Lola Psychiatry and Wellness

08/05/2026

Support starts by showing up. 💚

The Albia High School student council is hosting their Light the Night Su***de Prevention Walk on Monday, August 31. 💙

If you'd like an event t-shirt, you must pre-register. Purchasing a t-shirt automatically registers you for the walk, so there is no separate registration required.

Your $25 registration includes the t-shirt, a glow stick, and a $10 donation to the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention.

Pre-register today at: https://www.geauxgraphix22.com/shop/p/light-the-night-suicide-awareness

08/05/2026

Maybe you've noticed yourself getting emotional over the little things lately...

Buying towels for a dorm room. Looking at apartment furniture.
Picking out bedding. Filling out paperwork. Little tiny backpacks, and lunch boxes.

Listening as they talk about everything they're excited for.

You smile. You help.
You definitely cheer them on.

But then you find yourself crying when they are out of the room or after you get off the phone with them and you are driving home.

Everyone talks about the excitement of this season.

And it IS exciting.

But we don't really talk about the quiet ache that can come with watching someone you love step into the next chapter of their life.

Maybe they're leaving for college, or trade school. Perhaps the military. Shoot, maybe even marriage. Or even something like just moving out on their own, their first apartment...even if it is just down the road, its still moving out.

Or maybe it is your first child going to preschool or kindergarten, preparing for their first bus ride or day away from home, packing lunch boxes or helping them learn to tie their shoes.

No matter the change its a change and something is changing.

The house.
The routines.
Your role.

You can be incredibly proud of them...
and still find yourself grieving the season that's coming to an end.

Those feelings don't compete with one another.
They can exist together.

Grief doesn't have to come from something terrible that happened, it can come from a beautiful change.

If this season feels a little heavier than you expected, you're not alone.

🖤 Be gentle with yourself.

The love that made this goodbye so hard is the very same love that helped them become who they are today.

— Lola Psychiatry & Wellness
A steady place.

08/03/2026

Sometimes I wish more people knew what a mental health appointment is really like.

It isn't about someone telling you what's wrong with you.

More often than not...

It's about finally finding a place where you don't have to pretend you're okay.

A place where you don't need the right words.

Where it's okay to say,
"I don't even know how to explain it... I just know something doesn't feel right."

You don't have to prove you're struggling.

You don't have to wait until you're in crisis.

You simply deserve a place where you'll be met with compassion, not judgment.

Because healing doesn't usually begin when we have all the answers.

It often begins when we finally feel safe enough to tell our story.

🖤 Lola Psychiatry & Wellness
A steady place.

07/31/2026

The Busy Brain

Often it it's not that the child isn't paying attention....It's that they are trying to pay attention to EVERYTHING!

A teacher's voice, a pencil being tapped, buzzing lights, kids playing outside, the thought they just had, hunger, tired, friends......the list is endless.

For a child with ADHD, the challenge isn't a lack of effort. It's that their brain has a harder time deciding which information is the most important at that moment.

It's like trying to focus on one conversation when there are ten others going on around you.

IT IS EXHAUSTING!

Understanding if this is how your child's brain works doesn't change who they are-it just helps us find strategies that allow their own strengths to come through, to shine.

Maybe we shouldn't ask "why wont they focus?" Instead ask "What is their brain trying to manage?"

Every child deserves to be understood before they are judged.

In-person, telehealth appointments available.

07/30/2026

Could it be ADHD... or are they just being a kid?

This is a question I hear a lot.

The truth is, every child gets distracted, every child forgets or loses things, every child has big emotions sometimes.

ADHD isn't usually about one behavior, it's about consistent patterns that interfere with daily lilfe.

You may want to consider an evaluation if your child consistently:

Struggles to stay focused in comparison to other children their age.
Frequently loses items.
Takes much longer than expected to complete tasks/school work.
Has difficulty following multi-step directions.
Acts before thinking, even when they know the rules.
Becomes easily overwhelmed daily with tasks/school.

These do not immediately mean your child has ADHD.

There are other reasons children struggle with attention, learning, emotions, or behavior.

An evaluation helps to look at the whole picture, not just the symptoms.

As the school year approaches, now may be a great time to seek answers.

Sometimes understanding "why" something is happening is the first step toward success.

ADHD evaluations available for children, teens, adults.
In-person and telehealth appointments available.

Lola Psychiatry & Wellness
A steady place

07/29/2026

The heat kept many of us inside for the last few days.

Tonight, the weather finally offered a little relief.

If you have a few minutes, step outside.

Watch the sunset.
Take a deep breath.

Your mind deserves a moment to reset, too.

Sometimes healing doesn’t look like doing more.

Sometimes it looks like simply being still.

07/28/2026

As summer winds down, many parents are beginning to think about backpacks, school supplies, and schedules.

But if you've also been wondering...

💭 "Why is homework always such a battle?"
💭 "Why can't they stay focused like everyone else?"
💭 "Are they just distracted...or could it be ADHD?"

Now is an excellent time to seek answers.

An ADHD evaluation isn't about putting a label on your child. It's about understanding how their brain works so we can build strategies that help them succeed.

Starting the school year with a clearer understanding can reduce frustration for your child, your family, and even their teachers.

If you've been considering an evaluation, you don't have to wait until report cards, failing grades, or repeated calls from school.

Sometimes the best time to ask questions is before the challenges begin.

📍 Comprehensive ADHD evaluations for children, teens, and adults.
📍 Medication management when appropriate.
📍 In-person and telehealth appointments available.

Let's help make this school year a little less stressful and a lot more successful.

07/23/2026

A huge thank you to Thomas Electric.

Yesterday, the HVAC team was here to install the new AC unit at Lola Psychiatry, but they couldn't access the electrical wiring needed to complete the installation. With opening day quickly approaching, I made one phone call—to Thomas Electric.

He dropped what he was doing, came over, and got everything taken care of so the installation could move forward.

It's easy to overlook the people working behind the scenes, but without his willingness to help, we'd likely still be waiting to open our doors.

Thank you for your professionalism, your quick response, and your willingness to help our small business. Your kindness and support are truly appreciated, and I won't forget it.

If you're looking for an electrician, I can wholeheartedly recommend Thomas Electric.

Send a message to learn more

07/22/2026

It's official...

Lola Psychiatry & Wellness is now open for in-person appointments. 🖤

The remodel isn't completely finished yet.

There are still projects to tackle, contractors to schedule, and little details that will continue to come together over the next few months.

But it's time to open those doors and start doing what I have wanted to do for the last 20 years.

I finally decided I didn't need to complete every last project before I could begin helping people.

The spaces that matter most are ready to do their job.

This practice has never been about creating the fanciest office. It's about creating a place where you feel safe, heard, and supported.

The walls may continue to change.

The mission won't.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged this dream from the very beginning. I can't wait to welcome you through the door.

🖤 A steady place.

📍 Albia, Iowa
💻 Telehealth available throughout Iowa
📞 Now accepting new patients for in-person and telehealth appointments.