Guiding House

03/30/2026

✨ What a special day! ✨

We had the opportunity to join 91.9 WKJA (Birch English) at Heartfelt Radio and spend time talking about something that is at the very heart of what we do every day… connection 🤍

Connection to God, to ourselves, and to each other.

Because the truth is…when we feel disconnected, it doesn’t just affect our emotions… it impacts our mental health, our physical well-being, and even our sense of purpose.

And when we begin to reconnect?
That’s where healing starts. That’s where peace grows. That’s where relationships come back to life.

We loved getting to share from both a personal and professional place…what we see in our work, what we’ve lived in our own lives, and what we believe is possible for others.

Grateful for the conversation, the platform, and the reminder that we were never meant to do life alone.

If you caught the show, we’d love to hear what stood out to you 💬
And if not, we hope this encourages you to lean into connection today, even in a small way.

🤍

— Janelle & Dr. Paris

03/16/2026

At Guiding House, our child therapy room is intentionally designed to support the autonomic nervous system.

Children cannot heal or learn in chaotic environments.

Their bodies must first feel safe and regulated.

This is especially true for children with neurological differences such as ADHD, OCD, Autism, and giftedness, who often experience the world more intensely through their senses.

So we design spaces with:

• soft lighting
• calming visuals
• warm textures
• predictable environments

Because when the body feels safe, the brain can finally access learning, connection, and healing.

Regulation before conversation. Safety before solutions.

02/28/2026

One of my areas of specialty is in personality disorders. Although I’m certified to treat them, I very rarely see individuals with personality disorders in my office.

I typically see the people impacted by them.

Why?

Because one of the core traits of a personality disorder is an impaired ability to truly self-reflect or take accountability. This leads to patterns of behavior that are persistent and pervasive …across relationships, work, family, and life.

So what do I look for?

Step 1: Start here

Two primary markers:
• Inflexibility
• Inability to adapt to change

Then ask:
Is the pattern persistent, pervasive, and problematic across relationships, work, and life?

If it shows up everywhere …not just in one season or one relationship , that matters.

⸻

Step 2: Relationship dynamics

When you’re in a relationship with someone who has a personality disorder, you often feel like you only have two options:

• Fight
• Enable

And they tend to operate from one of two roles:
• Pathetic victim
• Angry victim

This is where they feel justified in anger no matter the situation. You’ll see:
• Projection (turn the pronoun around — it’s often more honest)
• Blame shifting
• Justification of harmful behavior
• The chronic feeling of “walking on eggshells”

⸻

Step 3: Whole Object Relations

Can they hold both the good and bad in others — and in themselves — at the same time?

If not, they will split:
• Idealize or demonize
• Love or hate
• All good or all bad

This inability to integrate complexity is significant.

⸻

Many people only hear about Cluster B, but there are three clusters of personality disorders:

Cluster A (Odd/Eccentric)
• Paranoid
• Schizoid
• Schizotypal

Cluster B (Dramatic/Emotional)
• Narcissistic
• Borderline
• Histrionic
• Antisocial

(Antisocial doesn’t mean shy or introverted. It means against societal norms — sociopathic, rule-breaking behavior. This is where I recommend those dating to check public records for a pattern of rule breaking behavior-even repeat traffic violations.)

Psychopathy also falls within this diagnostic realm. Research suggests some individuals are born with neurobiological differences impacting empathy and conscience development. (See: The Neuroscientist Who Discovered He Was a Psychopath, Smithsonian: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-neuroscientist-who-discovered-he-was-a-psychopath-180947814/

Within Cluster B, there are subtypes. For example, narcissism can present as grandiose, communal, covert, etc.

Cluster C (Anxious/Fearful)
• Avoidant
• Dependent
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

OCPD is not OCD.
It’s perfectionism, rigidity, control, the need to be right, miserly with money, etc. It is a personality structure , not a neurological anxiety disorder.

⸻

Differential diagnosis matters.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is often misdiagnosed as a personality disorder. Nervous system dysregulation can show up as meltdowns or shutdowns , but the underlying structure is different.

Complex trauma can also look similar. Many people experience trauma. Far fewer meet criteria for a true personality disorder.

Other conditions to rule out:
Bipolar Disorder
ADHD
OCD
Depression
Anxiety

Education matters. Discernment matters. And not every difficult person has a personality disorder …but patterns tell a story.

I’m sharing the Drama Triangle and information on how to escape from it. ❤️🙏

Compassionately,
Janelle Paris, MAEd., LPCC-S

https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/docs/escaping_the_drama_triangle.pdf

02/06/2026

What Couples Don’t Say Out loud …

For more info on our private weekend marriage intensives (and mini intensives) call or text us at 330.778.2919

12/25/2025

✨ Merry Christmas from Guiding House ✨

At Christmas, we’re reminded of a presence that came close to people—
not with force or perfection, but with compassion.

A presence that listened.
That noticed those who felt unseen.
That brought dignity, comfort, and hope to weary hearts. The Wonderful Counselor was born.

Whether this season is joyful, complicated, quiet, or tender for you,
you are not alone.

From all of us at Guiding House,
we wish you peace, warmth, and moments of rest and comfort this Christmas. 🤍

12/16/2025

We’re feeling deeply grateful.Guiding House Counseling & Coaching was recently recognized as a Top 3 Counseling Practice in Canton for 2025, based on Google Reviews and client feedback.Every review represents someone who felt seen, supported, and safe enough to share their experience.Thank you to our clients and our incredible team for making Guiding House what it is. 💛…and thank you , Mr. Rogers 😉

12/11/2025

Chronic pain, tension, tightness, and numbness are often the body’s gentle (or not so gentle at times) way of saying, “There’s something here that still needs care.”
These are not signs of weakness, and you’re not “overreacting.”
They’re often messages from unresolved trauma your body has been carrying for far too long.

Therapists who truly understand and know how to effectively treat this level of somatic trauma can be difficult to find…

✨ Katya Shilling, MSW, LSW, has opened her schedule and is now welcoming new clients.
Katya brings Polyvagal-informed therapy, somatic approaches, EMDR, and Parts Work together to help women feel safer in their bodies, calmer in their nervous systems, and more deeply understood.

If your body has been sharing signs of needing relief, support, or healing — this may be the moment to say yes.

📞 Contact Guiding House Counseling to schedule. 330.778.2919 (call or text)
You deserve to feel at home in your body again.

Click here for her Psychology Today profile >>>>>>

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/katya-shilling-canton-oh/1647447

11/28/2025

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

A lot of people read this and wonder, How could God expect gratitude for something that caused pain? For abuse, abandonment, trauma, loss?

But , take heart Dear One….that isn’t what this verse is asking of us.

Scripture says give thanks in all circumstances — not for them.
God never asks us to be grateful for the harm.

Abuse, betrayal, trauma, injustice — these break His heart too. He doesn’t call evil “good,” and He never celebrates our suffering. He grieves along side of us.

What He invites us into is something deeper:

Gratitude that can coexist with the hard things.
Gratitude that doesn’t erase the story, but transforms how it ends.

We can give thanks in the storm because God sits in it with us.

We can give thanks in trauma because He begins to heal what others shattered.
We can give thanks in grief because love never leaves us abandoned.
We can give thanks in the darkest chapters because the Author hasn’t finished writing.

We don’t thank God for the abuse.
We thank Him for staying.
For carrying us.
For giving us breath when we wanted to give up.
For turning wounds into wisdom, ashes into beauty, and broken pieces into something whole.

Gratitude isn’t a dismissal of pain — it’s a declaration of hope.

It’s saying: “This hurt me deeply, but it didn’t take me out. God is still here. Good can still come.”

That’s the kind of thanks Scripture speaks of.
Not a denial of suffering …but somewhere a quiet, resilient hallelujah rising. ❤️🙏🏼

Compassionately,
Janelle

11/26/2025

💫 Reset. Reconnect. Renew. 💫
Are you and your partner feeling stuck in repeating patterns—arguments, withdrawal, blame cycles, or just too busy to deeply connect? You love one another. You’ve invested time, hope, and heart. But you’re longing for different.

That’s where Ellie Brooks, MA, LSW comes in. With 30 years of experience in Christian, marriage, trauma, and relational therapy, Ellie offers a unique retreat-style option for couples who are ready—not just for more sessions—but for real change.

What she offers
• Weekend Intensives (≈ 10+ hours) — a concentrated, deep-immersion session (Friday through Saturday) that allows you both to stay present, step away from routines, regulate, repair, and practice new relational skills in real time. 
• Mini-Intensives (≈ 3+ hours) — for couples with tighter schedules who still want meaningful change, a shorter format to jump-start healing.

Because faith and attachment matter: Ellie brings an attachment-core lens (based on the book How We Love by Milan & Kay Yerkovich), certification in EMDR, Gottman Level 1 & 2 training, and a grounded Christian-therapy ethos.

Location: 4469 Fulton Dr NW, Canton, OH 44718 (in the cozy “Loft” of Guiding House)

Perfect for committed couples who are tired of surface change and ready for transformation.

To get started: Text or call 330.778.2919
Mention your interest in an “intensive” or “mini-intensive,” and we’ll schedule your intake, assessment, and map out your customized session.

✨ If you’re longing for connection, safety, clarity, and renewed hope in your relationship—this might be the pause you’ve been waiting for.
Let’s make the shift together.

11/25/2025

11/21/2025

Did you know:
60% of employees worldwide say their job is the biggest factor influencing their mental health.

Managers have just as much of an impact on people’s mental health as their spouse (both 69%) and even more of an impact than their doctor (51%) or therapist (41%).

81% of employees worldwide would prioritize good mental health over a high-paying job.

This is one of the things we talked about today at..

✨ Flourishing Friday at Guiding House ✨
with the incredible women of the Canton Chamber of Commerce

And why we see value in helping our area businesses. 🙏🏼

Today we hosted a Flourishing Friday that left our hearts a little fuller and our purpose a little clearer. It was such a gift to spend the morning with local women who are building, leading, creating, and showing up for their communities in meaningful ways.

We shared stories, talked about our priorities, and explored the “why” behind what drives us — and just as importantly, the “why nots” that hold us back. (Self-sabotage has a way of sneaking in quietly, doesn’t it?)

There was honesty. Laughter. Insight. And that unmistakable feeling of being in a room where women genuinely want to see good things happen for one another.

At Guiding House, we believe flourishing happens in community — when we slow down long enough to connect, reflect, and challenge ourselves with compassion.

To the women who joined us: thank you for your openness, your courage, and your commitment to growing both personally and professionally. Our city is better because of leaders like you. 🤍

Here’s to more spaces where we can learn, heal, and flourish together.