The Blue Couch

The Blue Couch Counseling, Play Therapy, & Consulting

Family gatherings can be fun… but they can also be a lot for kids. New environments, loud spaces, disrupted routines, an...
11/25/2025

Family gatherings can be fun… but they can also be a lot for kids. New environments, loud spaces, disrupted routines, and alllll the expectations can make emotional regulation harder than usual.

Here are a few gentle ways to support your child through the weekend:

In this week’s Live, Dr. Staci Born explored Michelle Icard’s “Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen,” a guide to building stro...
11/11/2025

In this week’s Live, Dr. Staci Born explored Michelle Icard’s “Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen,” a guide to building stronger, calmer communication with tweens and teens. 💬

One of the key takeaways was Icard’s B.R.I.E.F. Model, a powerful framework for having meaningful conversations without the meltdowns.

B.R.I.E.F.
🅑 Begin peacefully – Choose the right time and tone to start.
🅡 Relate to your child – Lead with empathy, not authority.
🅘 Interview for data – Ask curious questions instead of giving lectures.
🅔 Echo what you hear – Reflect back so they feel understood.
🅕 Give your Feedback – Keep it short and supportive.

✨ These conversations aren’t about perfection—they’re about connection.
Catch the full Live recording on our page for practical examples and heartfelt insights from Icard's book.

11/11/2025

Using Michelle Icard's BRIEF Model and 14 Talks Before Age 14

Today, we pause with deep gratitude for the courage, service, and sacrifice of all who have served. Your dedication prot...
11/11/2025

Today, we pause with deep gratitude for the courage, service, and sacrifice of all who have served. Your dedication protects the freedom and peace we hold dear.

Thank you for your strength, resilience, and commitment. 💙

Parenting tweens can feel like walking a tightrope: they’re craving independence but still deeply need our guidance. Thi...
11/10/2025

Parenting tweens can feel like walking a tightrope: they’re craving independence but still deeply need our guidance.

This Tuesday, 11/11 at 2:30pm CST, join Dr. Staci Born, LIVE from The Blue Couch for a heart-centered chat about the book “14 Conversations to Have Before Age 14” by Michelle Icard.

We’ll unpack what these conversations are, why they matter, and how to approach them in everyday moments - from car rides to bedtime chats. 🚗🌙

Bring your coffee, your questions, and your curiosity. Let’s talk about how small conversations can make a big impact in raising emotionally healthy, connected kids. 💙

November is a month for gratitude, a time to pause, reflect, and notice the good that surrounds us. 💙At The Blue Couch, ...
11/04/2025

November is a month for gratitude, a time to pause, reflect, and notice the good that surrounds us. 💙

At The Blue Couch, we hold deep gratitude for the community that makes healing possible. From the families who trust us, the children who show up bravely, and the many helpers who walk beside them.

These familiar friends represent the comfort and connection that guide our work.

Thank you for being part of our circle of care.

🎃 Happy Halloween from The Blue Couch! 💙Whether you’re dressing up, handing out candy, or cozying up at home, we hope to...
10/31/2025

🎃 Happy Halloween from The Blue Couch! 💙

Whether you’re dressing up, handing out candy, or cozying up at home, we hope today brings you laughter, imagination, and maybe a little magic. ✨

From our couch to yours, we are wishing you a safe, joy-filled, and playfully present Halloween!

👻💙

Somewhere between trick-or-treat buckets and high-school parties lives the ✨tween Halloween zone✨, where growing up and ...
10/29/2025

Somewhere between trick-or-treat buckets and high-school parties lives the ✨tween Halloween zone✨, where growing up and holding on both feel tricky. 🕸

If your tween wants to dress up but not too much, walk with younger kids but also hang with friends, or change plans last-minute, it's okay. These in-between years are about experimenting with identity and belonging.

Offer gentle structure, a little independence, and lots of grace. 💙 The Blue Couch reminds you: connection is the best costume.

👻 At The Blue Couch, we know play doesn’t have to be scary, even when it looks spooky!Did you know? When kids dress up a...
10/27/2025

👻 At The Blue Couch, we know play doesn’t have to be scary, even when it looks spooky!

Did you know? When kids dress up as monsters, witches, or villains, they’re actually exploring courage and control through imagination.

This Halloween, when your child says “Boo!”, remember, they’re not just playing pretend. They’re learning they can be brave. 💙

Is your family getting dressed up for Halloween?Halloween is a big feelings holiday: excitement, sugar, costumes, and sp...
10/24/2025

Is your family getting dressed up for Halloween?

Halloween is a big feelings holiday: excitement, sugar, costumes, and spooky surprises! When the meltdowns appear faster than the candy corn disappears, remember:

🍬 A tired, overstimulated brain needs connection, not correction.
💙 Try a quick hug, a calm voice, and a deep breath together before diving back into the fun.

Because the best kind of magic this Halloween is emotional regulation in disguise. ✨

🌙 Bedtime doesn’t have to be a battle.Join us live today at 12pm as Charlotte and Haley share simple, connection-focused...
10/21/2025

🌙 Bedtime doesn’t have to be a battle.
Join us live today at 12pm as Charlotte and Haley share simple, connection-focused strategies to bring more calm, comfort, and cooperation to your evenings. 💙

Can’t make it live? No worries, the replay will be ready whenever you are.

Because bedtime can be a moment to connect not just something to survive.

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Mankato, MN
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