Living Hope Counseling Center Springfield

02/18/2026

☀️ Yes, you can still come to therapy when it’s beautiful outside. ☀️

When the sun is shining and the air feels good, the last thing you want is to sit inside. Here’s the truth: Taking care of your mental health is just as important on the good days as it is on the hard ones.

In fact, nice weather can actually enhance your therapy work. When your nervous system is more regulated, when you’ve had sunlight and fresh air, your brain is often more open, reflective, and receptive.

Here are a few ways to enjoy the weather and support your mental health:

•Take a 10-minute walk before your appointment
•Sit in the sun and practice grounding exercises
•Journal outside
•Roll the windows down and play a favorite song on the way
• Reach out to someone safe and suggest coffee or a walk
• Let the sunshine support your coping - not replace it

You don’t have to choose between enjoying the day and caring for your mind. You can do both.

At Living Hope, we believe healing fits into real life — sunshine included.

How are you enjoying the sunshine today? ☀️

02/17/2026

Our community has experienced several heartbreaking losses of young lives in our community. When deaths are sudden and unexpected, the grief can feel overwhelming — not only for families, but for friends, classmates, teachers, and the entire community.

If you or your child are struggling, please know that your reactions are valid. Shock, anger, confusion, fear, sadness — all of it makes sense.

Open lines of communication with your loved ones. Talk with your kids. Listen and reassure them that they are safe and supported. Create space for their questions, even if you don’t have all the answers.

If the weight feels too heavy to carry alone, reach out. Living Hope will be holding space for crisis appointments for anyone needing extra support during this time. We are here to support individuals, families, and students navigating grief and trauma. You do not have to walk through this alone 🧡

02/05/2026

Trauma doesn’t just live in the body. It can affect memory too.

Not remembering parts of childhood, feeling foggy, or having gaps in memory can be a normal response to overwhelming experiences. Your brain did what it needed to do to protect you.

Healing isn’t about forcing memories to return. It’s about creating safety, support, and compassion at your pace. At Living Hope, we offer trauma-informed care and a space where healing can begin🤍

01/31/2026

01/31/2026

01/26/2026

Due to the extreme cold, the amount of snow, and for the safety of our clients and staff, LHCC will not be open tomorrow, January 26. If you have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow, your clinician will be reaching out to you. Stay safe and warm. See you Tuesday ❄️

01/25/2026

At Living Hope, the safety of our clients and clinicians is our top priority. We are monitoring conditions through today and tonight and considering all options for tomorrow’s appointments.

If you have questions or would like to reschedule or switch to telehealth, please reach out to our staff. We will continue to update our clients as the weather progresses.

In the meantime, give yourself permission to slow down and practice a little extra self-care today. Thank you for your understanding and stay warm. 🤍

01/24/2026

We do not need to always depend on others to reassure or validate us. We can also do that for ourselves. This is how we start to build confidence and feel more secure in ourselves. This type of self-talk is also how we can quiet our inner self-critic.

When you choose to accept and validate yourself, your brain registers that you are safe and capable. Over time, this builds confidence because you’ve created a habit of treating yourself with respect and kindness. It’s like telling yourself every day, “I’m worthy, I’m capable,” and your brain listens, slowly reshaping your self-view. This simple act is powerful because it can help you face challenges with more resilience and trust in yourself.

Self-validation is a powerful tool to ease anxiety, doubt, and self-criticism. But it’s important to balance it with accountability to avoid excusing behavior that might not be in our best interest or aligned with our values. To monitor this balance, start by asking yourself two questions: Am I validating my experience while also considering how my actions or choices impact others around me?

Take care of your mind and body. Love, Nawal ♥️

01/23/2026

❄️ Through the cold, we’ll still be here for you. ❄️

Living Hope will be open and seeing clients as scheduled. If you’re coming in, please bundle up and travel safely. If you would rather stay home, telehealth is always an option.

We’re grateful to walk alongside you, even on the cold days.

01/21/2026

You can talk about anything in therapy. The big things. The small things. The things you’ve never said out loud.

At Living Hope, nothing is too messy, too small, or too much. If it matters to you, it matters here. You don’t have to carry it alone ❤️