Edge Counseling & Wellness

01/22/2026

❄️ Extreme cold outside… and Peoria schools are closed tomorrow ❄️
Which means: kids at home, virtual learning, and very limited outdoor energy-burning options 😅

A few gentle reminders for surviving (and maybe even enjoying) a cold day at home:
• Lower the expectations — perfection is not the goal
• Pajamas count as an outfit ✔️
• Movement can be a dance party, hallway laps, or stretching between Zooms
• Screen breaks > screen guilt
• Warm drinks, comfort snacks, and cozy blankets are basically self-care essentials
• Deep breaths when things get loud (or frozen 🥶)

Be kind to yourself, laugh where you can, and remember: this is just a season… a very cold one. Stay warm, Peoria! 💙🔥

01/14/2026

✨ Paige starts THIS WEEK! ✨

We’re excited to welcome Paige to Edge Counseling & Wellness as she officially starts with us this week! Paige is an MSW student at Aurora University and brings valuable experience from foster care and the school system, with a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, emotional regulation, and supporting children and families.

Paige is passionate about creating a safe, supportive space for clients to explore big emotions, build coping skills, and foster resilience. She looks forward to continuing her work with individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and related challenges—supporting both children and adults as they grow and heal.

We’re so glad to have you at Edge, Paige — welcome to the team! 💙

01/12/2026

✨ Tim starts THIS WEEK! ✨

We’re excited to officially welcome Timothy Winkler, MA Intern to Edge Counseling & Wellness as he begins with us this week! Tim is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern pursuing his Master of Counseling at Bradley University.

Tim brings a thoughtful, humanistic approach to therapy and is especially passionate about working with men, addiction and recovery, and individuals navigating loss and life transitions. His style is conversational, collaborative, and person-centered, with a strong belief in each client’s capacity for growth and healing. He is also LGBTQIA+ affirming and committed to creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for all clients.

We’re so glad to have you at Edge, Tim — welcome! 💙

01/09/2026

✨ We’re Hiring! ✨

Edge Counseling & Wellness is looking to add a Child Social Worker / Child Counselor to our growing team! If you’re passionate about working with kids and want to be part of a supportive, fun, and flexible work environment, we’d love to connect.

What we offer:
🧠 Fully furnished office with everything you need for therapy
📅 Flexible scheduling
📝 AI note-taking support
👥 Supervision included
🌴 PTO
💼 3% SIMPLE IRA match

If you’re ready to do meaningful work with a team that truly supports you, reach out or apply today. We can’t wait to meet our next amazing clinician!

01/07/2026

✨ Please help us welcome our newest provider, Colleen Steffen, LPC, NBCC! ✨

We are so excited to have Colleen join the Edge Counseling and Wellness team this week! Colleen is a Licensed Professional Counselor working toward her LCPC and is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Before becoming a therapist, Colleen spent 15 years as a special education teacher—an experience that shaped her deep understanding of emotional regulation, learning differences, and the importance of compassionate, individualized support. She later completed her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bradley University, building on her earlier degree in Social Work.

Colleen believes many people carry emotions and experiences quietly, often feeling overwhelmed or unsure why they feel stuck. Her approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. She’s passionate about helping clients build insight, resilience, and practical tools for emotional well-being and meaningful change.

We are thrilled to have her as part of our team! 💛
Welcome, Colleen!

01/07/2026

Proud to support this meaningful work with Harvest Hope Collaborative 💙

We loved joining the Life Skills class at Pathway Ministries and seeing the impact of practical education, community support, and a little extra joy (thanks to Lily 🐾). Grateful to be part of efforts that empower and uplift women in our community.

We were grateful to host another Life Skills class at Pathway Ministries Women’s Shelter this week, focused on building practical tools for long-term stability and empowerment.

We were joined by our friend Nik Adams from John Graham & Associates, who shared approachable budgeting tools and answered common financial questions. One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of knowing where your money is going and learning to distinguish between wants and needs—foundational steps in creating a strong, sustainable budget.

Thank you, Nik, for sharing your time and expertise with such care and clarity. And a special thank-you to Lily from Edge Counseling & Wellness, who absolutely stole the spotlight and brought plenty of smiles to the room. 🐾

Moments like these remind us how education, community, and connection come together to create real hope.

12/24/2025

🎄✨ Elf on the… Couch? ✨🎄

Lily has officially reported for holiday duty — spreading cheer, offering comfort, and supervising all last-minute Christmas preparations.

From all of us at Edge Counseling & Wellness (and our favorite little elf), we’re wishing you a peaceful, cozy Christmas Eve filled with moments of rest, connection, and warmth. 🎁🐾💙

12/22/2025

🎄🍩 Secret Santa… revealed! 🍩🎄

Our team celebrated the season with a Secret Santa reveal at Tadough’s Donuts, complete with lots of laughs, sweet treats, and our favorite oversized donut photo op. Even Lily made sure to be front and center for the festivities 🐾💙

Moments like these remind us how grateful we are for this team — the care, connection, and heart each person brings into our work every day.

Wishing our clients, community partners, and friends a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season! ✨

12/20/2025

📣 We’re Hiring! Child Counselor Needed 📣

Edge Counseling & Wellness is looking to hire immediately for a Child Counselor to join our growing team!

We offer a fun, supportive, and flexible work environment where clinicians are truly valued. Our benefits include:
✨ Flexible scheduling
✨ Fully furnished therapy office with everything you need
✨ AI-assisted note taking
✨ Supervision included
✨ Paid time off
✨ 3% SIMPLE IRA match

If you’re passionate about working with children and want to practice in a space that prioritizes both clinician wellbeing and quality care, we’d love to connect.

📩 Message us or visit our website to learn more and apply!

12/19/2025

💙 Community care looks like showing up — especially during the busy holiday season.

This week, Edge Counseling & Wellness was honored to partner with Harvest Hope Collaborative to support the incredible teachers and staff at Von Steuben Middle School with donuts and small gifts as a simple way to say thank you.

We were also excited to expand our impact by welcoming a new school we’ll be supporting — Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center — where we dropped off donuts to help celebrate the season and recognize the hard work happening every day.

Educators pour so much into their students and communities. We’re grateful for the opportunity to give back, spread a little joy, and continue supporting those who support our kids. 🍩✨

12/17/2025

Giving back to our schools is one of our favorite traditions ✨
We had the joy of dropping off TaDoughs donuts and gifts for the amazing staff at Von Steuben as a small token of appreciation this holiday season.
Thank you for all you do — your work truly matters. 💚

12/17/2025

🐾💙 Healing on both sides of the leash

We’re honored to share this recent news story highlighting the incredible work of the IDOC Helping Paws Program and Paws Giving Independence (PGI) — the very program through which we received our facility dog, Lily.

Lily spent about a year of her life at Logan Correctional Facility, where dedicated women poured their time, patience, and care into helping her become the grounding, loving presence she is today. Because of them, Lily now gets to support clients at Edge Counseling & Wellness and return to Logan through our partnership with Harvest Hope Collaborative to serve the very women who helped shape her.

Being able to witness the joy, pride, and connection when dog recipients share how these animals have changed their lives is incredibly powerful. It’s a reminder that healing is mutual — and that compassion creates ripples far beyond what we can see.

We are deeply grateful to PGI, Harvest Hope Collaborative, and the women at Logan for the role they’ve played in Lily’s journey and in the lives of so many others.

👉 Read the full story here:
https://www.wandtv.com/news/illinois/idocs-helping-paws-program-provides-healing-on-both-sides-of-the-leash/article_15143a4c-eaef-4a62-ae74-78a69956c9c1.html

A unique program at Logan Correctional Center is transforming lives, both within the prison walls and far beyond, one trained dog at a time.