Authentic Growth Wellness Group

03/12/2026

Meet Vianney - Now Accepting Virtual Clients Across Illinois

"Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion." – Bell Hooks, All About Love, 1999

We're excited to introduce Vianney, our newest therapist offering virtual sessions across Illinois.

Vianney works with first-generation individuals, trauma survivors, and anyone carrying the weight of feeling overwhelmed, alone, anxious, or grieving. Her approach is rooted in liberatory psychology—looking at how systems, culture, family, and community shape your experiences.

What makes her approach unique: She uses somatic work to help you notice how stress or trauma shows up in your body. She brings humor into sessions to ease stress and create a safer space for healing. She believes you already have strength and resilience, even when life feels heavy.

This is a space where your whole self is accepted. The ways you cope, express yourself, stim, and exist are all welcome.

About Vianney: She's a first-generation Mexican American from Cicero, just outside Chicago. When not in session, she's snuggled with her dogs, attempting vegan recipes (results may vary), cozy gaming, or tending her vegetable garden. Quality time with family and friends is everything.

Vianney has immediate virtual openings across Illinois. If you're looking for care that honors your full story and meets you where you are, she's here.

Learn more: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com

Request an appointment: https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes

03/10/2026

You can't pour from an empty cup. But what happens when you're not allowed to stop pouring?

Women carry a specific kind of weight. The mental load of everyone's schedules. The emotional labor of keeping everyone else regulated. The caregiving that never ends, whether it's for children, aging parents, partners, or all of the above.

And your own needs? They're at the bottom of the list.

This isn't just burnout. It's a pattern. For many women, this caregiving role was modeled by mothers and grandmothers who did the same. You learned that your worth comes from how much you can handle. That asking for help means weakness. That rest is earned, not needed.

Maternal mental health struggles, caregiver burnout, constant anxiety—these aren't personal failures. They're the result of carrying more than one person should carry, often without support or acknowledgment.

What helps: Naming what you're actually carrying. Setting boundaries without guilt. Asking for help before you're at your breaking point. Recognizing the generational patterns you inherited and deciding what to keep or release.

You don't have to do this alone. Therapy can help you untangle the expectations, process the resentment, and create space for your well-being without abandoning everyone else.

If you're exhausted from holding it all together, we see you. And we're here.

Learn more or request an appointment: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com

03/09/2026

Therapy shouldn't be out of reach because of cost.

At Authentic Growth Wellness Group, our master's-level interns offer free therapy sessions as part of their clinical training. You get high-quality, compassionate care at no cost, supervised by our licensed clinicians.

Who our interns work with: Children, teens, adults, and families navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, identity exploration, grief, or needing a safe space to process.
Why work with an intern? You receive the same person-centered, trauma-informed care we're known for—without the financial barrier. And you help train the next generation of passionate therapists.

If cost has kept you from starting therapy, this is your opportunity.

Free therapy sessions available now in Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, and virtually across Illinois.
Learn more: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com

Request an appointment: https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes

03/05/2026

Happy International Women's Day to the women who show up every day to hold space for healing.

At Authentic Growth Wellness Group, our female therapists create safe spaces where people can rest, process, and reconnect with themselves. They hold complexity, sit with pain, and guide clients toward healing without rushing the process.

These women change lives one session at a time. One person feeling seen. One nervous system finding safety. One family learning to connect differently.

We're honored to work alongside them.

Learn more or request an appointment: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com

03/05/2026

Our 4th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Symposium is this Saturday, and it wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our incredible community sponsors. 💙

Their partnership helps make this event free and accessible for families across our region!

Indian Prairie School District 204, in partnership with East Aurora School District 131, Oswego Community Unit School District 308, and Naperville Community Unit School District 203, invites you to join us on Saturday, March 7 at Metea Valley High School for a morning of learning, connection, and community resources.

Register today: ipsd.org/mhws-2026

03/04/2026

Healing happens in community. Join Maidy's new trauma-informed support group.
Sometimes the weight you're carrying feels too heavy to process alone. And sometimes sitting across from one therapist isn't enough—you need to hear from others who get it. Who've been there. Who understand without needing explanation.

Maidy Magadan, MS, LPC, is launching a trauma-informed support group where you can process, connect, and heal alongside others navigating similar struggles.

This group is for you if:
You're working through trauma and feeling isolated in your healing. You want connection with others who understand what you're going through. You're looking for a space that feels safe, validating, and judgment-free. You're ready to share your story and hear others' stories in community.

What to expect:
A small, confidential group facilitated by Maidy, who specializes in trauma work with children, teens, and adults. A space where your experiences are honored and your healing is supported. Evidence-based practices like CBT and DBT integrated into group discussions. Connection, validation, and the reminder that you're not alone in this.

Maidy creates a warm, empathic environment where every voice matters. This isn't just group therapy—it's community care.

Group details coming soon. Interested in joining or want more information? Reach out now to secure your spot.

Learn more: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com
Request an appointment: https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes

03/03/2026

Remember the Tab soda commercials? "Keep your shape in shape"? Or Special K telling women to "pinch an inch" to see if they needed to lose weight?

That was the 80s and 90s. Thin wasn't just a body type. It was a requirement. And the message was clear: if you didn't meet it, you weren't trying hard enough.

We grew up on that. Now we're adults who feel guilty eating a bagel. Who look in the mirror and still hear "pinch an inch." Who are terrified of passing the same shame to our kids.

Here's what those ads did: They taught us our bodies are always up for judgment. That food is something to earn or avoid. That thin equals worthy. When we couldn't maintain impossible standards, we learned to hate ourselves more.

For those raising kids, we're trying to break the cycle. But it's hard when those voices are still in our heads. When we catch ourselves saying "I shouldn't eat this" and realize we sound like those commercials.

The shift we need: Food doesn't have moral value. Your body isn't a project needing fixing. Health looks different on every body. Thinness is not the same as health. Your worth has nothing to do with your size.

Your kids are listening: When you say "I'm being so bad" while eating dessert, they learn shame. When you complain about your body, they learn bodies are for criticizing. When you diet or talk about "earning" food, they learn worth is tied to eating and appearance.

What if we talked differently: "This tastes good" (not "this is bad for me"). "I'm hungry, so I'm eating" (not "I haven't earned this"). "My body is strong" (not "I hate how I look").

What if we stopped measuring worth in pounds? What if we taught the next generation their bodies are already enough?

This National Nutrition Month, let's retire the diet culture that raised us. The Tab commercials. The "pinch an inch" shame. The idea that our value lives on a scale.

If you're untangling the guilt, control, and voices from those ads, therapy can help.

Learn more: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com

Request an appointment: https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes

03/02/2026

Our own Emily Pagone is speaking at the 4th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Symposium on March 7th.

Four school districts (Naperville 203, Indian Prairie 204, East Aurora 131, and Oswego 308) are joining forces to host a morning focused on youth mental health and well-being at Metea Valley High School.

Emily will be speaking to teens as part of "I'm Speaking!" alongside a keynote co-presented by Dr. John Duffy (author of Rescuing Our Sons) and Cathy Cassani Adams (author of Restoring Our Girls).

This is for:

Parents, educators, teens, and anyone invested in supporting young people's mental health. A morning of learning, connection, and community support.

If you're in the Naperville/Aurora/Oswego area and want to hear Emily speak about mental health, inner critics, and what teens are actually navigating right now, this is your chance.

Saturday, March 7th at Metea Valley High School

Register: https://www.ipsd.org/mhws-2026

03/02/2026

Therapy shouldn't feel impossible to afford.

At Authentic Growth Wellness Group, we're in-network with BCBS PPO and BlueChoice PPO. But if you have out-of-network benefits with another provider, we've partnered with Mentaya to help you get reimbursed.

How it works: Mentaya verifies your out-of-network benefits for free. They handle reimbursement paperwork so you don't navigate insurance alone. On average, clients get 62% of session costs back.

It takes about 5 minutes to check your benefits. No surprises. No guesswork.

Why this matters: You shouldn't choose between the right therapist and what insurance covers. Out-of-network benefits mean you see the best fit for you, not just who's on a list.

We want cost to be one less barrier to getting support.

Check your benefits or get started:

Insurance and billing info: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com/payment-and-billing/

Request an appointment: https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes

02/24/2026

Your brain isn't broken. Your sensitivity, intensity, and depth aren't flaws—they're gifts, often misunderstood.

Before: Walking into a room and forgetting why. Noise stacking until your body tightens. Trying to stay patient while already at a 9/10. Wondering, "Why is this so hard for me?"

After: Noticing overstimulation sooner. Building routines that support your brain, not fight it. Moving from "What's wrong with me?" to "This is my unique wiring—it deserves understanding."

Your home doesn't get calmer because you become perfect. It gets calmer because you feel regulated first.

This is neurodiversity: Not just accepting differences—honoring them.

Ready to work with your brain? We offer neurodiversity-affirming care in Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, and virtually across Illinois.

For more information visit https://authenticgrowthwellness.com or book an appointment now at https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes

02/20/2026

You don’t have to heal alone. 🤍

Our Trauma-Informed Support Group, facilitated by Maidy Magadan, MS, LPC, is now enrolling — and spots are filling up fast.

Over 8 weeks, you’ll find:
🕊 A safe space with zero pressure to share;
🎨 Expressive arts woven into healing;
🧠 Nervous system regulation & coping tools you can actually use;
🫶 A community that meets you where you are.

📅 Fridays 6–7:30 PM and/or
🗓️Saturdays 10–11:30 AM

📍 Glen Ellyn, IL · Telehealth available

Don’t wait — reach out today to save your spot 👇

📩 coordinator@authenticgrowthwellness.com

📞 630.796.0884

At Authentic Growth Wellness Group, we honor those tender places—the parts of you that feel tired, uncertain, or lost. Here, you are welcomed just as you are, with compassion and care.

02/19/2026

Your teen seems fine on the outside—straight A's, busy schedule, doing everything "right." So why does one missed assignment feel like the end of the world?

Anxiety and perfectionism in high-achieving teens often hide behind success. But beneath the surface, many are linking their entire self-worth to staying flawless—and it's exhausting.

Watch for these quiet signs:

▪️Studying far more than necessary

▪️Meltdowns over small mistakes

▪️Avoiding new challenges altogether

▪️Harsh self-talk: "I should've done better" or "I'm not enough"

Here's what helps: Therapy gives teens space to stop performing. Through approaches like CBT and Internal Family Systems, they learn to separate self-worth from achievement and quiet the inner critic driving the perfectionism loop.

At home: Normalize rest. Praise the process, not just the outcome. Model imperfection. Ask, "What are you proud of today?"

Your teen doesn't have to carry this pressure alone.

Read the full blog: https://authenticgrowthwellness.com

Request an appointment: https://forms.admirra.com/forms/a16d0caa-51f3-467b-bf54-9185cd874e7d/intakes