Changes Counseling, LLC

02/17/2026

In case you didn’t know.

02/14/2026

Love this!

Valentine's Day isn't just to show your significant other some love, it's also about showing YOURSELF self-love!🥰

💕Foundations of Self-Love
💕Mental Health
💕Self-Acceptance
💕Boundaries
💕Self-Care
💕Inner Voice
💕Self-Discovery

RSAC provides essential services for survivors of sexual violence and their non-offending family members. RSAC does not discriminate based on military status or dishonorable discharge, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender or ability. Crisis services, counseling, medical and legal advocacy, prevention and professional education are all provided in our 3 county area in Illinois.
📞Rockford/Crisis 815-636-9811
📞Boone 815-544-6821
📞Ogle 815-732-0000
RockfordSexualAssaultCounseling.org

02/03/2026

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6Dlypry0SmOb8ce9rM9PEg

02/03/2026

Had fun with this! I currently have (rare) open times in my schedule if anyone needs a therapist during the day. Specialities include anxiety, depression, teens, adults, trauma, life transitions, ADHD, special needs families, pastoral counseling. I’m a licensed clinical professional counselor with 25 years’ experience helping people make positive life changes. Christine Novak, LCPC

02/03/2026

Good options for staying healthy!

Elevate your day with our pulse-pounding group fitness classes! 💪 Explore today's offerings, pick your favorite, and let's sweat it out together. Conquer the day, one workout at a time – join us now!

👉 Save your spot: https://tinyurl.com/RECgroupfit

Register in person or over the phone at The REC: (815) 562-7813
Free classes for members are noted, all other classes: $8/$10NR

02/03/2026

Fun community event!

Thanks, everyone, for making Cocoa for Our Cause a success! Your generosity in visiting and supporting Rochelle's Place for History is much appreciated!

And here's what's coming up...love & chocolate!!!

02/03/2026

Great opportunity!

The Village of Progress Foundation will offer two scholarships in 2026.

02/02/2026

This is a skill we offer at Changes Counseling, LLC!

It's International Play Therapy Week!

Play therapists utilize tools like art supplies, sand tables, and creative activities to help kids play out their thoughts and emotions. It's a safe space, where kids can just be themselves, while learning about problem solving, dealing with tough feelings, and handling life’s ups and downs.

Play therapists also help caregivers learn how to support the kids in their lives on their healing journey. While it’s great for kids, it’s a big help for families, too!

You can learn more about play therapy at linktr.ee/capacares

01/31/2026

We have openings in our Rochelle office. Call us at 815-501-2088 or find us at ChangesCounselingllc.com.

01/31/2026

More good parenting tips

We love a good resource from Child Mind Institute. 🧠

One tip that stands out below: Get comfortable with discomfort.

When supporting stressed children, “get comfortable with discomfort” means a shift in whose discomfort we prioritize and how we respond to it.

Here’s what it looks like in practice:

What it does NOT mean:

• It does not mean ignoring a child’s distress
• It does not mean being cold, punitive, or “toughening them up”
• It does not mean withholding support

What it DOES mean:

It means parents learn to tolerate their own discomfort so their child can build the skills to tolerate theirs.

In real-life parenting terms:

1. Sitting with big feelings instead of fixing them

• Your child is crying, angry, or anxious
• Your instinct is to distract, rescue, rationalize, or make it stop
• “Getting comfortable with discomfort” means staying calm, present, and empathetic without rushing to erase the feeling

“I can see this is really hard. I’m here with you.”

2. Allowing struggle that is developmentally appropriate

• Letting a child feel frustrated when a task is hard
• Letting them experience a consequence that is safe and natural
• Trusting that frustration, disappointment, and uncertainty are not harmful emotions

This is especially important for kids who experience anxiety or stress—they need repeated experiences of surviving discomfort to build confidence.

3. Not borrowing the child’s stress

Parents often absorb a child’s distress as their own:
• Child is anxious → parent becomes anxious
• Child melts down → parent feels urgency or panic

Getting comfortable with discomfort means:
• Regulating yourself first
• Modeling calm nervous system responses
• Showing: “Big feelings are manageable.”

4. Holding boundaries even when it feels awful

• Saying no even when your child cries
• Ending screen time even when it escalates emotions
• Sending them to school despite anxiety (with support)

The discomfort here is often the parent’s, not the child’s.

5. Teaching coping, not avoiding

Avoidance reduces distress short term but increases anxiety long term. So:
• Coach coping skills
• Encourage gradual exposure
• Normalize stress as part of growth

Why this matters for stressed children:

Children learn emotional regulation through experience, not explanation.

When adults:
• Stay present
• Stay regulated
• Don’t rush to “fix”

Kids internalize:
“I can feel uncomfortable and still be okay.”

A simple reframe:

Instead of- “How do I make this stop?”

Try - “How do I help my child move through this?”

01/30/2026

Great parenting strategies!

It all starts with the assumption that your kids have good intentions and want to do the right thing, says Becky Kennedy, a psychologist and host of the Good Inside parenting podcast.