The Juniper Center

02/11/2026

Every February, we honor Black History Month by celebrating the profound contributions Black Americans have made throughout history and continue to make today. This month also offers an opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing mental health challenges within the Black community and the importance of access, representation, and culturally responsive care. https://crawfordmentalhealth.org/the-connection-between-black-history-month-and-mental-health/

Celebrate Black History Month by raising awareness about mental health disparities. Discover how you can help break down barriers.

02/10/2026

Meet Erica Hungerford! Erica Hungerford, LCPC, is dedicated to helping clients on their path toward growth and healing. Erica has been working with survivors of s*xual violence and their loved ones for 3.5 years, and is excited to bring her experience in trauma, anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+, ethical non-monogamy, s*x, kink, and couples’ issues to clients at The Juniper Center. She works with clients ages 14 and older, all genders, as well as couples and groups of non-monogamous romantic partners. Erica’s therapeutic style is supportive, relaxed, and inviting, and she will gently challenge clients where appropriate to aid in their growth. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/our-staff/erica-hungerford/

Erica Hungerford, LCPC, is dedicated to helping clients on their path toward growth and healing. Erica has been working with survivors of s*xual violence and their loved ones for 3.5 years, and is excited to bring her experience in trauma, anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+, ethical non-monogamy, s*x, kink...

02/09/2026

February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month—a gentle reminder to be kinder to yourself. Building self-esteem can look like practicing self-compassion, reflecting on your strengths, setting realistic goals, and challenging negative self-talk. Small shifts can make a meaningful impact on your mental well-being. https://americanbehavioralclinics.com/little-things-matter-month-january/

The Health, Safety and Environment National Office of Su***de Prevention of Ireland and 25 other international mental health organizations have named January Little Things Matter Campaign to remind people that mental wellbeing is essential. The campaign includes specific things to do in January.

02/05/2026

Today is Time to Talk Day 💬 A day dedicated to starting conversations about mental health and breaking down the barriers that make sharing feel hard. Talking openly about how we’re feeling can reduce stigma and help us feel less alone. Health Assured highlights why these conversations matter and how to confidently open up with people you trust. https://www.healthassured.org/blog/time-to-talk-day/

Time to Talk day encourages us to open up regarding our emotional wellbeing and break mental health stigma.

02/04/2026

Our next CEU presentation will be taking place on Friday, February 20th, and it will be hosted by our very own, Keenen Stevenson! This interactive CEU focuses on building the skills and awareness needed to be an effective ally. Participants will explore what allyship looks like in real-world settings and how to move from intention to action when supporting and advocating for others. The CEU emphasizes practical strategies for showing up, using influence responsibly, and creating inclusive environments. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/university/

02/03/2026

A new episode of Consumer's Guide to Mental Health podcast is now live! In this episode, Margo sits down with Bianka Hardin to explore somatic psychotherapy and why this body-centered approach is gaining recognition in mental health care. Together, they break down what somatic therapy is, how it differs from traditional talk therapy, and why paying attention to the body can play such a powerful role in emotional healing. Listeners will learn how somatic psychotherapy helps regulate the nervous system, process stress and trauma, and build a deeper sense of safety and self-awareness. Whether you’re feeling stuck in traditional therapy, curious about alternative approaches, or simply want to understand your options before booking an appointment, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and a compassionate introduction to a new way of healing. Please take a listen:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2532770/episodes/18534285

In this episode of The Consumer’s Guide to Mental Health, host Dr. Margo Jacquot sits down with Bianka Hardin to explore somatic psychotherapy and why this body-centered approach is gaining recognition in mental health care. Together, they break d...

02/02/2026

It’s Heart Health Month 💙 Your heart and mind are deeply connected. Ongoing stress, anxiety, and depression can affect both your mental and physical health. This February, remember that caring for your mental health is also caring for your heart. https://www.theharriscenter.org/blogs/heart-mind-connection-managing-stress-heart-health

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time when many of us think about our physical heart health, but it’s also an important time to recognize how our mental health impacts our heart.Stress, depression, and anxiety can take a toll on us in many ways. Prolonged stress can have a significant im...

01/29/2026

TOMORROW! Lauryn Payne will host a virtual CEU presentation on counseling individuals navigating poverty and systemic inequity. This presentation aims to shed light on a complex and often controversial topic that is frequently overlooked in clinical practice and the world. By creating space for critical dialogue and increased awareness, this presentation aims to examine the systemic barriers that impact clients' daily lived experiences. It will explore a range of structural and social barriers while highlighting key clinical implications for both current practice and future counseling work. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/university/

01/28/2026

A new episode of the Mental Health Business Mentor podcast is now live! In this episode, we sit down with Tara Meyer-Robson, the creator of The Flow Method and Body Decode Method, to explore how mental and physical health are deeply interconnected—and why the body plays such a critical role in healing. Our guest shares how these methodologies were developed, how they’re being used by practitioners around the world, and what happens when clinicians learn to listen to the body as part of the therapeutic process. We discuss practical ways therapists can expand their clinical lens beyond symptoms and diagnoses to support more integrated, sustainable change. This conversation invites mental health professionals to rethink healing as something that unfolds in motion, awareness, and connection between mind and body.

In this episode, we sit down with Tara-Meyer Robson, the creator of The Flow Method and Body Decode Method, to explore how mental and physical health are dee...

01/28/2026

Have questions about the business side of your practice? Ask about 1-on-1 consulting with Dr. Margo Jacquot, award-winning founder and Chief Care Officer of The Juniper Center and host of Mental Health Business Mentor podcast. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/one-on-one-mental-health-business-consulting/

Dr. Margo Jacquot owns one of the largest mental health practices across Illinois. Get 1-on-1 consulting to grow your mental health business.

01/27/2026

The Juniper Center is hiring! Experience the joy of practicing where you can bring your authentic self to work. Check out current openings! https://www.thejunipercenter.com/about-us/jobs/

Experience the joy of working where you can bring your full self to work At The Juniper Center we provide care we would want for ourselves or a loved one.

01/26/2026

Meet Cy Watson! He views therapy not as advice-giving, but as a psychodynamic process of making sense of one's inner life — the feelings, patterns, and relationship dynamics that shape how one experiences the world. Cy works with adults and adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and trauma. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, he is committed to supporting q***r, trans, and non-binary clients with an affirming, intersectional approach. https://www.thejunipercenter.com/our-staff/cy-watson/

Cy earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University. His background in the arts shapes his collaborative approach, grounded in the belief that deepening self-awareness sparks change. He sees therapy not as advice-g...