Baker Professional Counseling, Inc.

08/27/2026

Lots of stories about Dolly Parton out there. Check this one out:

One story takes us back to the early 1990s, when Dolly was worried about the number of students dropping out of high school in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she had grown up. She wanted to find a way to help more of them stay in school, so she came up with a plan. Every seventh- and eighth-grade student would receive $500 if they graduated from high school.

There was one other part of the deal. Each student was paired with a buddy, and together they signed a pledge to do everything they could to make sure they both graduated. And for either of them to receive the $500, both had to make it to graduation.

The dropout rate for those classes fell from 35 percent to 6 percent.

The money was waiting at the end. But Dolly seemed to understand something about all the years in between. It can be easier to keep going when someone else is going with you.

Find your support!

08/21/2026

Loving the International Su***de Prevention Summit!
A couple things to consider from CURRENT research:
- For teens, the biggest protective factors against su***de are social connection (friends) and participation in hobbies and activities.
- For younger children, su***de seems to be related to a desire for control, empathy, acceptance, recognition, and attention from important people in their lives.

Access 20 hours of learning by leading international su***de prevention experts – for free or just $10. Hosted by Mental Health Academy.

08/20/2026

The story of Monty Roberts' work with horses highlights the primitive and universal role of the fight or flight reflex among mammals. More importantly, he shows what can be accomplished when we respect and understand that it is natural to seek safety...and we provide safety...allowing us to "join up".
Check out the article below...and I recommend watching the video embedded in the article.

08/11/2026

Kailee is a pro at breathwork. Check it out!
Friday the 14th via Zoom
I believe it is FREE

Registration Click the orange “Register” button to register for the live online session. If no button exists, the session has passed. You will receive an email with zoom instructions on how to join the meeting. If there is an issue with this session, please email Helen at [email protected].

07/29/2026

Halfway through Camp Courage week.

Mercer County's Camp Courage helps kids process grief in Mercer, Pa.

07/09/2026

"We describe people as resistant, difficult, defensive, unmotivated, or avoidant. Those labels describe what we see. They tell us much less about what the behavior is accomplishing for the person. It may be protecting against disappointment, preserving a sense of autonomy, creating distance when emotions feel overwhelming, or offering relief from fear, uncertainty, shame, or grief, even if only for a moment."

Neil is back. Those three words ripple through Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania. The people who live there know exactly what’s coming. Wildlife officers make a plan. Barriers are hauled into place.…

06/30/2026

Children and teens are quick to feel and react and slow to think. Have patience!

06/25/2026

Quokkas are adorable! And this is a good (and short/fast) read that focuses on why information is not enough.

A few weeks ago, while my family and I were traveling through Australia, someone told us a story about the quokkas on Rottnest Island. If you’ve never seen a quokka, they’re small marsu…

06/04/2026

Happy Pride Month from Baker Professional Counseling!
Please see the resources in the article from our friends at BRHF:

Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth, Families, and Allies June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month and the Buhl Regional Health Foundation recognizes and supports resources that

05/13/2026

The Mercer County BHC will be bringing Tall Cop to our town next week for the Mercer County Opioid Symposium. Here is an example of the type of information he provides at tallcopsaysstop.com

By Jermaine Galloway March 2026 One of the most valuable things I do at Tall Cop is conduct community scans across the country. These scans allow me to see what is showing up on store shelves, what clerks are selling, and what products are gaining traction before they become widespread. Since the ne...