HEART Counseling, LLC

12/18/2025

There’s a moment in therapy when people start to worry they’re going backwards.

Not because anything is wrong - but because things are suddenly louder than they were before.

You notice old patterns faster, and somehow that makes them feel heavier.

You finally have words for things, and now those things are harder to ignore.

You reach for support sooner, and it feels like a failure instead of what it is - growth.

Progress rarely looks like confidence.

Most of the time it looks like confusion, exhaustion, and a nervous system learning a new way to exist in the world. 😮‍💨

And even though it feels messy, this is often the part where something real is taking shape. 💕

12/12/2025

We know none of this list is getting crossed off anytime soon 😂🫠🫠

But Little Playroom Cafe looks like a place where parents actually get to breathe. ☕️

Have you tried it!?
🧡

12/10/2025

Sometimes we need the reminder that mental health isn’t extra.
It isn’t a trend or a side project.
It’s part of being a person.

And it deserves the same care we give everything else that keeps us going.

🧡

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from the HEART family to you.

Hoping you enjoy love, gratitude, and the quiet satisfaction of recognizing a generational pattern in real time and thinking, …of course. 😂😂🧡

11/26/2025

The night before a holiday can stir up a lot - stress, tenderness, old patterns.

Even in the closest relationships, it’s easy for small moments to land a little heavier than we meant. 😬

And most of us were never taught how to untangle that gently.

We weren’t shown how to pause without withdrawing, or how to reconnect without pretending nothing happened.

Repair doesn’t have to be heavy.

ometimes it’s as simple as: “I’m glad we’re here together. Let’s start fresh.”

It’s a soft reset.

A way of saying, we can try again, without pressure or perfection.

And it’s wild how much can shift when warmth gets to lead the way.

11/24/2025

A lot of people walk into this week with mixed feelings.

You can genuinely love your family and still feel a little flutter of tension before you walk in the door. 💕

Mixed feelings aren’t a problem.

They’re human.

They’re honest.

And sometimes they just mean this gathering matters to you - enough to hope it lands well. 😅

There’s room for every part of how this week feels.

11/21/2025

Almost-Thanksgiving gatherings tend to bring out the old roles, the familiar expectations, the pressure to be “on.”

Even when you love the people in the room, it can feel like stepping back into an old version of yourself.

There’s a moment when your body tells you it’s reached its edge. A knowing that staying any longer would mean abandoning yourself a little.

Letting yourself leave early is a relational shift most of us were never taught.

The shift from performing to listening.

From “What do they need from me?” to “What do I need right now?” 👏You’re allowed to protect the parts of you that feel tender.

11/20/2025

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance.

A day held with tenderness, anger, love, and the weight of every story that should still be here.

In the therapy room, we feel the impact of this day - not as a headline, but as something lived in your body.

The way safety changes your posture.

The way being seen changes everything.

There’s a promise we keep close, especially today:

Your story is yours, and we protect it.

Your identity deserves respect, not questioning.

This work is about offering a space where the truth of who you are doesn’t have to fight to exist.

And on a day that honors lives lost, we center this truth even more. 💕

11/17/2025

Heads up - HEART Counseling will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th in observance of Thanksgiving.

We encourage you to learn more about the native lands where you live and work: https://native-land.ca/

11/15/2025

Love this blog post written by our wonderful intern, Elise! 🍁

Starting fresh with fall routine tips can make the season feel calmer and more doable — especially here in Madison, WI. Get gentle monthly support and mental health tips

11/13/2025

What a beautiful day - Happy World Kindness Day from HEART Counseling! 💜

11/12/2025

We’re joining our Middleton community to support WayForward Resources, as many local families face food insecurity this season.

HEART Counseling is now collecting nonperishable food items to help stock local pantries.

You can drop off donations in our office or click the link below to donate online. 💕

Every small act of care makes a difference - especially now. 🧡

🌐 Online donations: https://www.wayforwardresources.org/support-us/financial-donations/