Growth Abounds PLLC

05/03/2026

Come on out and join us! The rock for mental health concert fundraiser tonight at boondocks in Springfield! Doors open in 10 minutes first band on at five! 3 live bands including national touring Dead Sugar, Park, and our very own Unchained!!!

This guy and I will be at the merch table. Come see us! 

04/28/2026

Anniversaries like today can carry a weight that is difficult to put into words. For some, it may feel like a quiet ache. For others, it may feel as raw as the very first day. However it shows up for you, it matters. Today we honor and remember those who were lost in the YNOT tragedy one year ago. 

For all those navigating the journey of this tragic loss, one of the most important truths to hold onto is this: grief does not follow a timeline. It is not linear, predictable, or something we “move on” from. Instead, it shifts, revisits, softens, and sometimes resurfaces when we least expect it. Anniversaries often act as reminders, not because you are “going backward,” but because love and loss are deeply connected.

When days feel heavy, here are a few gentle ways to support yourself:
• Give yourself permission to feel whatever is present, without judgment
• Adjust expectations for the day; it’s okay if your capacity looks different
• Stay connected to safe, supportive people
• Ground yourself in small, steadying moments (a walk, fresh air, quiet reflection)
• Limit exposure to anything that feels overwhelming, it is OK if some days just feel like too much.

For those wanting to honor the memory of those who were lost, consider:
• Lighting a candle in their memory
• Sharing a story or memory with someone you trust
• Writing a letter to them or about them
• Engaging in an activity they loved
• Doing an act of kindness in their name

Remember to give yourself grace today and always. Grief is not something to “get over”. It is something we learn to carry, and in time, it often becomes a reflection of the depth of connection and love we experienced.

Today, whether you are remembering quietly or carrying something that feels too big to hold, you are not alone. Take care of yourself in the ways you need.

04/27/2026

I love watching progress!

We're excited to announce that 1,000 privileges to practice have been issued through the Counseling Compact! Currently, the Counseling Compact is live for licensed professional counselors in Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota and Ohio, with additional states expected to begin granting privileges in coming months.

Learn more about the Compact here: https://counselingcompact.gov/

04/26/2026

There was a time I prayed for what I have right now.

And yet, like so many of us, I can find myself still reaching… still striving… still asking, “what’s next?”

Growth is good. Dreams matter. But sometimes, in all that forward movement, we miss something important—we’re already standing inside answered prayers.

The life.
The opportunities.
The relationships.
The strength we didn’t know we’d have.

What if today isn’t just about pushing forward… but about pausing long enough to notice?

Take a moment. Look around.
What do you have today that you once hoped for?

Let that awareness bring gratitude.
Let that gratitude create a sense of safety.
Let that safety allow you to be fully present.

Because achievement isn’t always about what’s ahead—
sometimes it’s recognizing where you already are.

04/25/2026

What an amazing opportunity to hear from two of the greats! This work drives so much of what I do and the idea of being one piece of the growth of this amazing theory and of the “Polyvagal family” is honoring and humbling. I can only hope the work that I do through the Applied Polyvagal Model ™ (APM) of Clinical Supervision and the ABOUND Framework: The Practice of Durable Presence ™ , lives up to and embodies the true spirit of the Polyvagal theory and therapy.

Thank you to Stephen Porges and Deb Dana for the amazing work you have started and the gift you have given to all of us.

04/24/2026

What a wonderful day! I am so blessed to be able to be part of the kids good grief camp every year! 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B5LfKSbYw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/20/2026

Get your tickets now for the Rock for Mental Health Awareness Month Concert ft. UNCHAiNED, PARK & DEAD SUGAR at Boondocks at https://rock4mentalhealth.eventbrite.com !

04/20/2026

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be interviewed by Jeff Williams and NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS to share pieces of the work that matter most to me.

I had the chance to talk about Growth Abounds PLLC, the meaningful experience of being involved with Kids Good Grief Camp, and to introduce my emerging work, the ABOUND Framework: The Practice of Durable Presence ™

ABOUND is an approach designed to help individuals create durable presence in their lives—supporting intentional wellness, connection, and success in the relationships and systems they are part of.

The ABOUND Framework is grounded in the idea that how we “show up” in our relationships—whether as clinicians, parents, educators, or professionals—can move beyond short-term strategies toward something more lasting and impactful.

It is an honor to bring voice to this work and the communities it serves. I’m thankful for platforms like NPR that create space for these conversations.

More to come as I continue developing and sharing the ABOUND Framework. Including trainings for counselors working with, and parents of children with neurodivergent needs.

Reach out directly with any questions if you want to know more about the ABOUND Framework.

Listen to our Community Voices interview. The link is in comments.

01/18/2026

I love this idea, I don’t know if I can do the running, but I can try… just maybe not at 8 miles an hour yet 😁

01/06/2026

Did you set a New Year’s resolution? Did you set a word of intention for the year?
Every year many of us start the year out with goals we have set and then we just start going. We start working out or we start reading or we work more hours. How often does all of that work actually feel exhausting? Almost Always!?!

That’s because it is exhausting! Too often we convince ourselves that if we are moving and doing and going, we are being successful and we are achieving things, but we’re not. Not really. When we move and go and do without alignment, we are spinning our wheels, and it will still not feel like enough.

Last year, I took a lot of time to not only be intentional with what I wanted, but to make sure the way I went about it worked for me and who I was and where I was in my own journey.

I have had years of experience and training with grief and trauma work. By readjusting my approach to make sure it was in alignment with me, I can happily say I have added three more letters after my name as a certified grief informed professional! My trauma credentials will follow soon!

I invite you to share your resolutions or words or goals below, but challenge you to reflect on them and share how you are going to approach them so that they are in alignment with you.

Have a friend that you know needs to do this as well? Reach out to them to let them know you want them to succeed and then Invite them to this page so they can participate as well. 

Wishing you all many blessings in this new year! Let’s all work towards our own alignment and harmony !



01/01/2026

☮️🖤🎸

12/31/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, ask yourself “Am I living my life in true alignment with who I am?”

If your answer is yes, celebrate and set your intentions for next year.

If your answer is no, take some time to reflect on what you believe needs to be different, or reach out to me, let’s talk about it. When you identify what it is, then set your intentions for next year.

I invite you to comment below with your intentions and share this with someone you love who could use the opportunity to do the same 🥰

Wishing you all a year of alignment and harmony and peace. From my family to yours ❤️