Life Connections

11/27/2025

On this day of gratitude, may your heart be full, your table welcoming, and your home filled with warmth and connection. Today is a reminder to pause, breathe, and appreciate the simple blessings that surround us. We are thankful for the people who bring meaning to our lives and for the moments that remind us we are never alone. Wishing you a peaceful and joy filled Thanksgiving.

11/26/2025

The holidays can bring joy and togetherness, but they can also bring stress, pressure, and big emotions for kids and adults. If this season feels overwhelming, you are not alone.

At Life Connections, we help families navigate holiday stress by building routines, improving communication, and using simple coping skills that bring more calm into the home. Small changes can make a big difference, whether it is creating a predictable schedule, taking breaks when emotions run high, or practicing grounding techniques together.

Remember, it is okay to slow down, set boundaries, and choose what is best for your family’s wellbeing. A peaceful season starts with giving yourself permission to breathe and reconnect.

11/25/2025

Life Connections is excited to welcome Paige Funk, LMSW, to our mental health therapy team. Paige brings a strong foundation in both psychology and social work, earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Upper Iowa University and her Master of Social Work from Capella University in 2025. She is a Licensed Master’s Social Worker with valuable experience in case management and supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Paige recently completed a ten month internship in a local school district, where she provided Adlerian Play Therapy services to children ages four through eighteen. This experience strengthened her passion for working with children, teens, and families both in school settings and through outpatient therapy.

Paige supports individuals of all ages, with a primary focus on ages four through eighteen. Her clinical experience includes working with anxiety, depression, trauma, self harm, suicidal ideation, and adjustment related concerns. For younger clients, Paige incorporates Adlerian Play Therapy, expressive art techniques, bibliotherapy, and motivational interviewing. For older adolescents and adults, she integrates motivational interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Strengths Based Perspective, and Person Centered Therapy to help each person work toward their goals.

Outside of work, Paige enjoys reading, walking her dogs, continuing her education, and spending quality time with her family. Her favorite moments are watching her children grow through the hobbies they love.

We are grateful to have Paige on our team and excited for the support she will bring to families in her community.

11/25/2025

Life Connections is thrilled to share that we have immediate availability for mental health therapy services in Bettendorf, Perry, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids. Our licensed providers are ready to support children, teens, and families with compassionate, personalized care that meets each person where they are.

If you have been waiting for the right time to begin, now is a wonderful moment to take that first step. We are here to help you build confidence, strengthen relationships, and move toward emotional wellbeing with support you can trust.

To learn more about our services visit www.life-connections.org

To get started today visit www.life-connections.org/get-started

11/21/2025

Life Connections provides in home BHIS services for children and teens ages four through eighteen who need help building emotional, behavioral, and daily living skills. Our goal is to support your child while strengthening the entire family system.

What BHIS Helps With
• Managing emotions and anger
• Improving communication
• Building healthy routines
• Strengthening problem solving skills
• Reducing conflict in the home
• Crisis support and safety planning

Our team meets families right where they are, offering guidance, encouragement, and practical tools that
create real progress.

BHIS accepts Title nineteen Medicaid and private pay. No court or DHS involvement is required.

Get Started Today!
To get started, scan the QR code or visit the link below to learn more!

www.life-connections.org

11/17/2025

Healing is not a straight line, it is a journey that takes time, patience, and compassion. Every small step forward matters, even when progress feels slow.

At Life Connections, we believe healing begins when individuals and families have space to breathe, reflect, and grow together. Each act of courage, each moment of understanding, and each step toward connection brings you closer to balance and hope.

Keep going. You are stronger, braver, and more capable than you realize.

11/14/2025

As the year winds down, it is easy to get caught up in schedules, routines, and expectations. But emotional wellness often starts with something simple, taking a moment to check in with yourself and those you care about.

At Life Connections, we believe awareness is the first step toward balance. Recognizing when you feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply in need of rest allows you to respond with understanding instead of judgment. These small moments of awareness create space for healing, growth, and genuine connection.

Pause today to ask yourself, how am I really doing? Then reach out, reflect, or take a breath. Sometimes that single moment of awareness is where renewal begins.

11/10/2025

11/03/2025

Stress can affect the entire family, not just adults. Children often feel and absorb the stress around them at home, at school, or through daily changes in routine.

At Life Connections, we help families learn healthy ways to manage stress together. Building routines, talking openly about emotions, and practicing self-care as a family can create a calmer and more supportive home.

A few small steps can make a big difference in how children understand and manage their feelings.

To learn more, visit lifeconnectionsiowa.org.

10/29/2025

Now Accepting New Clients!
Sara Bennion, LMHC
Bettendorf, Iowa

Sara’s career with Life Connections began in October of 2023. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marriage and Family Sciences from Brigham Young University Idaho in 2021 before obtaining her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sara is a temporary Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (tLMFT) who works with children, adolescents, families, and couples.

Sara utilizes faith based, Emotion Focused, Gottman Family, and Bowen Family Systems therapies to support healthy marital and family functioning. She has a special interest in working with veterans as well as individuals experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, addictions, substance abuse, and recovery.

Click here to get started: https://life-connections.org/get-started
Learn more about Life Connections: https://life-connections.org
For more information, please call: 877-878-6606

10/27/2025

Awareness Monday: Substance Use Prevention for Teens

Teen years are full of growth, discovery, and independence, but they can also come with pressure and risky choices. Starting conversations early about substance use can make a lasting difference.

At Life Connections, we believe prevention begins with understanding. When teens feel heard, supported, and connected, they are far more likely to make healthy decisions that protect their future.

Parents and caregivers can make a big impact by:
• Keeping open, judgment free communication
• Modeling healthy coping skills
• Staying informed about current trends and risks
• Encouraging activities that build confidence and community

Together, we can help teens stay strong, supported, and substance free.

10/27/2025

Now Accepting New Clients!

Angela McDowell, LMSW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Angie McDowell started her career at Life Connections in March of 2021. Angie is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and provides tele-therapy and in-home services to individuals and families. Angie also does assessments for Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS). Angie attended Upper Iowa University where she graduated in 2016 with her bachelor’s degree in social sciences with a minor in psychology. She received her master’s degree in social work from Walden University in 2020. While in college, Angie interned for Community Mobile Crisis Outreach and Life Connections. Angie is a member of the National Association of Social Work (NASW).

Angie specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, suicidal thoughts, adjustment related stressors, trauma and self-harm. Angie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques to help empower clients to overcome their underlying thoughts and beliefs. Angie’s approach to counseling is strengths-based, patient-centered and goal oriented.

Click here to get started: https://life-connections.org/get-started
Learn more about Life Connections: https://life-connections.org
For more information, please call: 877-878-6606