Summit Family Therapy, PLLC

12/28/2025

12/24/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas from Summit Family Therapy! 🎄

This holiday season, we want to remind you that caring for your mental health is just as important as celebrating with loved ones. Take time to rest, breathe, and connect in ways that bring you peace and joy.

Our offices will be closed on December 25 and 26 so our team can recharge and spend time with family. If you’re struggling, please reach out to local crisis resources or trusted support systems—you are never alone.

From all of us at Summit Family Therapy, thank you for letting us be part of your journey. Wishing you warmth, hope, and healing this Christmas and beyond. ❤️

12/22/2025

Hi everyone, Kate Mills, MA, LCPC here. 💙

Navigating the special education system can feel overwhelming, even for experienced parents. When advocating for my own child, I quickly realized there was so much I wished I had known beforehand.

That’s why I wrote “What I Wish I Knew: A Parent’s Guide to Navigating Special Education.” In this article, I share practical tips to help parents feel more confident, informed, and empowered—whether it’s understanding your rights, preparing for meetings, or knowing how to ask the right questions.

I hope this guide can make the journey a little easier for families. You don’t have to do it alone.

When I first stepped into the world of special education as a parent, I thought I was prepared. I’m a licensed therapist and I had already spent years working inside the school system. But nothing truly readied me for what it feels like to sit on the other side of the table; this time, as a mom ad...

12/21/2025

We’re excited to share an insightful piece by Dr. Courtney Stivers on a topic that’s becoming increasingly common in modern relationships: Breadcrumbing.

Ever felt like someone is keeping you hooked with just enough attention, but never truly committing? That’s breadcrumbing—and it can have a real impact on emotional well-being.

In this article, Dr. Stivers breaks down:
✅ What breadcrumbing looks like
✅ Why it happens
✅ How to protect your mental health and set healthy boundaries
👉 Read the full article below.

If you’ve experienced breadcrumbing or want to learn more about navigating complex relationship dynamics, this is a must-read! 💙

Breadcrumbing refers to giving someone intermittent, non-committal attention—just enough to keep them engaged—without any genuine intention of deepening the relationship. This behavior often manifests through sporadic texts, likes on social media, or vague promises of future plans that never mat...

12/20/2025

🎄🐾 Holiday Joy, One Paw at a Time! 🐾🎄

Meet Hattie, our sweet therapy pup, bringing smiles and warm snuggles to everyone at an assisted living center this holiday season. ❤️

From wagging tails to gentle cuddles, Hattie reminds us that the greatest gift is love and companionship. 🌟

✨ Here’s to spreading joy, laughter, and a little extra fur-covered happiness this festive season!

📸 Swipe to see Hattie in action!

12/19/2025

Feeling overwhelmed by holiday expectations? 🎄✨

Check out my new article: “Setting Healthy Boundaries During the Holidays: Why It Matters and How to Do It Without Guilt.”
The holidays should be joyful, not stressful. In this article, I share practical tips for protecting your peace, saying “no” without guilt, and creating space for what truly matters.

👉 Read it here: https://summitfamilytherapy.com/summit-family-therapy-peoria-illinois-blog/2025/12/19/setting-healthy-boundaries-during-the-holidays-why-it-matters-and-how-to-do-it-without-guilt?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

Let’s make this season about connection, not burnout. 💚
What’s one boundary you’re setting this year? Share below!

-Kate Mills, MA, LCPC

The holidays can be a beautiful time of connection, but they can also bring stress, overstimulation, and complicated family dynamics. I find this season especially challenging because expectations seem to increase, while my personal bandwidth decreases. Can you relate?

12/18/2025

Dr. Courtney Stivers had an amazing time attending the NAWBO Christmas Party! The theme was vintage, and while most guests dazzled in classic holiday looks, Dr. Stivers brought the bold vibes of the 80s—because why fit in when you can stand out? 💃✨

NAWBO events are all about connection, empowerment, and celebrating women in business, and this party was no exception. Here’s to building strong networks and having fun along the way!

12/17/2025

🐾 A Happy Tail Wag from Hattie the Therapy Dog 🐾

Hey friends, it’s me—Hattie! 🐶💖

You know that feeling when you see someone you love? My tail can barely keep up with all the wagging! That burst of joy and warmth? It’s pure magic. ✨🐾

Whether it’s a hug, a smile, or just their voice, those moments remind us how much we’re cared for—and how much we belong.

So next time you spot someone who makes your heart happy, don’t be shy—show it! Let that joy shine bright. You deserve all those happy tail wags and warm snuggles.

Sending you love and happy wiggles,
– Hattie the Therapy Pup 🐕

12/15/2025

Time is a tricky thing.

As I wrote in my latest article, “The Clock & The Calendar,” we often measure life in hours and days, but what truly matters are the moments that shape us. The clock reminds us of deadlines, while the calendar marks milestones—but neither captures the depth of connection, growth, and meaning we experience along the way.
I invite you to pause, reflect, and consider: Are you living by the clock, the calendar, or by what really matters?

Read the full post here: https://summitfamilytherapy.com/summit-family-therapy-peoria-illinois-blog/2025/11/7/the-clock-the-calendar?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

Let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear how you make time meaningful in your life.

- Brandon C. Hovey, MA, LCPC NCC

These are not real names of clients. These are fictional characters rooted in source material from this author’s varied careers in his life before becoming a psychotherapist. Patrick couldn't stay any longer. With crops to harvest and with matters busy at home, he no longer had time for the Roscoe

12/12/2025

You deserve more than 50 minutes.

When weekly sessions end just as you’re finally opening up, real change can feel out of reach. In my new article, “You Deserve More Than 50 Minutes: Intensive Therapy,” I explain why extended-format therapy—structured, focused time in a single day or across a few days—can build momentum, deepen insight, and create space for meaningful breakthroughs.

If you’re navigating trauma, a relationship in crisis, or long-standing patterns you can’t seem to shake, an intensive may be the right next step. I walk through what it looks like, who it helps, and how we pace it safely.

📝 Read the full article: https://summitfamilytherapy.com/summit-family-therapy-peoria-illinois-blog/2025/12/5/you-deserve-more-than-50-minutes-intensive-therapy?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment or message our team if you want to explore whether an intensive could fit your situation.

-Dr. Ryan Stivers, PhD LMFT

Most people think of therapy as a weekly 50-minute appointment, a slow and steady process that unfolds over months. For some, that pace works well. But if you’re like me and cringe at the saying “Good things come to those who wait,” you might find yourself wishing for something more immediate,...

12/11/2025

This! 🙌