Step By Step Counseling, LLC

03/13/2026

Social skills groups are on Monday evenings!

Middle school: 5pm
High school: 6:30pm

More info/how to reach us: https://stepbystepcounselingllc.com/services-offered/group-counseling/social-skills/

03/12/2026

03/11/2026

Jennie here. Over the past month I watched the six-episode Taylor Swift docuseries “Taylor Swift: The End of an Era.” The series came out in December and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Eras Tour and everything it took to pull off a tour of that size.

As I watched the series, I kept noticing something interesting. A lot of what shows up in the documentary connects directly to themes we talk about in therapy.

Things like:

• expressing emotions
• handling criticism
• discipline and persistence
• leaning on supportive people
• finding healthy ways to process stress

So I put together a short carousel sharing five mental health lessons I noticed while watching the series. Whether you’re a Swift fan or not, there are some surprisingly meaningful takeaways.

Take a swipe through and see which one stands out to you.

— Jennie

PS: Here's a blog post I wrote about it.
https://stepbystepcounselingllc.com/what-taylor-swift-can-teach-us-about-mental-health/

03/11/2026

Sound familiar?

If so, please let us assure you you're not alone. We see parents like you every day. It's tough out here, for adults and littles. If you see yourself on this list, please pause and consider this:

Maybe you're not failing. Maybe you need a bigger village.

Our thoughtful counselors love supporting children and families. We've got the skills and training to help make things happier at home. Let's talk.

03/10/2026

Is your teen struggling to connect with peers, navigate social situations, or find their confidence? 💙

Connection Crew is a counselor-led social skills group designed specifically for high schoolers (Grades 9–12) — a safe, small-group setting where teens learn real skills like handling peer pressure, expressing emotions, resolving conflict, and building friendships that actually last.

Our middle school group has been thriving, and we're so excited to open these same doors for high schoolers.

📅 Mondays at 6:30 PM
📍 2121 Collier Corporate Pkwy, Saint Charles, MO

Link in bio to learn more or reach out with any questions. We'd love to find the right fit for your teen. 🙌

https://stepbystepcounselingllc.com/contact-us/request-an-appointment/

03/09/2026

You've got "pick up new cleats" on your list. You've got "reply to that email." You've got everything on your list except the one thing you actually need.

Daytime therapy slots are open. You don't have to rearrange your whole life — just block one hour. We'll take it from there.

📍 Link in bio to book.

03/08/2026

Some exciting news from our team this week.

Kate just passed her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through the Postpartum Support International. Kate has been with Step By Step Counseling for over 10 years and serves on our leadership team, so this certification adds another layer of expertise to the care she already provides to families in our community.

That means she completed advanced training focused on the emotional and mental health needs that can show up during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

And let’s be honest...the perinatal season is beautiful… and also sometimes chaotic.

How Kate can support families:

• Moms navigating postpartum depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or emotional overwhelm
• Couples adjusting to the relationship shifts that come with sleep deprivation, new responsibilities, and a tiny human who does not care about your calendar
• Families learning how to support a parent who may be struggling emotionally after birth
• Pregnant parents who want support preparing emotionally for the transition into parenthood

Perinatal mental health concerns are common. Research estimates that about 1 in 5 mothers experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Which is exactly why having clinicians with specialized training matters.

What we love about Kate is that Kate brings a steady presence to families during one of the most vulnerable transitions in life. She understands that:

• You can deeply love your baby and still feel overwhelmed
• Relationships change when a new baby arrives
• Support, education, and compassion can make a huge difference during this season

We are incredibly proud of Kate. Not just for earning this certification, but for the steady care, compassion, and leadership she has brought to our team and to families in our community for more than a decade.

If you see her this week, feel free to give her a well deserved congratulations.

🎉 Congratulations Kate! 🎉

03/08/2026

One of the most common pieces of parenting advice we hear families receive is this: “Don’t worry. They’ll grow out of it.”

Sometimes that is true.

Kids grow out of mismatched socks.
Kids grow out of dinosaur pajamas.
Kids grow out of insisting ketchup belongs on absolutely everything.

But some struggles do not magically disappear with time.

Anxiety rarely shrinks when it is ignored.
Big emotional explosions do not usually calm down on their own.
Trauma responses do not simply pack their bags and move out.

In fact, many things grow when they are left alone.

• worries get bigger
• school avoidance increases
• family stress piles up
• kids start believing something is wrong with them

Parents are often told to “wait and see.”

Meanwhile the child is thinking: “I don’t know why my brain feels like this.”

Here is the encouraging part. Kids’ brains are incredibly adaptable. When children learn tools for regulation, communication, and coping, things can shift in powerful ways.

Support does not mean something is “wrong” with your child. It means your child is learning skills many adults wish they had learned earlier.

So if someone has told you: “They’ll grow out of it.”

It might be worth asking a different question: “What if they could grow through it instead?

And that is exactly what therapy is designed to help with. If your child has been struggling with anxiety, big emotions, or behavioral challenges, you do not have to wait and hope it gets better.

There are tools.
There is support.
And kids are capable of more change than most people realize.

Please reach out to us if we can support you with individual, family group counseling.

https://stepbystepcounselingllc.com/contact-us/request-an-appointment/

03/06/2026

We hear it all the time: "I want to go to therapy, but I just can't make it work."
Between work, kids, and everything life throws at you — finding the time feels impossible. And if you do find the time? The guilt of taking it can be just as heavy.
Here's a gentle reminder: taking care of your mental health IS part of the job. Of all your jobs.
A few ways to make daytime therapy actually work for you 👇
🕛 Use your lunch hour. A 50-minute session fits. You can still eat.
🤫 You don't owe anyone an explanation. "I have an appointment" is enough.
💛 Daytime slots are often more available — shorter waitlists, more flexibility.

You're not being selfish. You're being smart.
Daytime hours exist for a reason — and you're allowed to use them for you.
📍 We've got morning and afternoon availability. DM us or tap the link in bio to book.

03/04/2026

You finally decide your your family needs help.

That decision alone can take weeks… sometimes months.

You talk with your partner.
You talk with your family.
You work up the courage to make the call.

And then the office says:

“Great news. We can see them in July.”

It’s March.

At that moment most parents have the same thought:

Well… that escalated quickly.

Because when families are struggling, three months feels like three years.

Big feelings don’t pause.
School struggles don’t pause.
Family stress definitely does not pause.

This is one of the reasons we built Step By Step Counseling differently.

Instead of one therapist with a year-long waitlist, we built a system that includes:

• multiple therapist levels
• intern clinicians who are supervised and trained
• groups, online programs and intensive programs for kids who need more support

Why?

Because families shouldn’t have to wait months just to start getting help.

If your child is struggling right now, there may be options sooner than you think.

You can learn more or request an appointment here:
https://stepbystepcounselingllc.com/contact-us/request-an-appointment/

And if you’ve ever been told “we can get you in sometime before the next quarter,” you are not alone. We hear that story every week.

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