Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC

11/24/2025

🌦️ Seasonal Depression & Self-Care

Theme: Nurture Your Mind, Body, and Light

🧠 Shorter days can affect your mood — and your mind.
When sunlight fades and routines shift, many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — a form of depression tied to changes in seasons. You might notice lower energy, more fatigue, or sadness that feels heavier this time of year.

🌿 Small Ways to Care for Yourself:

Get sunlight whenever possible. Step outside for a few minutes each day.

Move your body. Stretch, walk, or dance — physical movement boosts your mood.

Maintain a routine. Regular meals, sleep, and connection can stabilize your emotions.

Reach out for support. Therapy or community groups can make a difference.

Give yourself grace. You’re allowed to rest, recharge, and take things one day at a time.

💬 Gentle Reminder:
You don’t have to push through alone. Light can come from community, connection, and care — not just the sun.

🎥 Video Idea: Record a short clip speaking about how seasonal depression doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means you’re human, and healing begins with self-compassion.

✨ Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

11/21/2025

Trauma and Grief Support Group. The group is for individuals ages 18 and up. The group will meet once a month. Next session is Tuesday, December 9, 2025 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm. This is a virtual group. This group is at no cost. To register go to: https://forms.gle/2nHUFhuUFTxSVd2A6
This month's special guest is: Tiffany Jones, LPC-Associate Supervised by Danielle Bowman, LPC-S
Bio:
Tiffany Jones is a nationally recognized National Certified Counselor Associate, endorsed by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). She recently earned a dual master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from Walden University. She also holds a Master of Education degree
from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in health education with a minor in Psychology from the University of Houston.
With a specialized focus in clinical mental health, Tiffany is particularly passionate about couples and family counseling. Her long-term goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a concentration in these areas. She integrates
Solution-Focused Therapy, Adlerian Theory, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support individuals and families in addressing internal struggles and achieving holistic healing.
A strong advocate for mental health across the lifespan, Tiffany works with clients of all ages experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and crisis. She is also an LGBTQ+ ally and is committed to providing inclusive, client-centered care.

11/20/2025

🫶 Giving Back This Thanksgiving: Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC Supports LGBTQ+ Youth 🕊️
By Larneka Lavalais, LPC-S, NCC
Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

This Thanksgiving season, Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC is proud to give back by supporting the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Annual Holiday Food & Supply Drive, benefiting Tony’s Place — a vital organization serving LGBTQ+ unhoused youth. 💜

At our practice, giving back is part of healing. Supporting mental and emotional wellness means standing with our community — especially our youth who need compassion, connection, and care the most.

💜 About the Day of Giving

📅 Thursday, November 20, 2025

☀️ Morning Drop-Off:
📍 Cadillac Bar, 1802 Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX
🕗 8:00–9:30 AM

🌙 Evening Drop-Off:
📍 Eureka Heights Brew Co., 941 W 18th St., Houston, TX
🕓 4:00–8:00 PM

Enjoy the Chamber Rainbow Holiday Market, Drag Bingo, and $1 off beer with your donation — a celebration of giving, community, and pride! 🌈

💡 Why It Matters

LGBTQ+ youth make up 40% of the unhoused youth population, yet represent less than 10% of the general youth population.
This heartbreaking disparity is driven by family rejection and lack of affirming resources.

Your donations support Tony’s Place, which provides food, shelter referrals, and emotional care for youth who deserve dignity and safety.

🛍️ How You Can Help

Donate any of the following:

🥫 Non-perishable food

🧴 Toiletries & hygiene items

🧦 Winter essentials (socks, gloves, blankets)

👕 New underwear & T-shirts (all sizes)

Can’t attend in person?
💲 Donate directly or 🛒 Shop Tony’s Place Amazon Wish List here:
👉 https://chamberholidayfooddrive.lgbt/

🌿 Turning Gratitude into Action

Healing extends beyond the therapy room — it’s in how we care for others.
Let’s come together this Thanksgiving to give, uplift, and build community.

💜 When we give, we heal together.

’sPlace

11/19/2025

❤️🖤 Thank You, Port Arthur ISD ❤️🖤

A huge thank you to Port Arthur ISD for sharing the Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC Monthly Newsletter for November!
Your commitment to student and community wellness truly makes a difference, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to provide mental health tools that support families during the holiday season.

If you’d like more tips for surviving the Holiday Blues, along with monthly mental health strategies, resources, and wellness support, sign up for our newsletter at:

👉 www.lavalaislpc.com

Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

11/19/2025

📣 Exciting News!
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m now accepting clients with Aetna insurance through Headway!

If you’re looking for therapy that honours who you are and meets you where you are — you’re in the right place. With me, you’ll receive a warm, authentic, trauma-informed approach that empowers you to heal and grow.

✨ What I offer:
• A safe, judgment-free space for adults navigating anxiety, grief, life transitions & more
• A culturally responsive approach supporting underserved communities, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals
• Evidence-based methods like CBT, mindfulness, solution-focused therapy — tailored to your unique experience

✅ Why this matters: Using Aetna through Headway makes accessing therapy smoother and more affordable.
🗓 Ready to begin? Book a virtual session today and let’s partner in your healing journey.

Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

Larneka Lavalais, Licensed Professional Counselor. MEd (Master of Education), Lamar University. Accepts Aetna, Ascension (SmartHealth), Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Quest Behavioral Health.

11/19/2025

🌿 Thank You, Dee-J Acosta 🌿
Special Guest – Fall 2025 Trauma & Grief Support Group
A heartfelt thank you to our special guest, Dee-J Acosta, for joining us last night and pouring so much wisdom, compassion, and authenticity into our Trauma & Grief Support Group.
Your faith-based perspective, transparency, and ability to speak life into heavy places created a space of healing, reflection, and community. Our participants left feeling seen, supported, and uplifted — and that impact is truly invaluable.
Thank you for showing up with courage, empathy, and a spirit of service. We are deeply grateful for your voice and your presence.
💜 Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC
Supporting healing, connection, and growth — one conversation at a time.

11/18/2025

🌿 How Faith Communities Can Support Healing

Faith communities play a powerful role in helping individuals heal after trauma and grief. Together, faith and mental health can create spaces of true restoration and hope.

💜 5 Ways Faith Communities Can Support Healing:

1️⃣ Provide Safe & Compassionate Spaces
Create environments where people feel seen, heard, and accepted without judgment. Offer trauma-informed care and prioritize confidentiality in small groups and prayer circles.

2️⃣ Integrate Faith & Mental Health
Faith and therapy can work together. Invite mental health professionals to teach coping skills and normalize counseling as part of God’s healing plan.

3️⃣ Build Community & Connection
Isolation deepens pain — community helps us heal. Offer support groups, mentoring, or simple check-ins that remind others they’re not alone.

4️⃣ Offer Inclusive Support
Affirm that all are welcome. Address stigma around mental health, addiction, or grief with empathy and compassion.

5️⃣ Encourage Spiritual Practices that Restore Hope
Faith can rekindle meaning after loss. Incorporate prayer, journaling, music, and remembrance rituals to nurture peace.

🕊️ In Summary
Faith communities support healing when they blend spiritual compassion with emotional awareness. Healing happens where grace and understanding meet.

💬 Join Our Next Grief Support Group

🗓 Tuesday, November 18, 2025
⏰ 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM CST (Virtual)
👤 Featuring Dee-J Acosta, Faith-Based Advocate
📧 info@lavalaislpc.com

Hosted by Larneka Lavalais, LPC PLLC
✨ Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

11/17/2025

🕯️ Grieving During the Holidays

Theme: Honor, Don’t Hide Your Grief

💔 “Grief doesn’t take a holiday.”
While others may be celebrating, you might be missing someone you love — and that ache doesn’t disappear just because it’s the season of joy. It’s okay to feel both sadness and gratitude, to cry and still smile at memories.

✨ Ways to Honor Loved Ones This Season:

Light a candle in their memory during a meal or quiet moment.

Share stories or photos that bring comfort and connection.

Create a memory box — fill it with notes, keepsakes, or letters that remind you of them.

Carry on a tradition they loved, or create a new one in their honor.

💡 Activity: Create a new ritual this year — one that keeps their presence close. Maybe it’s writing a letter, visiting a favorite spot, or making their favorite dish.

🎥 Video Idea: Record yourself sharing a short, heartfelt message about how grief and joy can coexist. Remind your audience that healing isn’t about forgetting — it’s about remembering with love and giving yourself permission to feel.

💬 Gentle Reminder:
Grief is love with nowhere to go. Be kind to yourself this season — your feelings are valid, and you are not alone.

✨ Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

11/15/2025

💜 How Single Moms Can Handle Holiday Overwhelm Without Burning Out

The holidays can be beautiful — but for single moms, they can also bring pressure to “do it all.” Between finances, family expectations, and trying to make everything magical for your kids, it’s easy to lose sight of your own peace.

Here are 5 ways to protect your energy and make the season gentler:

1️⃣ Simplify Traditions
You don’t have to do every activity or attend every event. Choose what truly brings you and your kids joy — and let go of the rest.

2️⃣ Set Realistic Expectations
Your kids want you, not perfection. Focus on connection, not comparison.

3️⃣ Ask for (and Accept) Help
Trade childcare, share meals, or ask a friend to help wrap gifts — you don’t have to carry it all alone.

4️⃣ Schedule Quiet Time
Block off “no-plan” days for rest. A cup of tea, a nap, or a short walk can recharge your spirit more than another errand ever could.

5️⃣ Release Guilt
You’re doing your best — and that’s more than enough. The holidays don’t have to be picture-perfect to be meaningful.

✨ Remember: The most important gift you can give your family is a version of you that’s calm, present, and emotionally available.

—
Larneka Lavalais, LPC-S, NCC
Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

11/15/2025

🧔🏽 It’s Movember!

This month, we pause to shine a powerful light on the emotional and physical health of men — our fathers, partners, sons, friends, coworkers, and community members.

Too many men suffer in silence.
Too many feel they must “be strong” instead of asking for help.
Too many never receive the screenings or support that could save their lives.

Movember is more than mustaches — it’s about breaking stigma and creating safe spaces for men to open up, heal, and get the care they deserve.

💙 This month we’re raising awareness for:
• Men’s Mental Health
• Su***de Prevention
• Prostate Cancer
• Testicular Cancer

💬 Why it matters:

Men face unique pressures to stay silent, “tough it out,” and carry burdens alone.
But healing starts when men know it’s okay to talk, to feel, and to get support — without judgment.

👥 How you can help:

✔️ Check on the men you love
✔️ Encourage emotional honesty
✔️ Remind them screenings save lives
✔️ Share this post to spread awareness
✔️ Let them know they don’t have to struggle alone

This Movember, let’s stand together for the men in our lives — their mental, emotional, and physical well-being matter.

✨ Therapy that gets you. Healing that grows you.

👉 Share this to support men everywhere.

***dePrevention