Jennifer Martin Rieck, LCPC

05/25/2026

Sometimes what feels like “just being realistic” may actually be an old protective pattern that keeps scanning for what could go wrong.

A Negativity and Pessimism schema does not mean someone is choosing to be negative. It often develops from earlier experiences where worry, disappointment, criticism, or hardship taught the nervous system to expect the worst. Over time, that protective lens can make it harder to notice what is steady, hopeful, workable, or good.

Balanced thinking is not forced positivity. It is the practice of making room for the whole picture: what hurts, what needs attention, and what is still true beyond the fear.

If you notice yourself moving quickly into worst-case thinking, pause and ask: Am I seeing the whole picture, or only the part my fear is highlighting?

Schema work can help you understand where these patterns came from, reality-test them with compassion, and build a more grounded relationship with your thoughts.

Read the full article from EpiJennetics Counseling & Consulting:
https://epijennetics.com/blog/are-you-a-realist-or-is-negativity-pessimism-schema-ruining-your-perspective

05/24/2026

Human values are the deeply held principles that guide behavior, shape identity, and influence decision-making. Across psychology, neuroscience, counseling, and behavioral science, research...

05/24/2026

In this article, Lake County Care Collective Nutrition Coach, Bex Bucci, talks about the impact of food on chronic inflammation and, subsequently, mental health.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/191M2SHsvW/

What would change for you if you knew that the anxiety you can't shake, the depression that won't lift, the kid who can't sit still, the brain fog, the insomnia, the digestive problems, the constant illness, could be caused by issues in your gut... from what you eat? Not in a woo-woo, "throw-out-you...

05/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AmanzbXVd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/21/2026

The latest Lake County Care Collective blog is live: “The Sweetest Way to Wreck Your Health” by Bex Bucci.

Added sugar is not just a waistline issue. It can affect the brain, liver, heart, mood, inflammation, gut health, and children’s long-term development. The damage can build quietly over time, which makes awareness an important first step toward whole-person wellness.

Read the full article at lakecountycarecollective.com/blog.

05/21/2026

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