Life Connections

12/04/2025

Counseling for stress and trauma related to substance use

Substance use affects more than physical health. It often brings emotional strain, anxiety, family conflict, and trauma that can be difficult to navigate alone. At Life Connections, our licensed providers offer compassionate counseling to help individuals and families understand the impact of substance stressors and begin the process of healing.

Our approach focuses on building emotional strength, improving communication, and creating healthy coping strategies. Whether a loved one is struggling or you are working through challenges of your own, our team is here to listen, support, and guide you toward stability and peace.

Small steps can lead to meaningful change. You do not have to carry it by yourself. Life Connections is here to help you move forward with clarity, hope, and support you can trust.

12/04/2025

The holiday season brings joy, excitement, and change, but it can also create stress for children who thrive on routine and consistency. Behavioral Health Intervention Services at Life Connections help families use this time as an opportunity for growth.

BHIS providers support children in building real life skills they can use all season long, including
• Managing big emotions during busy family gatherings
• Practicing communication when plans change
• Problem solving in new social situations
• Creating calm routines during school breaks

Our team meets families where they are, helping children grow in confidence, independence, and daily living skills while easing stress for parents and caregivers.

For many families, a little guidance can make the holidays more peaceful and meaningful.

To learn more about BHIS, visit www.life-connections.org

12/01/2025

Today we join millions around the world in observing World AIDS Day, a moment to remember, to stand in solidarity, and to honor the strength of those affected by HIV. As we reflect, we also recognize the emotional and mental toll that HIV can have on individuals and families. Behind every statistic is a person navigating fear, stigma, uncertainty, or isolation, and these experiences can shape mental and emotional wellbeing in powerful ways.

At Life Connections, we believe that every person deserves compassion, understanding, and support. World AIDS Day is a reminder that emotional care is just as important as medical care and that communities grow stronger when no one feels alone in their journey.

This World AIDS Day, we recommit to
• Remembering those we have lost
• Supporting those living with HIV through compassion and community
• Standing together to reduce stigma and promote emotional wellbeing

Today and every day, we stand with families, loved ones, and communities affected by HIV. Healing, hope, and understanding begin with connection.

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.