fighting for your life? 😬

We hate to break it to you, but you might not actually be the most efficient person on the planet...

That might just be stress, dressed up as productivity.

When your nervous system’s running hot, it doesn’t always look like panic.

Sometimes it looks like rushing through the day - wiping the counter faster, driving faster, talking faster - like stillness might be unsafe.

If that sounds familiar, try this:

👉 Pick one normal thing and do it at half pace.

Brush your teeth slower. Walk slower. Fold laundry like you have nowhere else to be.

Notice how weird it feels.

That’s your body remembering what calm feels like. 💕

If slowing down feels impossible lately, our therapists can help you find your way back to steady.

https://heartcounselingllc.com/contact

11/03/2025

Literally what time is it? 🙃

It’s dark. Everyone’s tired. Dinner feels late even when it’s 5:15.

Maybe the dark isn’t something to fight - it’s a quiet reminder to rest sooner.

Turn on the soft lights.

Let the evening come early (we’ll get through the cold and dark together… preferably in sweatpants). 💕

👉 Read some tips on the shorter days here: https://heartcounselingllc.com/seasonal-depression-madison-wi-fall-tips/

11/01/2025

November is National Adoption Month.

It can hold a lot of things at once - love, grief, pride, and questions that don’t have simple answers.

Love and loss can live in the same story, and both deserve to be honored. 💕

10/31/2025

We had a great time with Compass Madison last night at Trunk-or-Treat! We love our Madison community. ❤️

10/31/2025

From all of us at HEART - may your Halloween night be cozy, safe, and a little sweet. 🍬

Whether you’re walking the neighborhood, passing out candy, or winding down after bedtime routines, we hope there’s a soft moment somewhere in the mix. 🎃

10/27/2025

The lights, the costumes, the noise - it can all look like fun from the outside.

But for some kids (and adults), Halloween can feel a little different.

The costumes itch, the crowds get loud, the energy runs high and uneven. 😵‍💫

Sometimes the hardest part of nights like this is feeling like you’re supposed to enjoy it.

If you’re the parent walking home early, the one holding a hand through tears, or the one watching from the window instead of the porch - that’s okay.

Joy doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it looks like quiet, like calm, like a night that ends early with a blanket and a bowl of candy on the counter.

You’re not doing the season wrong. 🧡

10/17/2025

If your teen had a hard day — maybe they got benched, left out, or brought home a grade that stings — the drive home can feel like a minefield.

Sometimes it helps to keep things quiet at first.

A little music. A few slow breaths.

A question that gives them choice:

“Rough day. Want quiet, music, or to talk?”

When things feel steadier later, you might say:

“Would it feel okay to check in now, or tomorrow?”

“What part hurt most — the situation, the people, or your own expectations?”

“Snack and shower? I’m proud of how you handled a tough night.” 💕

It’s a season that asks a lot of parents - quick transitions, big emotions, and not much space to pause.

At HEART, we believe small, steady moments of connection are the work.

That’s where safety grows, and healing starts to take shape - not in perfect responses, but in calm presence.

👉 If you’re looking for gentle ways to bring more calm into your evenings, check out this blog post by Amy Racki:

https://heartcounselingllc.com/back-to-school-mental-health-tips/