Creative Family Counseling

11/24/2025

Having an attitude of gratitude can make all the difference when it comes to your outlook on life!! 🫶

Practicing gratitude is incredibly beneficial for shifting your mindset and training your brain to appreciate the little things in life, subsequently increasing your happiness and decreasing anxiety and depression.

We encourage you to take time each day to mentally note what you’re grateful for. Whether it’s the sun shining on your face, your pet, or a day off of work to rest, you’ll be surprised what you can be grateful for even on seemingly difficult days!!

What are you grateful for? Let us know in the comments!!
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11/20/2025

We asked our therapists, “What is one thing you do each day to take care of yourself?”

Melanie Summers responded, “Self-reflection and cozy murder mysteries.”

What a great answer!! Especially as we approach the end of the year, we encourage you to participate in some self-reflection and notice what you liked/disliked, if there is any event that left a lasting impact, or if there is anything you’d like to improve/change. Self-reflection is a game changer when it comes to mindfulness and checking in with yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Make sure you take some time each day to do something you love that fills your cup!! 🫶

You can learn more about Melanie by visiting our website: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/our-team/melanie-summers-lpca/
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11/18/2025

“Is this the ‘most’ time of year for you too? While there are breaks from school (and maybe work too), many of us find our schedules BUSIER than ever with extra holiday celebrations and fun events. A friend shared with me last holiday season that their family had SEVEN family holiday gatherings to attend within a week’s time. She, her partner, and their children were all exhausted and at each other’s throats by the end of it all. It was too much. Here’s an invitation to set some proactive boundaries in your lives now, before the ‘most’ time of year gets the best of you and your family too!”

Read more on our blog about Setting Boundaries during the Holiday Season: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/setting-boundaries-during-the-holiday-season/
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11/13/2025

Today is World Kindness Day!! 🫶

We encourage you to spread some kindness today!! Whether it’s to a stranger, someone you know, or yourself, everyone deserves to be treated kindly.

Here are 5 different ways to spread kindness today:

🟠 Compliment a stranger or simply give them a kind smile
🟣 Leave a kind message on a post it note in a library book
🔴 Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and ask how they’ve been
🔵 Give yourself permission to rest
🟢 Say one kind thing to yourself

Spreading kindness is simple and can spark a positive chain reaction. Remember, you never know what someone is going through, so try to be kind to anyone and everyone at all times!! 💜

What will your act of kindness be today? Let us know in the comments!!
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11/11/2025

Join us in wishing a warm welcome to our three new Creative Family Counseling team members, Jill, Ian, and Jennifer!!! 🎉

🌟 Jill is a former CFC intern, and we’re beyond excited to welcome her to the team full-time at our Prospect location!! Learn more about Jill by visiting: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/our-team/jill-felkins-mft-associate/

🌟 We’re thrilled to also welcome Ian, another former CFC intern, to the CFC team at the Prospect office!! Learn more about Ian by visiting: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/our-team/ian-mcdermott-mft-associate/

🌟 Jennifer comes to CFC with 20 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker! We’re so delighted to welcome her to the team and see how her expertise positively benefits clients. Learn more about Jennifer by visiting: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/our-team/jennifer-puckett-lcsw/
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11/10/2025

Don't forget our next Positive Parenting Workshop is THIS Saturday, November 15th from 9 am - 1 pm. You can sign up by giving us a call at 502-709-0410 or visiting: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/workshops/

Registration is NOW OPEN for our next Parenting Workshop that will be held on November 15, 2025 from 9am - 1pm at Broadway Baptist Church!! 🌟

Learn effective tools for developing confident, resilient, and successful kids all while finding your peace in the process!! This workshop will be led by Certified Parent Educators, Megan McCarty, LMFT, and Nora Gardner, LCSW.

We’ll be teaching effective strategies from Dr. Jane Nelsen's Positive Discipline program. Positive Discipline offers long-term parenting skills that will encourage children to think for themselves, become more responsible, and have greater respect for themselves and others. These teachings are filled with both non-punitive and non-permissive methods.

🎟️ Cost: $175 plus $25 for each additional household member

🔗 Learn more and sign up by visiting: https://creativefamilycounseling.org/workshops/ or give us a call at (502) 709-0410. 📞
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11/06/2025

A lot of us don’t realize that not all stress we experience is bad stress!

Good stress, also known as eustress, is actually beneficial for us and positively impacts our lives!! 🌟

If we’re in a constant state of bad stress, also known as distress, that’s when we start to feel the negative effects of stress take a toll on our minds and bodies.

Checking in with yourself and others who may be experiencing stressful situations is a helpful way to ensure those who need proper support are getting it when they need it most.

📞 Reach out to us today by calling (502) 709-0410 or visiting our website if you find yourself stuck in a cycle of chronic stress that is majorly impacting your everyday life.
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11/06/2025

No one should have to go hungry. We’ve compiled a list of resources available in Louisville, KY for those who have been impacted by food insecurity.

FOOD PANTRIES:

💜 Dare to Care
https://daretocare.org/get-help/
Dare to Care is Louisville’s primary food bank and has resources around the city. Use the interactive tool at the link above to find resources close to you. You can select from a range of resources that are applicable to your needs, including pantries, drive thru pantries, community meals, meals for kids and teens, and meals for seniors.
Dare to Care also offers mobile pantries, which allow you to stay in your car while receiving food. Bring an ID to verify the number of households in your vehicle. https://daretocare.org/events/category/mobile-pantries/

🧡 Local Community Ministries
Find your location by visiting: https://cfn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=ffdde7dd21cd4fcabcdf33e01f95e747
All community ministries have food pantries available; days and hours vary by location.
Eastern Area Community Ministries is closest to our offices, https://www.eacmonline.org/

🩵 REACH! Food Program 4 Kids
https://reachfoodprogram.com/
Food delivery to families with children. Fill out request form here: https://forms.monday.com/forms/f95e30442ce6616c44403de899398936?r=use1

LOCAL BUSINESSES (pantries and meals):

💚 Glow Worm Play Cafe (multiple locations)
https://www.glowwormplaycafe.com/
Small pantry set up this month to meet emergency needs; may be helpful to call to confirm availability at the location of your preference.

❤️ Four Pegs Smokehouse & Bar
1053 Goss Ave.
Small pantry set up this month to meet emergency needs; open late if you need to access food outside of business hours. They have also offered giveaways of meals, which they announce on their social media (Instagram )

💜 Chicken Salad Chick (Middletown/Fern Creek location)
Kids 12 and under eat free until November 16th (PBJ, chips, cookie, kids drink)

🧡 Other Community Resources
Don’t hesitate to talk to your medical providers or your children's medical providers if you are dealing with food insecurity at the time of an appointment. Some offices have grocery gift cards available for families who need them.

COOKBOOKS:

🩵 Affordable Flavors
https://kidseatincolor.com/product/affordable-flavors/
Cookbook for 30 days worth of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 snacks) for 2 adults and 2 children on a tight food budget, along with tips for saving on food costs when shopping. Use code “AF4CFC” at checkout to download it free.
También disponible en Español con código “AF4CFC.”

💚 Good and Cheap
https://leannebrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/good-and-cheap-by-leanne-brown.pdf
Cookbook with recipes based on a budget of $4 a day for food costs (in 2014).
Bueno y Barato
https://www.leannebrown.com/bueno-y-barato.pdf
Libro de cocina con recetas basadas en una cuesta de $4 al día para alimentación (en 2014).

FREE COMMUNITY MEALS:

❤️ Franciscan Kitchen
748 S Preston St., Louisville, KY 40203
Lunch served daily (including Saturday) 10:30am-12:30pm

💜 Wayside Christian Mission
432 E Jefferson St., Louisville, KY
Breakfast & lunch every day
Women/Families breakfast 6-7am
Men breakfast 7-8am
Women/Families lunch 11am-12pm
Mens Lunch 12-1pm

🧡 The Lord’s Kitchen
2735 S 5th St., Louisville, KY 40208
Breakfast/Early lunch: Saturday & Sunday 11:00-11:45am
Dinner: select Wednesdays/last Tuesday 5-6pm

🩵 Cathedral of the Assumption
433 S 5th St., Louisville, KY
Lunch daily at 12:15-1:00 p.m.

💚 Sister Visitor Center
2235 W Market St., Louisville, KY 40212
Choice Pantry open Mon-Fri at 10:00am–2:30pm (closed first Tuesday each month)

❤️ Dare to Care Food Bank
Various community centers in Louisville
Evening meals for children: Mon-Fri at various centers at 4:30-6:00pm

💜 Jefferson Street Baptist at Liberty
800 E Liberty St., Louisville, KY
Breakfast/early meal Mon-Thu at 8:30-9:00am

🧡 St. Vincent de Paul — Open Hand Kitchen
1026 S Jackson St., Louisville, KY 40203
Lunch daily at 12:00om
Dinner Mon-Fri at 5

🩵 Open Door Ministry
318 W St. Catherine St
Lunch 12pm M, Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sat

💚 Calvary Episcopal
821 S Fourth St
9:30am-11:30am Mon, Tues, Thurs

11/04/2025

November 3-7 is International Stress Awareness Week!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or like you’re stuck in an endless cycle of constant stress, here are 5 ways to help cope!

1. Try to get some physical activity scheduled into your day! Whether it’s a simple walk 🚶‍♀️, bike ride 🚴, or dance session 🕺, moving your body can release endorphins, alleviating stress and boosting your mood!

2. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep! 😴 Sleep is when our brains and bodies recover from the day we had and prepares us for the day to come. Lack of adequate sleep can lead to brain fog, anxiety, and causes us to inadequately deal with stressors we may face throughout the day.

3. Try guided meditations or journaling! 🧘‍♀️📓 If you find that your thoughts are all consuming and inhibit you from relaxing, try to find a guided meditation to quiet those racing thoughts and create a moment of calm. If you find it helpful, journaling is a way to get all of your thoughts down on paper and empty your mind of everything you’re dealing with.

4. Eat a healthy diet!! 🥗 Essential nutrients can help support brain function, stabilize mood, and reduce inflammation, combating the effects stress has on the body. Consuming an excessive amount of caffeine can lead to sleep problems, anxiety, and irritability, so limiting caffeine intake when already experiencing stressful situations can be helpful.

5. Make sure to do an activity you enjoy!! Whether you love baking 🍪, watching movies 🎥, knitting 🧶, or connecting with a close friend 👭, be sure to set time aside for your hobbies and activities you love. Life is all about balance. If you’re experiencing stress, you need to have a dedicated time to let your body relax and feel at peace.

If you or someone you know could benefit from therapeutic help when it comes to the stressors in your life, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (502) 709-0410. 📞
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10/28/2025

We wanted to take a moment to remind you that therapy is for everyone and anyone at any time!!!! 🫶

You don’t only need to be in a crisis to seek out therapy. Just like going to the gym regularly maintains a healthy body physically, therapy can help to maintain your mental health, whether you’re currently facing a struggle or not.

We’d love to be a safe place for you to strengthen and take care of your mental health, so never hesitate to reach out to us at 502-709-0410! 📞
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10/23/2025

We asked our therapists, “What’s one thing you do each day to take care of yourself?” and they answered!!

Jeffrey responded, “When I’m feeling especially dysregulated, I’ll take a power nap while wearing a headache relief cap that’s been chilling in the fridge. It’s a cool, steady hug for my overstimulated brain.” 🤗

We love that Jeffrey knows exactly what can help put him at ease! What’s your go-to option when it comes to taking care of yourself and prioritizing your mental health? Let us know!
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