Callie Manea Counseling

11/10/2025

Trust isn't built with loud, dramatic acts.
It's simply built with quiet, consistent actions over time.

Inspired by
Illustrated by me 😊

P.S. If you're new here, I'm PJ Milani /

I've made hundreds of visual metaphors like this as friendly reminders to help live a more intentional and creative life.

If that's your jam, follow me for more daily insights.

11/09/2025

It doesn't matter how many years of life I've been working. I still need this reminder every now and then. Maybe you do, too.

Artist credit: Meg Fatharly Printmaking and Collage

11/07/2025

It can really sting when you run into hiccups with a step-kiddo who isn't in a hurry to welcome you into their life with open arms.

But the foundation that you're building is relationship. Take the pressure off yourself to be “the parent.” What they often need most is to feel understood. Take yourself a little less seriously, and remember what it felt like to be a kid — laugh with them, join in on what they love, show up, and have fun together.

Step-relationships need room to breathe. They’re born from loss, but also from opportunity — and that’s where the magic happens. Because sometimes an ending turns into a beautiful new beginning (it may be cliche'… but still true).

If you'd like a boost of help while blending, there are two workshops from now until the end of the year. Visit calliemanea.com for more info. or to register.

11/04/2025

Two virtual workshops: two unique situations -
If you're:
- Braving the waters of blending a family and creating something meaningful and lifegiving for you and your new crew, or...
- Working on bringing more trust and safe connection into your new relationship while trying to heal from previous relationship wounds...

These virtual workshops are a way to enlist some extra support and fresh ideas as you make your way through these sometimes murky waters.

Relationships can bring some of the best times, that most of us yearn and hope for - and you deserve help making it as good as it can be.

For info. or to register, visit calliemanea.com. For any couples residing in Texas. And to make it more accessible during this busy time of year - each workshop is $25 a couple.

11/04/2025

If you’re looking for a way to help those in need this season - here’s one idea. 💜

11/02/2025

💛 End-of-Year Virtual Pop-Up Workshops for Couples

As we wrap up the year, I’m hosting two pop-up virtual workshops for couples doing the “brutiful” (sometimes brutal, but definitely beautiful) work of building something new.

Workshop 1: The Ex Files: They Broke It, We’re Healing It
For couples learning to create a secure, fulfilling relationship after one or both partners have experienced betrayal in a previous relationship.

Workshop 2: Blending Families: Creating Success in the Remix
For couples hustling to bring two families together—navigating the ups, downs, and everything in between as you merge into one.

These pop-ups are all about giving a boost of insight, ideas, and energy to those walking through the most complex, hope-filled chapters of love. Especially at this time of year, when it’s easy to feel low on fuel for moving forward. Here’s to all the brave souls putting in overtime and believing in second chances—whatever that looks like for you.

These workshops will be $25 per couple - running 2.5 hours long, virtually - for any couples living in Texas.

For more info or to register:
Contact Callie contact@calliemanea.com or visit the website calliemanea.com

09/23/2025

💯

Betrayal is not a shared mistake. It is the choice of the one who broke the trust, and the responsibility for repair begins there.

🎁 Download My Free Course: First Steps to Rebuilding Trust
If you’re navigating broken trust in your relationship, whether you’re the one who broke it or you’ve been deeply impacted by it, this free video course can help: https://www.geoffsteurer.com/freebie

📋Join me in the Courageous Together™ Program: https://www.geoffsteurer.com/courageous-together

Let’s Stay Connected:
🌍 Website: https://www.geoffsteurer.com
📩 Subscribe to My Email List: https://www.geoffsteurer.com/newsletter-opt-in-social-media
🎙️ Listen to the Latest ‘From Crisis to Connection’ Podcast Episode: https://www.geoffsteurer.com/podcasts/from-crisis-to-connection-with-geoff-jody-steurer/episodes/2149086386
Watch the latest podcast on YouTube

08/29/2025

Well said.

06/27/2025

Something I hear often from clients I work with that have been hurt by their spouse or partners behavior/choices is they’re partner says they "just want to move on". But pretending like it didn't happen won't solve it - read on.

Learning to repair in couple relationships -Therapy Services in Flower Mound Texas

05/31/2025

Headed with the family to Disneyland this week and will be out of the office - enjoy this photo of me(the blondie) and my sister circa 1989. 😃

05/28/2025

When you don’t have a co-parent willing to work with you in the best interest of your kids post-separation/divorce, parallel parenting may be a more accurate term.

This often goes hand in hand with what is called post-separation abuse, where the control, manipulation, and untrustworthy behavior have you may have experienced in your previous relationship with them continues.

There may be shame, embarrassment, and a whole lotta frustration and pain that goes along with this. You may even hear things from people like “it’s best to work together for the kids” or “you need to set their behavior aside and just get along”. These kinds of statements further minimize and ignore the other parent’s treatment of you, while putting responsibility for their behavior into your lap, even though you have no control over how they choose to act.

The other parent may continue to act like their behavior is because you’re “difficult” or “uncollaborative” but you know the truth. There is no such thing as them being a good parent while actively harming their kids other parent(you).

For those going through this, there is hope. There can be joy, peace, and a life on the “other side” from this horrendous experience. Continue to take care of yourself and your kids how you can, seek support and resources to empower yourself with tools to protect yourself in this process, and know that it is not your fault.
Hold fast. 💪

05/19/2025

The Fawn Response: A State of Survival

There are so many reasons we may “fawn”, and it’s important to remember there’s usually a reason it’s happening.

Lean into curiosity and awareness rather than shame around this - our body learns to survive how it can, and sometimes it just needs a little help when it’s not working for us.

If you’re in Texas and need some help with this, feel free to reach out to schedule individual sessions at the link in my bio. 💜