Gap Relief

11/09/2025

It’s National Adoption Month!
Ever wonder how to talk about adoption with sensitivity and understanding?
Amy offers wisdom from her own experience as an adoptive parent and as a counselor.
👉 Tune in for insight that helps build empathy and connection: https://loom.ly/P04qoVY

How do we talk with friends and family who have adopted without seeming insensitive? Amy gives us some perspective via her firsthand experiences with adoption and her background in the counseling sphere. For more information on connecting with the Gap Relief team about resources we provide, conta

10/20/2025

One of our counselors decided to bring the fun with a Home Alone reenactment — and we just couldn't keep it to ourselves! 😂

At Gap Relief, we believe that fun isn’t just a nice extra — it’s a marker of hope.
Laughter, play, and connection open the door to healing and resiliency in the most beautiful, sustainable ways.

Here’s to the joy, humor, and light we get to share together — with our team, our partners, and our community. 💛

10/05/2025

To every teacher reading this: What you do matters more than you'll ever know. 💙

Happy World Teacher Day to the educators who show up every single day. You're not just teaching curriculum - you're teaching life. How to regulate emotions & nervous systems. How to build healthy relationships. How to navigate big feelings in an overwhelming world.

That's not in the job description, but you do it anyway. Because you see the whole child. Because you know learning can't happen until a child feels safe.

The demands on teachers have never been greater. The emotional toll is real. But so is your impact - you're shaping futures and creating safe spaces some students can't find anywhere else.

THANK YOU. For making a difference. For being trauma-informed. For reaching students right where they are.

09/30/2025

Listen. It happens.

Our pulse quickens, our back tightens, the stress is mounting and we’re on the verge of losing our cool. And then someone suggests we “just breathe” and the rage unleashes.

Well turns out - there’s a lot of truth to the well-meaning suggestion. Paying attention to our breath is one of the quickest ways to calm our nervous system. Here’s why. It activates your parasympathetic nervous system - your body’s natural calming response. Everyone from Navy SEALS to students in the classroom can benefit using this technique.

* Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds
* Hold for 4 seconds
* Exhale through your mouth for 4 seconds
* Hold empty for 4 seconds.
* Repeat.

The equal rhythm signals safety to your brain, slowing your heart rate and reducing cortisol. It gives your mind something to focus on while your body naturally calms down.

And the best part? You can do it anywhere! In traffic, before a meeting, or when anxiety spikes.

Save this for when you need it and feel free to share with others that may benefit from this simple, but powerful exercise.

09/25/2025

To all our community servants - teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and helpers of all kinds - this one's for you. 💪🏼

The challenges you face daily aren't roadblocks to your calling; they're redirecting you toward deeper resilience, stronger purpose, and renewed hope. At Gap Relief, we believe in helping the helpers navigate these moments of redirection with trauma-informed support and care.

You're not meant to walk this path alone. We've got your back.

09/12/2025

Our hearts are heavy this week. Between acts of violence in our country, tragic losses, and today marking the anniversary of 9/11, many of us are carrying a lot right now.

In moments like these, when trauma and grief seem overwhelming, we are reminded of how much we need each other. To those who are hurting, wrestling with these difficult events, and struggling to process so much pain - you are not alone.

No matter our differences, no matter our backgrounds or beliefs, we are bound together by our shared humanity. In times of darkness, we must turn to one another for comfort, strength, and hope.

Gap Relief is here. Our community is here. We are in this together.

09/04/2025

✨ When passionate people follow their calling, amazing things happen! ✨

We're incredibly proud to announce that Elizabeth Brown, a key developer of our TIERS program, has opened the Resilience and Learning Center - a nonprofit creating safe, healing-centered learning spaces for students.

Elizabeth's work at Gap Relief touched countless lives, and now she's expanding that impact through small group learning, neurofeedback therapy, and strength-based education at Restoration Creek Farm.

This is what community looks like - supporting each other's growth and celebrating when team members spread their wings to serve others in new ways.

Congratulations, Elizabeth! Our community is stronger because of leaders like you. 💪🏼

To learn more about the Resilience and Learning Center, please see the comments section for links!

09/02/2025

Trauma isn't just stored in our minds - it may *live* in our bodies. This truth is expounded on in Dr. Bessel van der Kolk's groundbreaking work in "The Body Keeps the Score."

Here's what happens:
When we experience trauma, our nervous system can get "stuck" in survival mode. Our bodies may hold tension, experience chronic pain, struggle with sleep, or feel constantly on edge - even when we're safe.

This is why traditional talk therapy alone may not always be enough. We may need approaches that speak to the body.

At Gap Relief, we understand the value in whole body care through evidence-based practices such as:
✨ Breathwork that helps regulate your nervous system
✨ Body-based therapies that release stored tension
✨ Neurofeedback that retrains your brain's stress responses

Your healing journey is unique. We're here to help you find the approaches that resonate with your body and your story.

📞 Ready to explore? Contact us to learn more about our breath and body work or neurofeedback options. Your nervous system has been working hard to protect you - let's help it learn to rest.

08/26/2025

Our Northwest Arkansas community has experienced back-to-back trauma that has shaken our collective sense of safety - from the devastating murders at Devil’s Den involving someone connected to our local schools, to the recent active shooter scare that, while not a real threat, still deeply impacted us all.

Sometimes acknowledgment itself brings relief. We want to take a moment to recognize that these events DID have impact. It’s okay to feel unsettled. It’s normal to question our safety.
Let’s collectively take a breath. What we experienced was real, and our feelings about it are valid.

At GapRelief, we’re committed to doing our part in acknowledging trauma’s impact on our community and supporting each other as we build resilience and work toward feeling safe again. We’re in this together. 💙

08/25/2025

We're excited to introduce our newest Licensed Professional Counselor, Sam Deck!

Sam brings his Master's in Counseling from John Brown University and a deeply compassionate, client-centered approach to therapy. He specializes in multiple therapeutic approaches including CBT, EFT, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy, and has experience working with a wide range of concerns from ADHD and anxiety to trauma and depression. Beyond his clinical work with children, adolescents, and adults, Sam has also served in a directoral role guiding new counselors at JBU's Community Counseling Clinic. Sam is passionate about walking alongside clients with compassion and empathy, helping them process their past while creating new, empowering narratives for their future.

We're thrilled to have Sam's expertise and heart for healing as part of our team. Welcome, Sam!

08/18/2025

We're thrilled to introduce a new member to the Gap Relief team, Abby Spencer!

Abby brings her Master's in Counseling from John Brown University and a deep passion for supporting women in their 20s and 30s as they navigate life's challenges. She specializes in helping clients work through anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and relational difficulties in a warm, grounded therapeutic space. Drawing from approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Abby helps clients reconnect with their inner wisdom and build compassion for all parts of themselves. Above all, she's committed to creating a safe space where clients feel seen, accepted, and empowered to be their authentic selves.

We can't wait for our community to experience Abby's thoughtful, insight-oriented approach to healing and growth. Welcome to the team, Abby!

08/12/2025

We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Spero, who lost his life in an off-duty accident on August 7th.

We honor his decade of selfless service to the Springdale and Tontitown communities. His dedication to protecting and caring for others represents the very spirit of service that we strive to support.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Spero family, the Springdale Fire Department, the Tontitown Fire Department, and all who knew and loved Tony during this heartbreaking time.

We stand in support of our first responder community as they grieve the loss of one of their own. Tony's commitment to helping others will continue to inspire us all.

Rest in peace, Tony. Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

The Springdale Fire Department is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Spero in an off-duty ATV accident on Thursday, August 7th, 2025.

Tony was a dedicated member of our department, proudly serving the City of Springdale since 2015. He was a highly skilled firefighter and paramedic, a beloved friend, and a valued colleague. His unwavering commitment to public service and warm, kind spirit will be deeply missed. Tony was also a member of the Tontitown Fire Department, demonstrating his passion for serving the Northwest Arkansas community.

Our hearts go out to the Spero family and his friends during this difficult time, and we offer our heartfelt condolences.