Obsidian Counseling and Wellness

01/27/2026

Fun fact: The simple act of petting a dog can help lower the stress hormone cortisol and boost feel-good hormones like oxytocin.

And it’s not just dogs — safe hugs, laughing, being a little silly, or letting yourself soften for a moment can do this too.

Dr. Goodboi is clearly doing his part today by fully letting go and trusting the process. Ears included. 🐶😌

01/10/2026

Our parenting group again!

✨ New Parent Offering Starting February 3, 2026 ✨

The Alliance for Early Childhood is excited to offer a Virtual Circle of Security® Parent Group—an 8-week experience focused on building strong, secure relationships between parents and children.

Facilitated by Molly Pope, Ed.S., I/ECMH and Ilyssa Lasky, LCPC, this group provides research-informed tools and meaningful conversation in a supportive setting.

📍 Virtual
📅 Tuesdays, beginning February 3
📲 Register here: https://forms.gle/1ciDHuKhBfKdMcdE8

Molly Pope Coaching and Consulting Obsidian Counseling and Wellness

01/02/2026

That moment when you run into a client in public and your nervous system hits boundary mode…
Meanwhile Dr. Goodboi: “I tried to be professional… but I love you too much.” 😂🐶

Therapists: what’s your public-encounter face?
👇👇👇

12/22/2025

Microaggressions may look “small” on the surface… but the body never experiences them as small.

Those subtle comments.
Those tiny dismissals.
Those “jokes.”
They add up.

And over time, they can shape how safe you feel, how you see yourself, and how your nervous system responds.

If you’ve ever walked away from a comment thinking,
“Why did that bother me so much?”
—this might explain why.

💬 What’s one microaggression you didn’t notice until later?

12/11/2025

Healing starts with understanding.
In this clip from a recent Wellness Summit conversation, Kari and Ilyssa talk about what trauma really is—and why so many people never realize they’ve experienced it.
You deserve care that sees the whole you. Reach out to us with questions!

12/08/2025

The holidays are officially HERE and Dr. Goodboi has decided we all need a self-care intervention. 🐶✨

❄️Step 1: Go outside and perform at least one (1) dramatic snow zoomie.
It won’t solve everything, but it will confuse your stress into backing off for a minute.

🎨 Step 2: Make art. Any art.
Underwater stop-motion? Absolutely.
Does it make sense? No.
Does Dr. Goodboi consider it award-winning? Yes.

🤍 Step 3: Apply Weighted Blanket Dogtor™ directly to the body.
Side effects include warmth, love, and inability to move for 45 minutes.

The holidays are stressful, chaotic, and full of complex family dynamics…
so Dr. Goodboi says: “Do whatever keeps your tail wagging.”

12/04/2025

Help your child (and yourself!) feel calmer, more focused, and more connected with these 4 simple breathing exercises. In this short video, Ilyssa Lasky, a licensed clinical professional counselor, will walk you through kid-friendly techniques you can use at home, in the car, before school, during big feelings, or anytime your family needs a moment to reset.

These exercises support:
✨ Emotional regulation
✨ Focus and attention
✨ Mind-body awareness
✨ Calming anxiety and overwhelm
✨ Building connection between you and your child

You’ll learn:
✔️ Rollercoaster breathing
✔️ flower breathing
✔️ Flower breathing
✔️ Taco Breathing

These breathing tools are an easy way to nurture those moments of calm for your child and for you. Great for educators, therapists, and other caregivers who want to help kids build strong self-regulation skills!

Learn more or get support at: www.obsidiancounseling.com

ilyssa@obsidiancounseling.com
| 847-564-3460

12/01/2025

Ever wish your brain had a refresh button?
Same. 😅

That’s basically what EMDR helps with.

When something overwhelming happens, the brain tries to “download” the experience… but sometimes the file gets stuck.
(Think: spinning wheel, endless loading, 1999 dial-up energy….did I just age myself? 🤣)

EMDR helps your brain finish processing the memory so it can finally move to the right place — less glitching, less buffering, more clarity.

✨ No reliving everything
✨ No overthinking needed
✨ Just your brain doing what it was always meant to do… but with better “Wi-Fi.”

If you’re tired of emotional pop-ups, frozen files, or internal “why am I like this?” moments — EMDR might be the gentle reboot you need. 💚

Want to learn more? Send me a message or visit obsidiancounseling.com.

11/25/2025

Welcome to therapy with Dr. Goodboi.

He offers excellent eye contact, zero judgment, and dramatic flops when the feelings get big.🐶💛

In all seriousness, emotions live in the body, and sometimes they make us feel heavy, slow, or stuck. That’s what therapy is for.

Dr. Goodboi and our actual human therapists are here to help you understand what your feelings need and help your nervous system feel safe again.

✨ Curious about deeper healing?
We offer EMDR Intensives for fast, focused trauma processing.

👉 Link in bio to learn more.

11/25/2025

11/18/2025

Our first Religious Trauma presentation is officially a wrap! ✨

Religious trauma happens when faith is intertwined with control when shame, guilt, fear, or punishment are used to dictate identity, behavior, or worth. These experiences can impact mental health, relationships, and the ability to trust yourself long after leaving the environment.

If you recognized your own story in any part of this conversation, we want you to know: healing doesn’t mean abandoning your faith. Healing means reclaiming your voice, your intuition, and your connection to the divine on your terms.

We’ll be hosting this presentation again soon, and our team is here if you’d like support in processing your experience.
📩 Reach out anytime we’re here.

11/10/2025

The good news is that religious trauma is healable. 💚

Healing doesn’t mean abandoning your faith it means reclaiming safety, trust, and agency in your relationship with the divine, however you define it.

At Obsidian Counseling & Wellness, we help you reconnect with yourself, your values, and your sense of peace — in a way that feels safe and authentic. 🌈

If this message speaks to you, know that you’re not alone.
👉 www.obsidiancounseling.com