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Monday 8am - 6pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8am - 6pm

Better Living Counseling Center

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United States
Lexington, KY
Better Living Counseling Center

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Better Living Counseling Center is a unique psychology and therapy center that provides the best possible care for its clients.

11/09/2026

🍂 It's been a week since we turned our clocks back, and we're settling into those shorter days and earlier sunsets. How is your mental health adjusting? 🌅

Even though the time change happened a week ago, you may still be noticing its effects. Less daylight can affect our circadian rhythm (our body's internal clock), sleep patterns, energy levels, and mood. For some people, the transition into darker months can contribute to increased sadness, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

So, as we settle into the darker months, here are a few ways to prioritize your mental health:

☀️ Get some natural sunlight. Try taking a walk, sitting outside, or opening the blinds during daylight hours.

🚶 Keep moving. Physical activity, even a short walk, can help improve mood and reduce stress.

🛌 Maintain a routine. Consistent sleep and wake times can help regulate your body's internal clock.

💛 Stay connected. Make plans with friends, spend time with loved ones, and resist the urge to isolate.

🌿 Make time for activities you enjoy. Find small things to look forward to, even on the darker days.

🧠 Give yourself some grace. It's okay if your energy or motivation looks a little different during this time of year. Pay attention to what your mind and body need.

And remember, if changes in your mood, energy, or motivation begin interfering with your everyday life, you don't have to navigate them alone. Seeking support from a mental health professional can make a difference.

Let's talk! 💬

How do YOU manage your mental health when the days get shorter?

Do you notice changes in your mood or energy when daylight decreases?

Are you someone who enjoys the cozy, slower pace of fall and winter, or do you struggle with the shorter days?

What is one thing you intentionally do to take care of your mental health during the darker months?

Share your tips in the comments! You never know who might need to hear them. ❤️

11/03/2026

🇺🇸 Early birds exercising their right to vote! 🗳️

Our Better Living Counseling Center providers showed up this morning to make their voices heard, with some even waiting in line before the sun came up! ☀️

Have you voted yet? Every voice matters, so make your plan to get out and vote! ❤️

11/02/2026

🌿 NEW CLIENTS WELCOME! Dr. Mollie Staggs, DSW, LCSW 🌿

Better Living Counseling Center is excited to announce that Dr. Mollie Staggs will be accepting new clients beginning the week of November 16th! She offers both in-person and telehealth appointments for adolescents and adults ages 13 and older.

Dr. Staggs is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Kentucky in 2022. Her doctoral research focused on healthcare equity for transgender individuals, reflecting her commitment to creating inclusive, affirming, and compassionate spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and understood.

💚 Areas of focus include:

Complex PTSD and trauma

Anxiety and depression

Grief and loss

Relationship challenges

Life transitions

Emotional awareness and personal growth

Dr. Staggs takes a trauma-informed, collaborative approach to therapy and has training in EMDR with an attachment-focused lens. She also incorporates evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), The Gottman Method, Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and somatic-based interventions.

Her goal is to help clients develop practical coping skills, better understand their experiences and patterns, and move toward greater resilience, connection, and inner peace.

Insurance Accepted:

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All Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) except WellCare

📅 Accepting new clients beginning the week of November 16th!

📍 In-person and telehealth appointments available.

Interested in getting started? Call 859-233-8496, ext. 0 to speak with Practice Manager Anika Gooch about scheduling and insurance.

At Better Living Counseling Center, we believe everyone deserves a space where they can feel heard, supported, and empowered to grow. We would love to help you take that next step. 💚

10/30/2026

🎃 Navigating Halloween with an Eating Disorder 🧡

Halloween can be a fun and exciting time of year, but for individuals struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, it can also bring unexpected challenges. Between candy, treats, food-centered gatherings, and conversations about calories, weight, and appearance, this holiday can feel overwhelming.

At Better Living Counseling Center, we want to remind you that you deserve to enjoy Halloween without guilt, shame, or fear surrounding food.

A few gentle reminders as you navigate the holiday:

🍬 Give yourself permission to enjoy treats. Food does not have to be earned, and enjoying candy does not mean you have done anything wrong.

🧡 Challenge the food rules. Try to recognize thoughts that label foods as "good" or "bad." Food is not a measure of your worth or success.

👻 Set boundaries around diet talk. You are allowed to step away from conversations about calories, weight, dieting, or how much someone has eaten.

🎃 Stay connected to your support system. Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, therapist, or support person if the holiday feels particularly difficult.

💜 Focus on the experience, not the food. Enjoy dressing up, spending time with loved ones, watching scary movies, decorating pumpkins, and making memories.

Remember, recovery doesn't mean you never experience difficult thoughts or feelings. It means learning how to navigate them without allowing them to dictate your choices.

This Halloween, give yourself permission to participate, enjoy, and take up space. You deserve more than a life dictated by food, weight, or body image.

You are worthy of joy, at every stage of recovery. 🧡

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, support is available. You do not have to navigate recovery alone.

10/26/2026

💜 THERAPIST SPOTLIGHT: GETTING TO KNOW ANIKA GOOCH, LCSW 💜

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on someone who wears many hats at Better Living Counseling Center: Anika Gooch, LCSW — our Owner, Practice Manager, and Therapist! 🌿

But before Anika was a therapist, she was a first-generation Danish immigrant growing up in rural Kentucky, where access to mental health care was limited. Those early experiences helped shape the person and professional she is today. Seeing how few resources were available to people in her own community sparked a desire to better understand mental health and help others access the support they deserve.

🎓 A Journey Into Mental Health

Anika’s path began at Centre College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then continued her education at the University of Louisville, earning her Master of Science in Social Work.

What began with a desire to understand mental health and improve access to care grew into a career centered on helping people feel understood, supported, and less alone in their experiences.

💜 What Matters to Anika as a Therapist

Over the years, Anika has developed a particular passion for working with survivors of trauma. She has also found a special interest in treating eating disorders and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.

For Anika, mental health care is about more than simply addressing symptoms. It’s about creating a space where people can show up as they are, explore their experiences without judgment, and work toward a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.

🌈 Why We’re Proud to Have Anika at BLCC

Anika’s background and experiences have helped shape her commitment to making mental health care more accessible, compassionate, and affirming. As the owner of Better Living Counseling Center, she brings that commitment not only into her own work with clients but also into the values that guide our practice.

We’re grateful to have Anika leading our team and serving our community. Her journey is a reminder that sometimes the experiences that shape us most become the very things that inspire us to make a difference for others. 💜

✨ Want to learn more about Better Living Counseling Center or our services? Visit https://www.better-living-counseling-center.com/contact/

10/19/2026

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 🎀

At Better Living Counseling Center, we believe that taking care of your health includes caring for both your physical and mental well-being. This October, we’re raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of routine screenings and early detection. 💗

Our own LMFT Lone Gooch emphasizes the importance of staying up to date with recommended mammograms, sharing that she has received regular screenings ever since her doctor first recommended them. Her experience is a reminder that prioritizing preventive care is an important way to advocate for your health.

🎗️ A few reminders this Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

💗 Talk with your healthcare provider about when you should begin mammograms and how often you should receive them. Screening recommendations vary based on age, personal risk factors, and medical history.
💗 For many women at average risk, regular mammograms are recommended every 1–2 years, depending on the applicable guidelines and individual circumstances.
💗 Know your body and talk with your healthcare provider about any new or unusual breast changes, even if you recently had a normal mammogram.
💗 Encourage the people you love to prioritize their health, too!

Early detection can make a meaningful difference, and you deserve to make your health a priority. Let’s use this month to encourage one another to schedule those screenings, have important conversations, and practice self-care in all its forms. 💕

From all of us at Better Living Counseling Center, we’re sending love and support to everyone affected by breast cancer, including survivors, those currently in treatment, and the loved ones who walk alongside them. 🎀

10/14/2026

💜 October is ADHD Awareness Month! 💜

At Better Living Counseling Center, we believe that understanding neurodivergence begins with listening to the people who live it every day. This month, we’re honored to share the perspective of our own LCSW, Brianna Mekelburg, who has ADHD and is sharing her personal journey with diagnosis, self-understanding, and learning to navigate a world that doesn’t always accommodate neurodivergent minds.

✨ What did receiving an ADHD diagnosis mean to you?

“I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until after I gave birth to my daughter. Before her birth, my symptoms were always treated as though I just had severe anxiety and depression, and I did really well masking it. After giving birth to her, it was as though everything shifted. I could no longer mask as I used to because now everything was different.

After many discussions and assessments, I was diagnosed with ADHD…which suddenly made so much sense. It was like I was handed a piece of my puzzle that I didn’t even realize was missing.

Receiving my diagnosis did not change me overnight. In fact, it took me on a deeper journey in therapy as I now had a new perspective to view my life and behaviors through instead of just thinking I was broken or defective. There has been a lot of anger, grief, and sadness that has followed with my diagnosis, but there has also been this deeper love and understanding for myself that I never knew was missing.”

✨ How does ADHD impact your day-to-day life?

“It feels as though I am walking a tight rope that is on fire while juggling 10 different spinning plates that I can’t seem to put down. Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world is traumatic and exhausting in and of itself.

However, I also have gained some new, beautiful practices that have been helping me remember to slow down and breathe. I utilize visual cues and reminders all over my house. If I don’t see something, it no longer exists. So instead of trying to maintain an environment in my home that is conducive to other people, I have instead shifted it and have created systems and structures that work for my brain.

I also have learned that I HAVE to give myself grace. I am reprogramming maladaptive patterns that have been taught to me since a young age.”

✨ What advice would you give someone who has just received an ADHD diagnosis?

“Be curious. This key (diagnosis) can unlock a new perspective that can come with many complex emotions and thoughts. This is okay and is allowed to be! The journey is learning to connect back to a body that never felt like home.

You are not alone in this. Reach out to others. Listen to stories. Create art. Connect to community.”

💜 A diagnosis is not a flaw to fix. It can be an opportunity to understand yourself more deeply.

ADHD can look different from person to person, and receiving a diagnosis can bring a complicated mix of relief, grief, frustration, and hope. For some, it means finally having language for experiences they have struggled to explain for years. For others, it opens the door to discovering new strategies, building supportive systems, and extending themselves the compassion they have always deserved.

This ADHD Awareness Month, let’s move beyond stereotypes and recognize the many ways ADHD can affect daily life, relationships, emotional well-being, and self-perception. Most importantly, let’s create space for neurodivergent individuals to be understood, supported, and accepted as they are.

Thank you, Brianna, for sharing your story and reminding us that we are not broken, we are learning to understand ourselves. 💜

📍 At Better Living Counseling Center, we believe in meeting people where they are and supporting each person’s unique journey toward understanding, healing, and growth.

10/12/2026

🌿 Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day from Better Living Counseling Center! 🌿

Today, we honor and celebrate the histories, cultures, traditions, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. We recognize the rich diversity of Indigenous communities and acknowledge the strength, wisdom, and enduring traditions that have shaped—and continue to shape—our world.

At Better Living Counseling Center, we believe that mental health and well-being are deeply connected to feeling seen, heard, respected, and valued. We recognize the importance of culturally responsive mental health care that honors each person's identity, lived experiences, traditions, and community.

Today is also an opportunity to reflect, learn, listen to Indigenous voices, and acknowledge the histories and ongoing experiences of Indigenous communities.

💚 May we continue to foster a world rooted in respect, understanding, healing, and belonging.

10/09/2026

🏳️‍🌈💜 National Coming Out Day | October 11th 💜🏳️‍🌈

Coming out is not a one-size-fits-all journey. For some, it may be a moment of joy, freedom, and celebration. For others, it may bring uncertainty, fear, vulnerability, or a mix of emotions that can be difficult to navigate. For many, it is a journey that unfolds over time, in different spaces, and with different people.

There is no right or wrong way to come out, and there is no timeline you have to follow. Your identity is valid whether you choose to share it with the world, a few trusted people, or keep it personal until you feel safe and ready. ❤️

At Better Living Counseling Center, we proudly support the LGBTQIA+ community and recognize the importance of creating affirming, inclusive spaces where people can explore their identities, process their experiences, and feel accepted for who they are.

We believe that everyone deserves:
🏳️‍🌈 A safe space to explore and express their identity.
💜 Support without judgment, pressure, or expectations.
✨ The freedom to define their own coming-out journey.
🤍 Affirmation, respect, and compassion—exactly as they are.

Coming out is deeply personal, and your safety, comfort, and well-being matter. Whether you are considering coming out, navigating reactions from loved ones, celebrating living authentically, or simply seeking a space where you can be yourself, you deserve support every step of the way.

This National Coming Out Day, we celebrate the courage it takes to live authentically, honor those who are still finding their way, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community—not just today, but every day. 🏳️‍🌈

You are valid. You are worthy. You belong. And you deserve to be met with love and acceptance. 💜

With pride and support,
Better Living Counseling Center and our office therapy dog Bucky!

10/05/2026

💜 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 💜

Domestic violence is more than physical violence. It can include emotional and psychological abuse, coercive control, intimidation, financial abuse, stalking, sexual violence, and threats. It can happen to people of any age, gender, sexual orientation, race, socioeconomic background, or relationship status.

The need for awareness and support remains significant here in Kentucky. According to Kentucky’s 2025 Domestic Violence Data Report:

• 33,786 reports related to domestic and/or dating violence and abuse were filed by law enforcement.

• 8,301 arrests were made for incidents involving domestic or dating violence and abuse.

• 20,129 emergency protective orders and temporary interpersonal protective orders were ordered by Kentucky courts.

• At least 25 Kentuckians were killed by an intimate partner in 2025.

• More than 22,600 incidents of intimate partner violence occurred with children present, reminding us that the impact of domestic violence extends far beyond the person being directly harmed.

Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a story.

At Better Living Counseling Center, we believe that supporting survivors means creating spaces where people can be heard without judgment, understand that the abuse is not their fault, and receive compassionate support as they determine what safety and healing look like for them.

This work is especially meaningful to us because LCSW Anika Gooch and LCSW Dr. Mollie Staggs both completed their graduate school practicum placements with The Nest in Lexington. The Nest walks alongside women, children, and families during life’s most difficult moments by providing compassionate support that fosters safety, stability, and hope.

The Nest continues this important work today, including providing free, confidential counseling, advocacy, legal support, and safety planning for survivors of intimate partner violence.

💜 If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you do not have to face it alone. Reaching out for help does not require you to be ready to leave or make any particular decision. You deserve support, safety, and the opportunity to make choices about your own life.

📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
💬 Text: START to 88788
🚨 If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

This October, let’s do more than wear purple. Let’s listen. Let’s believe survivors. Let’s challenge the normalization of abuse. And let’s remind those experiencing violence that help is available. 💜

Address

2011 Rambler Road Ste. 5
Lexington, KY
40503

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm

Telephone

+18592338496

Website

http://www.better-living-counseling-center.com/

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