Melissa Carlson Counseling

Melissa Carlson Counseling Group private practice offering telehealth sessions in addition to in-person offices in Algonquin, IL. Our therapists see children, teens & adults.

Culturally-competent, trauma-informed talk therapy, play therapy, & EMDR.

I’ve been thinking about “acceptance” as it relates to the current state of our world. **please take a deep breath and r...
11/10/2025

I’ve been thinking about “acceptance” as it relates to the current state of our world. **please take a deep breath and read entire post before reacting** We are inundated with endless videos of human rights violations - there is no shortage of examples of people being unlawfully kidnapped & beaten, children left behind or being taken, and millions cut off from accessing food. It’s easy to get lost in the flood of information (guilty) but being overwhelmed with endless graphic evidence of what we already know is not helpful and in most cases it’s literally hurting us. **I am not suggesting we bury our heads in the sand and pretend this is not happening.**

The opposite actually.

ACCEPTANCE of what is happening. This does not mean you are ok with any of this. Acceptance means this is where we are now. And now that we have faced that - we can make a plan for change. We can think about what we (as individuals & as part of a community) CAN do. We can witness the strength & resilience of others. We can feel the collective sense of justice. We can hold on to hope. We can take care of ourselves & others in preparation for our opportunity to contribute.

When I am feeling especially powerless in this, I am reminded that I can do SOMETHING.
💙Melissa

November is Men’s Health Month — a reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t just about the gym, the diet, or the annu...
11/06/2025

November is Men’s Health Month — a reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t just about the gym, the diet, or the annual check-up.

It’s also about your mental and emotional health — the parts most men were never really taught how to care for.

One of the most common things I hear from men in therapy is:

“I just feel disconnected.”

Disconnected from their partner. From their kids. From their friends. From themselves.

They’re doing everything they’re “supposed to” — working hard, showing up, keeping it together — but something still feels off.

In therapy, we slow down and look underneath that disconnection — the pressure to always succeed, the buried anger, the silence around fear, grief, or shame.

Men’s work isn’t about becoming someone else.

It’s about coming back to yourself — the version that feels grounded, honest, and connected to what actually matters.

This November, take a moment to check in — not just with your body, but with your mind and your heart.

- Aaron

Aaron Peska, LCSW sees clients via telehealth and is in network with most insurance plans, including NIU student insurance. Aaron currently has 1-2 openings on Saturday mornings. To learn more about working with Aaron submit an inquiry form here: www.melissacarlsoncounseling.com/contact

Happy 2 Year Anniversary Molly Raymond, LCSW!✨ We are grateful to have Molly as a part of our team as she supports teens...
11/03/2025

Happy 2 Year Anniversary Molly Raymond, LCSW!✨ We are grateful to have Molly as a part of our team as she supports teens (& their parents) and adults in a variety of presenting concerns using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). Molly is also trained in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and had this to say:

“One specialty area I have focused on over the past 5 years in my trainings & clinical work is in Nonviolent Communication (NVC). I have been using these skills significantly as many individuals are experiencing increased challenges to create & maintain relationships in our current cultural climate. This work involves teaching individuals how to identify their values & needs and empowering them to then express those to others in a clear & respectful way.”

To learn more about Molly or to request an appointment, see her full bio at https://www.melissacarlsoncounseling.com/meet-molly

Molly offers evening appointments & accepts most insurance plans. Telehealth for IL residents only.

11/01/2025

🚨 Missing Teen Alert - Please Share to Help Find Her 🚨

Valentina Colonia, age 15, has been missing since October 22, 2025, from Elgin, Illinois.

Her family is deeply concerned for her safety — the more time passes, the more urgent this becomes.

If you have any information, please contact the Elgin Police Department at 847-697-2380.

Don’t confuse resilience with endless capacity, even the strongest trees need a season of rest. ❤️Melissa
10/29/2025

Don’t confuse resilience with endless capacity, even the strongest trees need a season of rest.
❤️Melissa

Unpopular truth: many parents attempt to “fix” their child’s behavior through therapy but are unwilling to do their own ...
10/23/2025

Unpopular truth: many parents attempt to “fix” their child’s behavior through therapy but are unwilling to do their own work.

Parents may feel that if the child’s behavior improves there will no longer be issues within the family, but it doesn’t work that way. Often what is presenting as a “problem” with the child is part of a larger family issue.

When parents seek out their own support through individual, couples, &/or family therapy or through parenting sessions, they are showing their child they are in this WITH them. They’re not asking the child to do anything that they are not willing to do.
🖤Melissa

To get started with one of our therapists complete an inquiry form at www.melissacarlsoncounseling.com/contact

Shame and guilt can feel like emotional quicksand.You try to move forward, but something keeps pulling you back.🔹 Guilt ...
10/10/2025

Shame and guilt can feel like emotional quicksand.

You try to move forward, but something keeps pulling you back.

🔹 Guilt is feeling bad about what you did.
🔹 Shame is feeling like you are bad.

Both are painful—but shame can be especially isolating. It whispers things like “You’re not enough” or “You don’t deserve forgiveness.”

Here’s the good news: these feelings don’t have to define you.

In therapy, you can:

Unpack where guilt or shame comes from

Challenge the beliefs that keep you stuck

Learn to show yourself compassion

Begin to heal from the inside out

You are not your worst moment. You’re a whole person—worthy of understanding, growth, and healing.

If you’ve been carrying shame or guilt alone, maybe it’s time to talk to someone. Therapy can help.

You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re human.
- Aaron Peska, LCSW

Aaron currently has availability for new IL telehealth clients on Saturday mornings. To learn more about working with Aaron, you can read his bio & submit an inquiry form here: www.melissacarlsoncounseling.com/meet-aaron

Question I get asked A LOT: How can I make my [insert title of boy/man they care about] go to therapy? Short answer - yo...
10/08/2025

Question I get asked A LOT: How can I make my [insert title of boy/man they care about] go to therapy? Short answer - you can’t.

(I mean this next part sincerely) You can’t MAKE someone go to therapy and even if you could manipulate them into GOING, therapists don’t have a magic wand to wave and “fix” whatever it is you think needs fixing. 🫶🏽

Here’s what you CAN do:
• Make sure you’re doing your own work. Talk about how it’s helping. Normalize it in conversation.
• Encourage them to share their feelings without judgement. Be a safe space but know (and this is important) *you are not their therapist*
• Offer support in looking for a therapist but do not take over and do it for them (unless you’re the parent of course).
• Recognize that they may need to sit with the idea for a while before they act on it. Don’t personalize this - it’s not about you.
• Hold your own boundaries. Boundaries does not mean an ultimatum, it means what you will and will not accept in the relationship.

I hope this helps!
💙Melissa

To read about some of our therapists who specialize in men’s issues visit www.melissacarlsoncounseling.com/meet-the-therapists

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 24/7

10/05/2025

The science is clear: ADHD is a genetic condition whose expression is muted or amplified by environmental factors. additu.de/rfk

Not everyone is entitled to your time or your energy. They’re not owed your joy or your softness. Regardless of the expe...
09/23/2025

Not everyone is entitled to your time or your energy. They’re not owed your joy or your softness. Regardless of the expectations others put on you, you decide who has earned those gifts.
💚Melissa

09/22/2025

Si conoce a alguien que ha sido detenido por ICE, envíenos un mensaje para que lo conectemos con recursos. No está solo. Hay apoyo, información y atención comunitaria disponibles para usted.
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If you know someone who has been detained by ICE, please message us to be connected to resources. You are not alone. There is support, information, and community care available for you.

Address

2200 Huntington Drive N
Algonquin, IL
60102

Telephone

+18155165001

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