Full Bloom Counseling & Coaching

Full Bloom Counseling & Coaching Christian counseling practice for individuals, couples, and families in Washington, MO.

We integrate faith and evidence-based care to support connection, healing, and hope—building healthier individuals, families, and communities.

05/26/2026

I thought one of my ducks was gone for good.

Days passed with no sign of her, and I had already started grieving what I believed was lost.

But then… she appeared.

Hidden away, quietly sitting on a nest of 11 ducklings that were about to hatch.

What I thought was dead wasn’t dead at all.
Something new was being formed in the hidden places.

Isn’t that true in our own lives sometimes?

We mourn relationships, dreams, opportunities, seasons, or parts of ourselves that seem gone and lifeless. We assume the silence means the story is over.

But sometimes God is simply doing His deepest work out of sight.

Sometimes what looks buried is actually being prepared for new life.

If you’re in a season where things feel still, silent, or lost, don’t lose hope too quickly. What feels dead today may be the very thing preparing to spring forward tomorrow.

New life often begins in hidden places.

05/14/2026

Today God reminded me that sometimes we need a different perspective.

I walked my usual route in the opposite direction and noticed things I had never seen before — beautiful flowers, areas needing cleanup, and details I had completely missed.

It made me think about how often we approach struggles the same way and wonder why nothing changes.

Sometimes God grows us by changing our perspective before He changes our situation. 🌸

05/12/2026

Whose voice are you listening to, and how do you respond to it?

I recently started taking a walk every day around our homestead. Every walk begins with me “calling” to our goats — and they always call back and run to meet me at the fence. Then I greet them all and let them have some grazing time.

It’s a mental health boost for me and freedom for them 😝

But every time, it makes me think about how important it is to be discerning about the voices we listen to.

Are you listening to voices that lead you toward anger, frustration, division, depression, or confusion?

Or are you tuning in to voices that produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?

It’s worth taking time to pay attention to the fruit that comes from the voices you consume.

Also… this video is a perfect example of why I probably need a social media manager 😂🫣

Watching the workers in the shark tank reminded me how important connection and support really are.Some people were doin...
05/12/2026

Watching the workers in the shark tank reminded me how important connection and support really are.

Some people were doing the hard work of cleaning, while others stayed nearby—watching carefully, protecting them, and redirecting danger before it became a problem.

I think life works that way too.

We all need people who help us feel seen, supported, and safe. And often, connection is built through small, everyday moments more than grand gestures:
• checking in with a simple “How are you really doing?”
• dropping off a meal during a stressful season
• offering to help with childcare or errands
• sitting with someone in grief instead of trying to fix it
• remembering important dates or hard anniversaries
• sending the text that says, “I’ve been thinking about you.”
• praying for a friend and letting them know they’re not carrying things alone

These kinds of moments build trust. They remind us we matter to someone.

In a world that can feel isolating, genuine connection is one of the greatest gifts we can offer each other. 💛

More insights from my (Elyssa ☺️) recent visit to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium!As we wandered through the aquarium, co...
05/11/2026

More insights from my (Elyssa ☺️) recent visit to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium!

As we wandered through the aquarium, completely mesmerized by the sea creatures, I suddenly looked up and saw a pair of human legs near the top of the shark tank! Thankfully, the rest of him was there too. 😂

At first, it just seemed funny and a little risky. But the longer I watched, the more I noticed something deeper happening.

Some workers were cleaning the tank, while others stayed nearby watching carefully—protecting them and redirecting any curious sharks away from danger.

And honestly, it made me think about how much life works the same way.

Some seasons find us doing the hard work—showing up, carrying responsibilities, healing, growing, surviving. Other times, we’re the ones standing nearby for someone else: encouraging, protecting, praying, listening, or simply reminding them they’re not alone.

We were never meant to navigate life without support.

Sometimes the people around us help carry the weight in ways we don’t even fully realize until we look back and see who was quietly watching over us all along. 💛

I’m annoyed at this mug this morning.And yet, because I’m in the middle of a process myself, I also love this mug this m...
05/07/2026

I’m annoyed at this mug this morning.

And yet, because I’m in the middle of a process myself, I also love this mug this morning.

Since I’m trying to be more intentional about gratitude and practicing what I encourage others to do—focusing on what is good and true—I’ll start with why I love it:

1. It’s true. We are all in a process of some kind. I try to remind myself that what feels impossibly hard right now won’t always feel this hard. Sometimes we just can’t see our way through while we’re in the middle of it.

2. It’s pretty. I love the wide handle, the shimmer, and the sparkle.

3. I love that God continues to show up, refine me, and shape me into someone better and more useful. A verse I refer to often is I Corinthians 9:27 to help keep me motivated ❤️

4. I think being a human who is still “in process” helps me better serve people in both therapy and teaching spaces. I’m not speaking from a place of having arrived—I’m walking through it too.

Why it annoys me:

1. I’m human, and I want things to be easy. But easy now often creates harder things later—or worse, stagnation.

2. Sometimes I burn out because I’m not taking good enough care of myself. In those seasons, I can become really negative and struggle to see past what hurts. Even when a reminder like this is exactly what I need, I can still resist it.

3. I sometimes convince myself that negativity is helping me “prepare” for bad outcomes—as if expecting the worst will somehow protect me from it. But honestly, it usually just blinds me to the blessings and opportunities right in front of me. I’m also far less creative and joyful in those moments. Not exactly great soil for growth.

Who can relate? ❤️

And heart the photo you like best from my morning walk. (Yes, I walk with an open coffee mug and occasionally do full-on mug photo shoots 😝)

I recently visited the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, where I met Tortellini, a green sea turtle who lives there. She was r...
05/06/2026

I recently visited the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, where I met Tortellini, a green sea turtle who lives there.

She was rescued off the coast of Florida after likely being struck by a boat, which caused permanent damage to her shell and left her with buoyancy issues. Because of her injuries, her body naturally stays vertical in the water—whether she’s swimming or resting—rather than horizontal.

It made me think about how many of us carry injuries from life that have left lasting effects.

Often, through no fault of our own, we continue to feel the weight of those experiences.

If you’re still carrying the impact of a broken relationship, a hurtful conversation, or an uncomfortable situation, I believe God has a unique plan for your healing and restoration.

At Full Bloom, we would be honored to walk alongside you as you learn to recognize the beliefs shaped by past hurts and move toward true healing and freedom.

Deep connection within a community is profound.To feel seen, accepted, desired—integrated.To have a place. To belong. To...
04/17/2026

Deep connection within a community is profound.

To feel seen, accepted, desired—integrated.
To have a place. To belong. To fit.

In a healthy community, when one person is not well, the community as a whole is not well.

And yet, even when a wound is visible, it can be difficult to know how to respond—what love requires, what words to offer, or how to truly walk alongside someone in their pain.

Even so, every community needs a plan for tending wounds. Without one, the strain of unaddressed suffering begins to break the community down.

Dysfunction takes root when one member is suffering, and the body, though aware, does not pause to bear the shared burden and tend the wound in their midst.

If we are called to bear one another’s burdens, what is your community’s plan for tending wounds?

Full Bloom Counseling & Coaching Services would be honored to support your community in prayerfully engaging this conversation and discerning what faithful care can look like in your midst.

P.S. I added a pic of my favorite art piece of the one that wandered away. Be like Jesus. Run after restoration.

My daily walks keep reminding me that there is always beauty and joy to be found—no matter the circumstances. More than ...
04/13/2026

My daily walks keep reminding me that there is always beauty and joy to be found—no matter the circumstances. More than that, I found God always wants to walk with me no matter how I show up.

Even on the hard days.

Today’s walk was hard. I haven’t slept well in a long time, and just as I finally drifted off, I was jolted awake by a kiddo cleaning a turtle tank with a shop vac 🥹

I woke up feeling defeated—physically exhausted, in pain from the lack of sleep, and starting to lose hope that things will get better.

So I went on a walk with tears in my eyes, head hanging low. Legs weighed down.

But God still showed up.

In that heavy moment, I noticed tiny flowers scattered along the path—flowers I would have missed if I hadn’t been looking down and if my legs hadn’t felt like lead making me go slower.

It felt like a gentle reminder: even in the hardest seasons, there is quiet beauty… and growth we can’t always see… yet.

If you’re in a hard season too, you’re not alone. If you can’t lift your head in your hard moment, look for the good where you can. We’re here to help you gain perspective in all circumstances ❤️

💛 Follow Full Bloom Counseling & Coaching Services for encouragement, support, and reminders that healing and growth are possible—even here.

Nature never stops amazing me.This tree fell during the winter—yet it’s still alive, pushing out fresh spring buds.It re...
03/21/2026

Nature never stops amazing me.

This tree fell during the winter—yet it’s still alive, pushing out fresh spring buds.

It reminded me that even when we feel broken, growth is still possible.

If you’re in a season that feels heavy or fractured, you’re not alone—and this may not be the end of your story.

People need to feel seen, heard, and understood in order to feel connected—and connection is what allows people to truly...
03/16/2026

People need to feel seen, heard, and understood in order to feel connected—and connection is what allows people to truly feel loved.

Please know: this does NOT mean you have to agree 100% with everything they share, or that you must fix their problem, give them something, or have all the answers.

Often, people who are hurting are:
• processing through pain
• stuck in a difficult perspective
• or simply needing someone to sit with them while they sort out what’s happening inside.

When you take the time to truly see, hear, and understand someone, you build connection. And connection is foundational to a loving relationship.

The worst thing to do when someone you love is deep in a struggle is disconnect from them. You may have your own reasons, and there are certainly times when healthy boundaries are necessary. But outside of those situations, it’s worth asking yourself what might be keeping you from leaning in toward those you love who are hurting, confused, or overwhelmed.

As Christians, we are called to be there for one another in the midst of our struggles. Being alone is not good for us as humans—or as those who are part of the Body of Christ. 🤍

Take a moment today to ask yourself:
Who in my life might need me to lean in instead of pull away?

And if you are the one struggling right now, please remember: you were never meant to carry it alone.

Keep fighting to find your community. And if you've found it, and they've hurt you, seek reconciliation and repair.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LAKJBe5YU/

Address

1874 Highway A, Suite 102 And 104
Washington, MO
63090

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Full Bloom Counseling & Coaching posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Full Bloom Counseling & Coaching:

Shortcuts

Share

Category