University Park Counseling & Testing Center, PLLC

03/03/2026

Our newest blog explores toxic empathy — when absorbing others’ pain begins to impact our own well-being — and offers gentle, practical ways to set healthy boundaries while staying loving and supportive.

You don’t have to lose yourself to love well.

Learn the signs of toxic empathy, how it affects mental health, and practical ways to set boundaries while supporting loved ones.

03/02/2026

Calling all mental health professionals who work with children and adolescents! Want to feel more confident in your work with parents? Join Dr. Balch for this informative training! Link is in the comments.

02/26/2026

We are excited to share that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is now available as part of our comprehensive wellness program!

If you are experiencing fatigue, mood changes, brain fog, weight changes, or sleep disruption, hormonal support may help. Contact us to explore a care plan tailored to your unique needs.

Feel balanced. Feel energized. Feel like you again.

02/25/2026

We are excited to announce a new lineup of continuing education trainings for mental health professionals! From ethics and trauma-informed care to working with court-involved families and play therapy topics, our workshops are designed to be practical, relevant, and immediately applicable to your clinical work.

Whether you are looking to deepen your skills, strengthen your confidence, or connect with other professionals, we would love to learn and grow alongside you this year. Visit our website for registration details. We hope to see you there!

02/12/2026

Connection matters and has a strong impact on our mental health. Check out our newest blog for simple, practical ways to nurture the relationships in your life.

Connection doesn’t require perfect relationships. It requires presence, consistency, and emotional safety.

02/06/2026

As International Play Therapy Week comes to a close, we are excited to highlight the incredible play therapists at UPC! We are so grateful for these compassionate therapists who have an expertise in child development and a passion for showing up and supporting children.
Play is a child’s natural language. Play therapists are specially trained to help children express thoughts, feelings, and experiences through play. Our therapists create a safe a supportive space where children can work through big emotions, build coping skills, and grow in confidence.
To learn more about our play therapists, visit www.universityparkcounseling.com

02/03/2026

What Is Play Therapy?
It looks like play, but it’s so much more!
For kids, play is their language. It is how they communicate, process emotions, and heal when words are hard to find. Through play, children can express feelings, work through challenges, and build skills for emotional regulation and confidence.

02/02/2026

It is International Play Therapy Week! Watch one of our favorite videos to learn more about this powerful intervention for children.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

01/30/2026

https://lataco.com/kids-ice-talking-points

MNAPT is committed to sharing resources to parents, teachers, therapists, daycare providers, etc. Children ask questions about what is happening at their schools, neighborhoods, what their friends are talking about. Here are some resources to help with current event conversations.

**Commenting will be turned off and previous comments deleted as this is not a place for discussion on these topics. It is a place for resources. If you have an additional resource you would like shared or have questions for MNAPT, please send us an email us at minnesotaapt@gmail.com.

Resource from https://www.childnet.org/immigration-resources?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPTLtxjbGNrA9Mu2GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnFSQChsLTPKvaQ-ByzK2OCZ-XL5-Uxm1G1o6uC2wOYxCSiG3xkTkj3as7I7_aem_8-4t5dC79dBOgfhdOIIfKQ

Social Story for kids age 3-5 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vqYgjaMjKY3bWkMAHv6R3bUFq8jJSpAl/view?fbclid=IwY2xjawPTTS5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4TllES1ZCc3hIYUZMVnA5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtBg9OzqL2XgFggFHz4YLEJmUyg7Bp-CmbWZFFrYCdcSWn2YUEeeCyASi7dh_aem_4Ue0m5eWvDaqxUI7hhdPig
Supporting Children who have witness ICE or Police Violence https://www.instagram.com/p/DTTTmJWknvS/?igsh=MWFsYmxwejFod240OQ%3D%3D&fbclid=IwY2xjawPTZzxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJRmtvakFGSTFDdGdZOFNDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHq-mJ2ls8isASIqc65kWRE8apsd5mwOilL_RlqN490ISRXleB682iJxMcriF_aem_V7XQegNysQTFEiELdrytEQ

01/13/2026

Read our latest blog to learn how gratitude can help improve your mental health.

Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is great or forcing yourself to be positive when life feels hard. It is about slowing down enough to notice the small moments that help you feel steady, connected, or supported.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

Thank you for trusting us, showing up for yourself, and being part of our community.

Wishing you a year of steady growth, meaningful moments, and self-compassion along the way.

12/29/2025

As this year comes to an end, we want to pause and express our gratitude. Thank you for choosing us to be part of your journey. We are honored to support you and walk alongside you.