The Porch Swing KC

04/02/2026

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/carrie-soper-overland-park-ks/994462

Psychology Today I am sharing a link to my personal Psychology Today profile for those of you who may be in search of a therapist I am accepting new clients!

I use a multi-dimensional approach in my practice. In our first session, we'll explore what brought you to therapy and determine the best ways to support your growth. Using modalities like CBT, NARM, EMDR, IFS, and Person-Centered therapy, together we will explore the relationships with attachment, self, others and trauma, aiming to cultivate a sense of safety and meaning in the present moment.

Sending you all an abundance of love and light on this Springtime day!

Carrie Soper, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Overland Park, KS, 66213, (913) 246-4843, Are you walking through a season of grief or loss? Do you find yourself consumed by worry or fearing the worst? I understand that weight — the exhaustion of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty. When ...

03/29/2026

Therapist things I believe in 🙋‍♀️🎀🧠💪🏻🌸

03/25/2026

03/12/2026

Let’s get real: actions and patterns always tell the truth. Promises can glow, but consistent behavior colors the future. 🌈

Pattern over promises: why it matters👇

Consistency builds trust: Repeated reliable actions create a sense of safety and predictability.

Cognitive ease matters: People trust what feels familiar. Repetition + clear routine = credibility.

Evidence from behavior, not words: Our brains notice small, regular actions more than grand declarations.

Confirmation bias & momentum: We remember what confirms our patterns, not the sporadic promises.

Scarcity vs. abundance mindset: Look for ongoing generosity and reliability, not one-off gestures.

Actions > words. Small daily moves, big trust. 💫

03/04/2026

Life is going to knock you on your knees. But I’m here to tell you that it’s not a matter of how hard you get the wind knocked out of you— it’s how you get back up! 💪🏻

The harder the blow the bigger the purpose.

I need you to show up for yourself. Your resiliency is your promise to your future self. Your future self has already overcome this present day obstacle. Which means you 100% made it through your worst day.

So, what you do you think? Are you with me here?

Today is your day! 🦋

01/26/2026

Full disclosure here; I’m scared. My nervous system is frozen. My words are failing me, my thoughts escape me, and I’m not finding a human word to quite describe how the current events are breaking my heart, breaking your heart, and breaking our communities apart.

Before I dive in too far here; I want to preface, that I am human. I’m learning, and listening. I’m taking a risk by speaking up, and I don’t do this alone—I lean on trusted mental health professionals and mentors. I seek guidance from compassionate, respected leaders who value humanity and kindness. Together, we set aside division and focus on our shared humanity and outcomes.

Also, I recognize, I’m a very small fish in a very gigantic pond. So if this lands and lightens and stabilizes just one nervous system — I feel that this is a step towards peace.

Okay; so with that said here it goes:

I feel that no matter which way I turn wether that be left/right up/down I see hatred, harm, inhumanity, fear, heartbreak, I see what looks like a civil w*r in our communities. I have some very close friends walking around with their social security cards, birth certificates, passports proving that they are US citizens. I have white friends that are afraid to move in any direction as well. I’m trying to refrain from putting my biases and my privilege in how I’m communicating because that’s not what The Porch Swing KC rooted in.

This community grew from unimaginable grief and trauma—my late husband and I faced death together, swaying on our porch swing through his end of life. After he died, fear lingered as more tragedies followed: my dad, my best friend from high school, and my father-in-law all passed in a short timeframe. This space is where I began to heal and find hope. Please don’t get me wrong here — me sharing this is *not to remotely say whatsoever that I understand your worldly view, perspective, experience, etc. Rather, it is me saying that if you are a human than you are welcome here, period. That’s it. You get to be safe. You get to be seen. You get to be supported. And, you get to human.

My one ask is this 🙋‍♀️ when we are sharing, posting, commenting etc., can we please keep in mind that our children are watching. They need us to be aware and regulated while being true to our individual belief systems. Let’s lead with compassion, empathy, kindness, and respect. If you’re responding out of a space of high emotion please take a moment to PAUSE and invite curiosity behind what the emotion is for yourself before responding. Collectively we have an opportunity to unite, come together, be kind, and be the America we all deserve to exude and embody!

I love you. I do.

There’s room for you here on The Porch Swing where healing happens. 🦋🌎☮️

01/21/2026

Good news is happening in Minnesota — and I’m here to celebrate it. ✨

While it can be easy to feel weighed down by the news, there is good unfolding across the state right now.

Here are a few bright spots I’m loving 🥰👇

🎉 Community Joy in Action:
From free, family-friendly winter events to artist showcases, disco-ball ice skating, bonfires, sledding, and hot cocoa — neighbors are gathering, laughing, and finding connection in places like St. Louis Park and Golden Valley.

❄️ Cold Weather, Warm Spirits:
The Rochester Polar Plunge is back in 2026 with hundreds of participants showing up in costume, courage, and community spirit — all for fun and a great cause.

🎨 Creativity Being Supported:
The Minnesota State Arts Board has awarded millions in grants this year, uplifting local artists and organizations through concerts, exhibitions, public art, workshops, and creative programs that bring people together.

🧠 Learning, Inclusion, and Care Positive Supports Minnesota is launching an 8-session Project ECHO series focused on creating supportive, inclusive environments — strengthening care and connection across communities.

🎭 A Year Full of Celebration:
From the Minneapolis Cherry Blossom Festival to the St. Paul Winter Carnival and beyond, Minnesota’s 2026 festival calendar is packed with cultural, music, food, and arts events that reflect the beauty and diversity of the state.

At The Porch Swing KC, I believe noticing the good matters — because hope, resilience, and healing grow when we pause to see what’s going right. 🌱

Today, I’m choosing encouragement, connection, and community.

💬 What’s one positive thing you’ve noticed lately?

10/29/2025

If you’ve ever ignored that quiet voice in your gut… this one’s for you. 🦋🩷✨

10/13/2025

Some seasons of life break your heart wide open.

Not because you did anything wrong — but because you loved so deeply that the ache became sacred.

When my husband passed, I was 33 years old with a 7-year-old little girl and a heart that couldn’t imagine opening again. For a long time, I thought love like that only comes once.

But over the years, I’ve learned something beautiful — our Creator doesn’t erase love when we lose someone… He expands our hearts to make room for more. 💛

Grief is the proof that love mattered. And somehow, even in the ache, God keeps creating space for new beginnings — for joy, for peace, for connection, for a love that looks different but still feels holy.

If you’ve ever had to begin again after heartbreak, I see you.
And I want you to know — it’s okay to open your heart again.
You’re not replacing what was. You’re honoring it by living fully, by loving deeply, by trusting that God still has more for you.

Read the full post here:

👉 https://www.theporchswingkc.com/journal/when-love-teaches-you-how-to-begin-again

💬 I’d love to hear from you — what has love or loss taught you about beginning again?

A heartfelt reflection on learning to open your heart again after loss and trusting God to create beauty from grief.

10/07/2025

October is a month of transition. The air shifts, the leaves change, and there’s a natural invitation to slow down and reflect. Just as the seasons move into fall, our mental health often shifts too. 🍁🍂

In the mental health community, October is our month to bring awareness to and talk about all-things mental health. This month is recognized nationally as Depression Awareness Month and also includes World Mental Health Day (October 10th). These observances remind us that mental health touches every person, every family, and every community. 💚

So this month — I will be providing The Porch Swing KC community with complimentary resources at www.theporchswingkc.com (link below). We’re going to get into all sorts of topics this month and might as well equip you with some Therabestie resources.

There’s room for you here on The Porch Swing where healing happens 🦋



https://www.theporchswingkc.com/journal/honoring-mental-health-in-october-reflection-awareness-and-healing

October is Depression Awareness Month. Learn how seasonal changes impact mental health and where to find support at The Porch Swing KC in Kansas City.

10/01/2025

✨ Healing after trauma is not about doing it all alone. Our nervous systems are wired for connection — which means safety is often found with others.

💛 Co-regulation: Borrowing calm from safe people to help your body soften out of survival mode.
💛 Dating after trauma: Remembering that protective patterns aren’t flaws, they are survival responses.
💛 Reclaiming voice: Speaking your needs, setting boundaries, and remembering “I matter.”

At The Porch Swing KC, I believe that healing is deeply relational. Vulnerability doesn’t need to disappear — it just needs safe places to land. 🌿

👉 Save this post as a reminder: You don’t have to heal alone.

09/30/2025

I never expected to find myself a widow at such a young age.

When my husband died, my whole world shifted in an instant. The plans we had made, the future I thought was secure—it all felt like it had been erased overnight. Grief became my constant companion, and in those early days, the thought of dating again felt not just impossible, but almost unthinkable.

And yet, as time went on, I began to notice little flickers of curiosity. Could I ever love again? Would anyone understand this version of me—the one carrying grief, resilience, and a love story that will always be part of who I am?

Click the link below to join me on The Porch Swing where more of the story unfolds.

Dating as a young widow is tender and complicated. Learn how to navigate grief, guilt, and hope as you consider opening your heart to love again.