Arukah Counseling LLC

05/28/2026

Sometimes what we call "laziness", avoidance, or lack of motivation is actually nervous system overload.

When your body has been under chronic stress, even small tasks can begin to feel overwhelming.

Meeting yourself with compassion, not shame, can change the way you relate to yourself and the world around you.

Which slide resonated with you the most?

-compassion

05/10/2026

Joy. Grief. Gratitude. Exhaustion. Longing. Love. Regret. Hope.

Today, we honor every version of motherhood and every person carrying its weight in some way.

💛 To the mothers raising children day by day
💛 To the mothers who are grieving
💛 To those longing to become mothers
💛 To those navigating infertility, loss, or complicated journeys
💛 To the foster, adoptive, step, and chosen mothers
💛 To the single parents carrying so much on their own
💛 To the mothers healing from their own childhoods while trying to parent differently
💛 To those with strained or painful relationships with their mothers
💛 To the caregivers, aunties, grandmothers, mentors, and nurturers
💛 To the people for whom today feels heavy instead of celebratory

There is no “right” way to feel today.

If today brings celebration, we hope you can receive it.
If today brings grief, we hope you can make space for it gently.
If today is complicated, you are not alone in that either.

However this day meets you, may you offer yourself the same compassion you so often give to others. 💐

Healing Parenthood Grief InfertilityAwareness SelfCompassion PrivatePractice YouAreNotAlone

04/21/2026

I wanted to share this community event in case anyone is interested in learning more about TMS and MeRT as treatment for depression and many other diagnoses! It is a free event for both clinicians and clients to attend!

04/21/2026

I wanted to share this community event in case anyone is interested in learning more about TMS and MeRT as treatment for depression. It's a free event for both clinicians and clients to attend!

04/06/2026

02/03/2026

Had to hop on the trend 😅
Considering I hardly use ChatGPT, I think it covered the basics pretty well lol

01/17/2026

Anxiety isn’t just “in your head.”
It’s energy in your nervous system asking to move. 🌿

From a polyvagal and somatic experiencing lens, anxiety often means your body is stuck in a mobilized survival state (fight/flight). When that energy doesn’t complete its cycle, it lingers—showing up as restlessness, racing thoughts, tension, or overwhelm.

✨ Regulation isn’t about forcing calm.
✨ It’s about safely discharging activation and letting your nervous system come back to balance.

Try this gentle somatic reset:
• Push your feet into the floor and notice the pressure
• Slowly press your palms together, then release
• Shake out your hands or legs for 10–20 seconds
• Take a long exhale (exhales signal safety to the vagus nerve)

In somatic work, we call this titration—small, manageable doses of movement that help the body complete what it couldn’t finish in moments of stress.

Your body already knows how to regulate.
We’re just helping it remember. 🤍

Save this for later and share with someone whose nervous system could use a little kindness today.

01/10/2026

✨ Why Intentions > Goals for 2026 ✨

As a counselor, I see this every year:
People don’t fail because they lack discipline — they struggle because goals often ignore the human nervous system.

Goals are outcome-focused.
Intentions are relationship-focused.

A goal says: “I must achieve this.” (hello black and white thinking traps...👀)
An intention says: “This is how I want to show up.” (hello curiosity and patience 💜)

When life gets stressful (and it will), rigid goals can trigger shame, avoidance, or burnout. Intentions, on the other hand, support flexibility, self-compassion, and regulation — the foundations of sustainable change.

Examples:
❌ Goal: “I will work out 5 days a week.”
✅ Intention: “I intend to care for my body with curiosity and respect.”
❌ Goal: “I will stop being anxious.”
✅ Intention: “I intend to respond to anxiety with patience and tools.”

Intentions keep you connected to your values even when conditions aren’t perfect. They allow room for being human.

For 2026, consider asking:
🧠 How do I want to feel in my body?
❤️ How do I want to treat myself when I struggle?
🌱 Who do I want to be — not just what do I want to achieve?

Progress doesn’t come from pressure.
It comes from alignment.

PRESENCE is my intention this year. SHARE WHATS YOURS BELOW!

2026Intentions CounselorLife

01/07/2026

Here's to 2026 and trying new things! Thank you to for the interview and for the nomination.

It is okay to BE SEEN
It is okay to BE KNOWN
It is okay to BE OPEN

If you struggle with feeling trapped, lost in lies and shame, unable to find yourself...I'd love to talk with you! You dont have to fight alone.

https://voyagestl.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-krista-mertz

11/29/2025

Happy First Snowfall here in St Louis ❄️

It is moments like this that remind me to be connected, to know that life is ever changing yet grounded at the same time.

Take a moment to pause and enjoy one of my favorite sounds 🎶

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Arukah Counseling LLC!

Wishing you gratitude, grounding, and growth 🙏