Step By Step Counseling, LLC

11/11/2025

The team that ventures into the woods together, stays together!

Yesterday several of our therapists gathered at Firefly Acres for our first annual staff retreat. The theme for the day was "Tending the Fire", which we did both literally and figuratively! Self-care practices that prevent burnout are so vital to longevity in this field and we're so thankful to have a team that helps care for one another. It was a day of laughter, self-reflection, and much needed connection. Can't wait to do it again!

11/07/2025

NO, NO!! DON'T LEAVE YET!! I promise we're not trying to rush through this beautiful autumn that's upon us.

We just wanted to get your attention and encourage you to think of November as your emotional prep month.

Just like you pull out sweaters and cozy blankets, this is the time to gather what your winter self will need: light, connection, routines, and rest.

Think of it as tending your inner hearth-adding logs of warmth and steadiness before that first snow falls.

10/29/2025

Say hello to Patrick! We love his calm energy and genuine care for serving the community through quality mental health care. Link in bio to schedule.

10/26/2025

Trivia Night with Heart (and Feelings!).

A huge shoutout to the Love Will Foundation for a fun Halloween trivia night supporting local counseling and mental health scholarships.

Our Step By Step Counseling team came dressed as the Inside Out crew — because we live and breathe emotions every day!
Riley, Joy, Anger, Disgust, Anxiety and Fear all made an appearance ❤️

10/22/2025

✨ Taking Care of Yourself with ADHD ✨

Self-care isn’t just bubble baths and candles—it’s the daily systems and habits that help your brain breathe easier. For adults with ADHD, self-care often means:

Body basics first 🥗💧💤 → Eat, hydrate, sleep. Your brain runs on fuel.

Externalize everything 📝 → Sticky notes, alarms, checklists—let tools do the remembering so you don’t have to.

Break it down 🧩 → Big tasks feel less like a mountain when you turn them into pebbles.

Movement counts 🚶🏽‍♀️💃🏋️ → Exercise isn’t just for fitness—it’s medicine for focus.

Rest without guilt 😌 → Downtime isn’t laziness; it’s recovery time for your brain.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s routine. Build a toolkit that fits your brain, and treat consistency as progress—not perfection.

10/21/2025

One small act can prevent a tragedy. Turn in your unused prescriptions this Saturday! Every pill safely disposed of is one less chance for misuse or accidental poisoning. Unused or expired medications might seem harmless sitting in a cabinet, but they can pose real risks for children, teens, and pets. Participating in the Drug Take Back Program keeps dangerous substances out of the wrong hands and away from our environment.

Please stop by the St. Charles Police Department this Saturday with any medications and help build a safer, healthier community. By turning in unused prescriptions, you’re helping protect loved ones and supporting mental health safety in our community.

Please...take a few minutes this Saturday to drop off old medications. Together, we can reduce risks and promote healing...one bottle at a time.

The St. Charles Police Department will participate in the DEA's 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, 10/25/25 10am-2pm. This initiative provides community members with a safe and secure method to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.

Accepted Items: • Prescription medications (pills, tablets, capsules) • Controlled substances prescribed by licensed physicians

Items NOT Accepted: • Syringes and sharps • Liquid medications • Inhalers • Over-the-counter medications • Vitamins and supplements

10/17/2025

🍝 Penne for Your Thoughts? 🍝

Today is National Pasta Day, and while we’re celebrating all things carb-loaded and comforting, we’re also reminded of something important: sometimes sharing what’s on your mind can be just as nourishing as a warm bowl of pasta.

Whether you’re feeling tangled up like spaghetti or stretched thin like angel hair, talking it through can help. Our counselors are here to listen—no judgment, just support.

Just imagine the pastabilities. We’re ready when you are. 💛

10/15/2025

🌟 Counselor Spotlight!🌟

Meet Tammie! She brings a fresh perspective, deep empathy, and a genuine passion for supporting clients as they navigate life’s challenges. She's currently completing her counseling degree with Capella University and we’re lucky to have her curiosity, insight, and heart on our team. 💬💡

Join us in welcoming Tammie to the practice — we can’t wait for you to meet her! 💫

🔗 in bio to schedule an appointment.

10/14/2025

📣Our Spark IOP is open for new members! No wait list! 📣

Some kids need more than just one therapy session a week — they need consistent, structured, and creative support to get back on track emotionally and behaviorally. That’s where SPARK comes in.

💡 SPARK (Intensive Outpatient Program) is designed for elementary-aged kids who are struggling with big emotions, tough behaviors, or overwhelming stress. It’s a short-term, high-support program that helps kids build coping skills, emotional regulation, and confidence — all while involving caregivers every step of the way.

🧠 Ideal for kids who experience:

Emotional outbursts or mood swings

Behavior challenges at home or school

Anxiety, depression, or trauma-related symptoms

SPARK helps kids find their footing again — and helps families breathe a little easier. 💛

🌐 Learn more: stepbystepcounselingllc.com/special-programs/spark

Because sometimes a little extra support can ignite a big spark of change. 🔆

10/10/2025

🌍💚 World Mental Health Day 💚🌍

Today is a reminder that mental health is health. Just like we care for our bodies, our minds deserve compassion, rest, and support.

This year’s theme is about breaking down barriers—because no one should face stigma when seeking help. Whether it’s therapy, medication, community, or self-care practices, everyone deserves access to the resources that help them thrive.

✨ Let’s check in on ourselves.
✨ Let’s check in on each other.
✨ Let’s keep pushing for a world where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.

You are not alone. 💚

10/10/2025

Why So Many Kids Feel “Disconnected” and How We Help Rebuild Connection

Our elementary and middle school aged kids, Generation Alpha is growing up in a world where screens talk louder than people.

They text instead of talk.
They ghost instead of repair.
They scroll instead of sit in discomfort.
It’s not that they don’t want connection — their brains simply aren’t getting the same daily practice kids once did in reading facial cues, handling awkward moments, or staying present through boredom, frustration, or conflict.

That’s where our Social Skills Groups come in.

We help kids learn how to:

* Connect, not cancel. Practice staying in friendships even when things feel hard or uncomfortable.

* Repair, not retreat. Build language for apologies, problem-solving, and emotional honesty.

* Read the room. Strengthen body language, tone awareness, and empathy, the building blocks of social intelligence.

* Handle big feelings in small moments. Learn regulation tools so the nervous system can stay grounded during challenges.

* Build real confidence. Through play, collaboration, and shared laughter, the kind that rewires the social brain for connection.

Our groups are designed for youth who are bright, funny, and creative, but who sometimes struggle to navigate social gray areas, make or keep friends, or recover after conflict.

Whether your child is shy, easily frustrated, anxious, or tends to “check out” when things feel tough, we help them feel seen, supported, and equipped for the real world.

We have openings for our lower elementary group, upper elementary group and middle & high school social skills groups. Contact our office to register!

Office@StepByStepCounselingLLC.com

10/09/2025

🛑 October is Anti-Bullying Month 🛑

Bullying isn’t just “kids being kids.” It leaves scars—seen and unseen. This month, let’s stand together to create communities where everyone feels safe, valued, and heard.

💡 What you can do:

Speak Up: Silence lets bullying thrive.

Be Kind: Small acts can change someone’s day.

Support Others: Listen, believe, and encourage those being targeted.

Educate Yourself: Understanding the impact of bullying makes prevention possible.

Remember: Empathy > Ignorance, Inclusion > Exclusion, Action > Silence.

Let’s turn awareness into action—because everyone deserves to feel safe. 💛