Samantha Hosea, LPC at Gentle Waters Counseling

08/27/2025

08/25/2025

08/19/2025

I’ve got STICKERS! Be sure to grab a sticker or 3 at your next session.

07/24/2025

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry: Robert Burns.
Life isn't about the destination, it's the journey.

07/02/2025

ART works to directly reprogram the way in which distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so they no longer trigger strong physical and emotional reactions. The brain will focus on the problem while concurrently using eye movement to make new connections to change images and emotional responses, while retaining the factual knowledge of the distressing event. Our brain already knows how to do this and is familiar because it uses rapid eye movements to process information, memories, and emotions in our sleep during REM sleep. The eye movements are calming in nature and will help you relax and process distressing emotions as they come up.

https://www.therapyutah.org/what-to-expect-when-starting-art-therapy/

06/22/2025

Some days, emotions feel like waves—loud, heavy, and uninvited.

In those moments, it’s easy to rush in, fix things, or quiet what feels too much.

But what if the kindest thing we could do… is pause?

These gentle reminders aren’t just for kids.
They’re for the grown-ups, too—the ones learning to honor their own feelings while holding space for someone else’s.

Save this post for a moment you need to breathe before you speak.

And if you’d love printable resources to support emotional awareness and reflection, just comment FREE for instant access to our full tools library.

06/13/2025

I am out of the office for the next week and will be back Monday the 23rd.

05/28/2025

"Dropping anchor" in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness exercise designed to ground and center individuals during times of emotional distress or overwhelm. It involves acknowledging thoughts and feelings, returning to the body, and engaging with the present moment. This technique, developed by Russ Harris, helps individuals to detach from automatic thoughts and emotions and actively choose how to respond to difficult situations.

Here's a breakdown of the "Dropping Anchor" technique:
1. Acknowledge your thoughts and feelings:
Observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment or resistance.
Recognize that these thoughts and feelings are just passing experiences and not necessarily the truth.
2. Come back into your body:
Connect with your physical body by noticing sensations like the feeling of your feet on the floor or your back against a chair.
Engage in gentle movement like stretching or swaying.
3. Engage with the present moment:
Direct your attention to your surroundings by noticing what you can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.
Engage in the activity or situation at hand with full awareness.

By using this technique, individuals can become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without getting carried away by them, and can choose to engage more fully in the present moment.

05/20/2025

Some days feel heavier than others.
Not because you’re doing anything wrong—
but because you’re holding so much at once.

Teaching. Parenting. Trying to stay kind when you’re running on fumes.
Correcting behavior while carrying your own worries.
Being the steady one when your heart is anything but.

Here we are to remind you that even when it’s messy, loud, or off-script—
you’re still doing sacred work.

✨ Read these aloud.
Say them to yourself.
Say them to the child who’s learning from how you rise, and how you rest.

👇 Which one did you need to hear today?