New Prairie Counseling Center

04/08/2026

Rooted in Elmhurst.

Since 2015, we’ve been helping individuals, couples, and families find steadiness, clarity, and connection.

Hoary Puccoon. Belmont Prairie, Downers Grove

Photo credit, Dorothy Dvorachek Larsen LCPC, ATR

03/28/2026

We’re currently enrolling for our Therapeutic Mending Group at New Prairie Counseling in Elmhurst.

This is a therapist-led group that combines simple mending with a relaxed, supportive space. Conversation is welcome, but there’s no pressure to share more than you want.

No sewing experience is needed.

Learn more or sign up:
tinyurl.com/mendinggroup

(Link also in bio)

03/26/2026

What is a Mending Group?

Our Therapeutic Mending Group is a small, therapist-led group that combines hands-on activity with a supportive, therapeutic environment.

In each session, participants can:
• Work on simple mending projects (no experience needed)
• Focus on a calm, grounding task
• Spend time with others, with space for conversation and support if it feels helpful

This is a therapy group—just not a traditional, talk-heavy one.
You’re welcome to participate at your own pace.

Alternating Tuesdays 7pm
At New Prairie Counseling Center in Elmhurst, IL

Learn more or sign up:
tinyurl.com/mendinggroup

03/23/2026

Therapeutic Mending Group

Our Therapeutic Mending Group meets every other Tuesday at 7pm.

This is a low-pressure, hands-on group where participants can:
• Mend clothing or textiles
• Slow down and focus on a simple, grounding task
• Spend time in a calm, supportive environment, with space for conversation and connection.

No sewing experience needed.

Learn more or sign up here:
tinyurl.com/mendinggroup

(link also in bio)

03/18/2026

Couples Therapy

Love languages are helpful, but many couples assume they should become fluent overnight.

In reality, expressing love in your partner’s language can feel like speaking a second language. People hesitate, make mistakes, and fall back into familiar patterns—especially under stress.

Healthy relationships don’t require perfect fluency. They require patience and a willingness to keep translating.

03/12/2026

, Elmhurst, IL

Sometimes couples assume conflict means something is wrong with the relationship.

But often, beneath criticism or frustration is something more vulnerable — a wish to feel heard, understood, and emotionally connected.

In couples therapy, slowing down these moments can help partners recognize what they’re really reaching for.

11/22/2025

New Blog Post on the Benefits of Art Therapy for Adults with Depression, written by our very own Dorothy Dvorachek Larsen!
https://www.newprairiecounseling.com/rediscovering-creativity-art-therapy-for-adults-with-depression/

06/08/2022

New Prairie Counseling in Elmhurst, IL is now hiring for a Family Therapist position! If you or someone you know may be interested in joining this excellent team of clinicians please see the listing for details.

New Prairie Counseling Center in Elmhurst, IL is expanding our team and we are excited to announce that we have an independent contractor position open for a clinician with excellent experience working with families.

03/21/2022

We are hiring for our Intake/Billing Specialist position. Please see details and share with anyone who might be interested:

Job Summary
The Billing and Intake Specialist is an independent contractor who manages our intake process for scheduling new clients and facilitates insurance billing. This person engages with prospective clients via phone and email, and works closely with our team of therapists to help them schedule first appointments. This person also facilitates all aspects of our insurance and billing, including coordinating benefit information, submitting claims, processing payments, and following claims processing to completion. The work may be done almost entirely remotely, however some minimal availability to travel to the office would be helpful.

10-20 hours/week
$20-$35/hr
Bachelor’s preferred

For consideration, please submit resume to andy@newprairiecounseling.com

10/13/2021

New blog post up on our website, written by our therapist, Brooke Greco, LCSW. In this post Brooke offers a helpful overview of the links between nutrition and mental health, including several links to articles and seasonal recipes. Check it out!

Pumpkin season may be my favorite time of year. I recently had a friend, and dear colleague, send me an article about some of the science behind my love for this time of year. This naturally gave me the evidence, or perhaps justification is more appropriate, for filling my kitchen with all things pu...

10/05/2021

We are currently hiring for a child/adolescent therapist position. Please see link for details.

New Prairie Counseling Center in Elmhurst, IL is expanding our team and we are excited to announce that we have an independent contractor position open for a clinician with expertise in working with children and adolescents.

12/08/2020

Foothold #3

Go Ahead... Fall Apart

We are at a point in the pandemic where many people feel they are going to "have a breakdown" or "fall apart". It's interesting, the phrases we use to describe the phenomenon of heavy crying or intense emotional release. It's as though we fear some imaginary shell is going to irreparably crack. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

When a car breaks down (or worse yet, falls apart) it literally becomes inoperable. When we, as human beings, "have a breakdown" or "fall apart", far from becoming inoperable, something healthy in us actually becomes operationalized. A pressure release mechanism is activated. Nothing breaks or falls apart. Rather, a sort of healing often occurs.

Imagine if, instead of saying "I'm about to have a nervous breakdown" we said "I'm about to have a pressure release". We might not fear it or resist it so much.

To paraphrase the meditation teacher, Sharon Salzberg, who I believe was quoting one of her own teachers… When you cry, cry your heart out. That way you will get the most relief.