Sandpiper Counseling Services, LLC.

06/18/2026

What Is Urge Surfing? 🌊

Urge surfing is a simple mindfulness technique that helps you ride out cravings, impulses, or difficult emotions without acting on them. Instead of fighting the urge or giving in to it, you notice it with curiosity and allow it to rise, peak, and pass—just like a wave in the ocean.

When an urge appears:
✅ Pause and notice what you're feeling.
✅ Focus on your breathing.
✅ Observe the urge without judging it.
✅ Remind yourself that urges are temporary and will pass.

The more you practice urge surfing, the more confidence you can build in your ability to respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically.

06/17/2026

Try it!

06/14/2026

Counseling with NO WAITLIST!

Gettysburg community — therapy that meets you where you are. Sandpiper Counseling Services, LLC is welcoming new telehealth clients across Pennsylvania.

Over 20 years of experience. Specialized care for ADHD, autism spectrum, and first responders, plus support for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and life's changing tides.

Secure video sessions from the comfort of your own home, wherever you are in PA. Insurance accepted (Aetna, Capital Blue Cross, Highmark-Superbills provided for out-of-network insurance), and private pay welcome.

Why keep struggling on your own when help is available this week? Schedule your free 15-minute consultation from our website to get started.

Jackie Zielewicz, LCSW
www.sandpipercounselingservices.com | 717.229.7037

06/13/2026

Su***de is one of the most difficult losses to understand because it challenges one of our strongest human instincts—the instinct to survive.

When someone dies by su***de, grief is often accompanied by layers of emotions that can feel overwhelming. There may be unanswered questions, feelings of guilt, anger, confusion, and the painful tendency to replay conversations or moments, wondering if something different could have changed the outcome.

It is natural to search for answers when someone you love is gone. We want to make sense of the loss. We want to understand the pain they were carrying. We want to know if there was something we missed.

The reality is that many individuals who die by su***de are struggling with profound emotional pain that is not always visible to those around them. Even the people closest to them may not fully see or understand the depth of their suffering.

For those left behind, the grief can feel especially complicated. Along with the loss itself, there may be a heavy burden of "what ifs" and unanswered questions. While these feelings are common, they can also make the healing process more difficult.

At Sandpiper, we recognize that grief after su***de is unique and deeply personal. If you have lost someone to su***de, please know that you do not have to carry your pain, questions, or grief alone. Support is available, and healing is possible, even when the answers are not.

You are not alone.

06/05/2026

📢

As far back as the civil war, there’s been documented symptoms related to trauma in our military. The terms we use have certainly changed over the yrs. Soldiers Heart, Shell Shocked, Battle Fatigue, PTSD & now PTS.
PTSD is still the official diagnostic term, however there is a movement within the community to TheD
PTS is an injury, it’s not a disorder. The goal behind the PTSD name change is to encourage , &
to feel more comfortable opening up about their experiences and seek help sooner.
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PeerSupport SurviveFirst
TraumaBehindTheBadge BlueHELP VeteranSu***dePrevention CopLine HealthyHireHealthyRetire 1stResponderConferences
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Corrections FireFighterSu***dePrevention FirstResponders Dispatchers 911For911

06/05/2026

June is Men’s Mental Health Month! 🤍 🧠

In 2025, conversations with boys and men most often centered around anxiety and stress. Many also shared experiences of loneliness, bullying, and substance use.

These challenges remind us how important it is to talk openly, check in with each other, and create space where emotions don’t have to be hidden or carried alone.

Visit the link crisistextline.org/boysandmen to learn more and find resources.

05/27/2026

For first responders, self-regulation is not just about relaxation; it is about learning how to bring the nervous system back down after repeated exposure to stress, chaos, adrenaline, and trauma.

Many first responders spend years functioning in “go mode.” Hypervigilance, tension, emotional suppression, rapid decision-making, and constant activation can become so normal that slowing down starts to feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes the body carries stress long after the call is over.

Simple regulation skills like these can help interrupt that cycle and signal safety back to the nervous system:
• lowering tension in the shoulders and jaw
• slowing the breath
• grounding in the present environment
• reconnecting with physical sensations
• naming emotions instead of burying them

These are not cures for trauma, burnout, or operational stress injuries. But they can become important tools that help responders reset, regulate, and regain awareness in difficult moments.

One thing I often remind people is that the nervous system does not always know the difference between “currently unsafe” and “used to being on alert.” Learning regulation skills can help teach the body that not every moment requires survival mode.

Sometimes the first step in healing is simply allowing yourself to slow down for a moment.

05/22/2026

Now Welcoming New Clients- Free 15-Minute Consultation.

Life has a way of shifting beneath us—but you don’t have to navigate the changing tides alone. 🌊

At Sandpiper Counseling Services, you’ll find compassionate, evidence-based therapy from a licensed clinician with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field.

We specialize in:

✔️ ADHD (Certified ADHD Clinical Services Professional)
✔️ Autism Spectrum Disorder (Certified Clinical Specialist)
✔️ First responders & medical professionals (Certified First Responder Counselor)
✔️ Anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout & life transitions

Convenient telehealth appointments for anyone located in Pennsylvania—therapy that fits your life, from the comfort of home.

📅 Now accepting new clients, with availability as soon as next week.

💬 Start with a FREE 15-minute consultation—no pressure, just a chance to see if we’re the right fit.

Take the first step toward calmer seas. 🐦

👉 Book your free consultation: www.sandpipercounselingservices.com
📞 717.229.7037