Willow Creek Counseling

13/08/2025

🌱 Emotions can be complicated—understanding them shouldn’t be.

The How We Feel app is a free, easy-to-use tool designed to help you name and track your emotions, spot patterns, and understand the “why” behind how you feel.

By simply checking in a few times a day, you can start building emotional awareness, which is an important step toward better mental health. Over time, you’ll gain insights into what impacts your mood and discover small changes that can make a big difference.

It’s like having a pocket-sized emotional journal—private, insightful, and built to help you feel more connected to yourself. 💙

📲 Learn more or download here: https://howwefeel.org/

The How We Feel Project is a non-profit working to help everyone better understand their own emotions.

12/08/2025

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Meet Jennifer! 🌟

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 29 years of dedicated service to children and families in the Rockford area. Her extensive experience spans child welfare, mental health agencies, and specialized work with adoption and infertility-related issues.

Jennifer provides compassionate care for a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, self-esteem, PTSD, attachment concerns, and trauma. She creates a safe, supportive, and respectful space where clients can explore and navigate their feelings to heal and grow.

Her deep understanding and thoughtful approach make her an invaluable part of the Willow Creek team, helping clients move forward through their personal journeys with empathy and care.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Jennifer’s expertise, don’t hesitate to reach out to Willow Creek Counseling.

11/08/2025

Calling All Therapists!
Join us for the next 815 Social—a casual gathering of local mental health professionals looking to connect, share ideas, and build community. Whether you're in private practice, agency work, or just starting out, we’d love to meet you.

Let’s support one another and grow together—one conversation at a time.

09/08/2025

The Mindful Kind with Rachael Kable

Looking for short, calming episodes that offer real-life tools to manage stress and feel more grounded? The Mindful Kind is a gentle and practical podcast hosted by Rachael Kable, designed to help you build mindfulness into your everyday life.

Topics range from managing anxiety and improving emotional resilience to practicing self-compassion and setting boundaries. Most episodes are under 15 minutes—perfect for a quick mental reset during your day.

It’s a great listen if you're curious about mindfulness or want simple strategies to feel more present and peaceful.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

07/08/2025

06/08/2025

Begin Anywhere.
Healing doesn’t have to start with the perfect words or a big breakthrough—it just has to start. Whether it’s a small step or a quiet moment of reflection, beginning is brave. We’re here to walk with you, wherever you are.

04/08/2025

Monday is a fresh start — a new week full of possibilities and opportunities to do amazing things. No matter what last week looked like, today is your chance to set new intentions, take small steps forward, and be kind to yourself along the way.

03/08/2025

Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind

Did you know that regular physical activity is one of the most effective tools we have to support mental health?

Research shows that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a few times a week can help:

Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression

Improve mood and self-esteem

Boost sleep quality

Decrease stress hormones like cortisol

Increase feel-good chemicals like endorphins and serotonin

You don’t have to run marathons—walking, dancing, gardening, stretching, or yoga all count. The key is finding something you enjoy and giving yourself permission to move.

Your mind and body are on the same team. Be kind to both.

02/08/2025

If you've ever wondered how trauma affects the brain and body—or why certain responses feel “out of your control”—this is a powerful read. The Body Keeps the Score is a foundational book in trauma-informed care, and it’s especially helpful if:

You're trying to understand your own trauma or emotional patterns

You’ve experienced something painful that still lingers in your body or nervous system

You want to explore how healing can involve more than just talk therapy

You're a caregiver, professional, or loved one supporting someone with trauma

This book is eye-opening, validating, and deeply human. We recommend it for anyone looking to better understand the mind-body connection and how healing truly works.