The Heart of Counseling

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The Heart of Counseling

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12/10/2025

These are the days…

of classroom celebrations
games that become tradition (since 2017!)
silliness and laughter in the classroom
endings, closure, and see ya next years

And now endless grading

12/05/2025

What is this a picture of? Grown ass therapists having a snowball fight in the office with crumpled up pieces of paper.

I have crazy ideas. All the time. And sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, and sometimes they turn into something greater than I could have imagined.

Here is your invitation to have fun. To play. To seek joy and throw it around. You never know what might happen.

12/03/2025

Escape room for my ethics class this week! Solve the ethical dilemmas and stay off the counselor disciplinary list!

Comments from the online chat:

“Dr. Michelle is an evil genius”
“Oh nooooo!!!! We’re never getting out of heeeeere”
“If we can’t escape, I get the couch”
“I learned a lot this semester, but one thing is that I need to learn how to play D&D”
“I’m gonna just stick to wordle”

”

11/16/2025

The last and final weekend of family therapy class for this semester. The prep, the exhaustion, the organizing and reorganizing has been worth it. Students grew beyond their own expectations and hopes. I love being able to bring my crazy creative ideas into the classroom. Students, thank you for always teaching me.

11/13/2025

I’m not sure who in the counseling office stocked up our “emergency comfort kit” drawer with a hundred bags of gummy bears but you are my people.

11/05/2025

.
And p**f! Just like that, the leaves that provided calm and peace during class just two weeks ago were gone.

I collected some fallen before class and laid them on the desks for students to take. And they did.

Talking about the symbolism of the season. And the importance of holding onto the moments of peace and calm.

As therapists, we need these reminders constantly. Hold onto peace and calm where you can find it.

10/30/2025

Retreat

noun
1. an act of moving back or withdrawing

🎨 An important and crucial practice in the work of a counselor 🍂

10/25/2025

With deep humble gratitude I share the exciting news that I have sold 1000+ books. Thank you for those who have supported me and this process.

Am I proud of this? Yes. But moreover, I am thankful my words are out there reaching therapists who need to hear them.

*You* are your greatest intervention.

This world needs YOU.

10/22/2025

We walked into the classroom and collectively gasped

The changing trees cast a pink glow on the whole room

So instead of starting class we rearranged the chairs

And sat, facing the brilliance, and paused life

Therapists. With a million things on our minds, stopped.

I witnessed…
Slowing
Gratitude
Deep breaths
Tears
Calm
Closed eyes
Presence
Peace

We sat for over 20 minutes together, facing the trees, and connected.

Learning looks a lot of different ways. 🍁

10/19/2025

Therapist friends can be the best kind of friends. They “get it” in different ways than non-therapist friends.

This morning one of those therapist friends asked me “Where are you finding pockets of both peace and joy? How are you making time for you?”

After teaching all day Friday and Saturday I found pockets. I admired the trees holding joy as I left the parking lot. Before I got home I stopped at the local joy trail and walked to clear my mind and heart before settling in for the evening with family.

My ask for you today is the same…where are you finding pockets of both peace and joy? How are you making time for you?

You’re worth it!!!

Address

Portland, OR

Website

http://michelleengblom.com/

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