Willow Counseling Services

10/23/2026

🍂🎃 Anyone else feel like Facebook is trying to convince them they're failing at fall? 😂

Pumpkin patches, hayrides, fall festivals, trunk-or-treats… HOW is everyone doing ALL of these things?!

And suddenly, you're questioning whether you're doing enough.

Okay, this is going to be a longer post, but hear me out because this is actually the kind of stuff we spend an entire hour working through in therapy! 💚

Let's talk about that little argument happening inside your head.

Maybe you're a new parent. It's your baby's first Halloween, and one part of you is screaming, "WE HAVE TO GET THE PICTURE OF THE BABY IN THE PUMPKIN! NEXT YEAR THEY'LL BE TOO BIG!"

Meanwhile, another part of you is thinking, "You want me to carve out a pumpkin, get this baby dressed, and somehow convince them NOT to scream while sitting inside it?!" 😂

❤️ Or maybe you're navigating infertility or pregnancy loss. You've always gone to the family fall festival, and part of you feels like you should go again. You don't want to miss out or disappoint anyone.

But another part of you knows that being surrounded by families and children might be really hard this year.

So which part do you listen to?

Here's something we talk about a LOT at Willow:

Sometimes the loudest voice wins. But the loudest voice isn't always the one that needs to make the decision.

One of the approaches we use in therapy is called Internal Family Systems (IFS). Basically, we all have different "parts" of ourselves that carry different feelings, worries, and needs.

And here's the interesting thing… both parts can be trying to protect you, even when they want completely opposite things.

Instead of letting them fight it out, we slow down and get curious.

💭 What is the part pushing me to go worried will happen if I don't?

💭 What is the part wanting to stay home trying to protect me from?

💭 Is there a way to take care of BOTH?

Maybe it's painting pumpkins at home instead of fighting the crowds. Maybe it's attending for an hour instead of the whole day. Or maybe it's realizing that this year, staying home is exactly what you need.

And guess what? Just because you've always done something doesn't mean you have to keep doing it.

Your life changes. Your circumstances change. Your emotional needs change. And you're allowed to make different choices because of that.

The graphic below walks you through a simplified version of how we approach these competing parts in therapy.

🍁 So here's my challenge for you this weekend:

Before you say yes to something, ask yourself:

"Do I actually WANT to do this, or is there a part of me that feels like I HAVE to?"

Because at the end of the day, you don't have to exhaust yourself making everyone else happy or creating picture-perfect memories.

💚 You're a person, too. And what YOU need matters.

Happy Friday from Willow Counseling Services!

10/19/2026

Monday Reminder: You can't give 100% to every area of your life, all the time.

As women, we wear so many hats. Wife. Mom. Daughter. Friend. Career woman. And somewhere in the middle of all those roles, we're supposed to find time to take care of ourselves, too.

For some, there's also the emotional and physical toll of infertility. The appointments, treatments, uncertainty, disappointment, and constant mental load of trying to build the family you've dreamed of, all while life continues to demand your attention.

The reality is, there simply aren't enough hours in the day to give 100% to every part of your life, every single day.

Some days your career needs more of you. Other days your children or your marriage need more attention. Sometimes friendships take a back seat, the house is a mess, or you're simply doing everything you can to get through another difficult day.

And that's okay ❤️

At Willow Counseling Services, we often remind women that balance doesn't mean giving everything equal attention all the time. It means recognizing that different parts of your life will need more of you during different seasons.

Yet so many women carry guilt over the areas where they feel they're falling short, rather than recognizing just how much they're already carrying.

You can love your family and still need a break. You can be dedicated to your career and still need to step back. You can be navigating infertility and not have the emotional energy to show up for everyone else the way you normally would.

You can be doing your best and still feel like you're not doing enough.

🩷 You don't have to be everything to everyone, all at once. Give yourself permission to be human.

10/16/2026

As Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank Madeleine Overturf of CoastTV for not only bringing awareness to such an incredibly important topic, but also for being willing to share her own personal story. There is so much power in sharing our experiences, and we know her story will resonate with so many families.

A special thank you to Ted Corriero, who was behind the camera and the editing, for putting this segment together so beautifully. I warned him from the beginning that I never give a short answer, so he definitely had his work cut out for him! He managed to pull it all together into such a seamless and meaningful piece.

We're truly grateful to have been part of this conversation and hope it reaches the families who need to hear it most. ❤️

🎥 Watch the full segment here:

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. Despite 10-25...

10/15/2026

🕯️🩷💙 Tonight, we light a candle for every baby gone too soon and every family impacted by pregnancy and infant loss. Holding you all in our hearts this evening.

10/15/2026

Willow Counseling Services on CoastTV News Tonight!

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, we had the opportunity to speak with CoastTV News about a topic incredibly close to our hearts.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness, break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss, and highlight the importance of acknowledging and supporting families through their grief.

📺 Tune in TONIGHT at 6 PM on CoastTV News!
Every baby matters. Every story matters. 🩷💙

10/15/2026

🩷October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day 💙

Today, we remember the babies who were gone far too soon and the families who will carry their love and loss forever.

Pregnancy and infant loss is something that changes you. It's not just grieving the baby you lost, but also the future you imagined, the milestones you looked forward to, and all the moments you thought you'd have together.

At Willow Counseling Services, this day is especially close to our hearts. We know how important it is for families to have a space where they can talk about their babies, share their stories, and grieve without feeling like they need to move on or be okay.

It is truly an honor to walk alongside families through some of their most difficult moments. We don't take lightly the trust it takes to share your story, your grief, and the love you have for your baby. While we can't change what happened, we hope to provide a space where families feel supported, understood, and never alone in their grief.

Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, your grief matters. There is no timeline, and there is no right or wrong way to remember.

Tonight at 7 PM, we encourage you to light a candle as part of the International Wave of Light in remembrance of all the babies who are loved and missed.

And if you feel comfortable, we'd love for you to share your baby's name in the comments so we can remember them with you. 🩷💙

10/14/2026

This week is OCD Awareness Week 💙

OCD is characterized by intrusive, repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and the need to perform illogical actions (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions.

In the perinatal period, the obsessions usually involve the healthy and safety of the pregnancy and/or baby. OCD can happen for the first time during the perinatal period or can flare up OCD that existed before.

OCD is treatable. You are not alone, and with the right help, you WILL be well 💙
🔵 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773 . You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
🔵 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔵 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
🔵 Download the Connect by PSI app in the App Store or Google Play Store
🔵 Visit Postpartum.net for additional programs and resources.
🔵 Find a trained provider in the PSI Directory at psidirectory.com.

10/02/2026

Who are you remembering this October? Tell us your baby(s) name in the comments. 💗💙

www.thetearsfoundation.org

09/17/2026

It’s not too late to join Matriarch! 🤍

Our Matriarch therapy group for pregnant and postpartum moms is an open group, which means you can join at any time, you don’t have to start on the first week or commit to every session.

Motherhood comes with a lot that we don’t always say out loud. Matriarch is a space to talk about the real stuff such as identity changes, anxiety and intrusive thoughts, relationships and intimacy, boundaries, returning to work, asking for help, realistic self-care, and figuring out who you are in this new season of life.

Choose what works for you: Virtual Mondays at 4:30 PM or in-person Thursdays at 4:30 PM in Middletown.

Aetna, BCBS & UnitedHealthcare accepted, or $25/session self-pay.

Interested in joining? Scan the QR code on the flyer or reach out to Willow at 302-313-1072. And remember...you can jump in whenever you’re ready. 🤍

09/06/2026

Motherhood can be beautiful. It can also be incredibly hard and some of the hardest parts are often the ones moms are most afraid to say out loud. 🤍

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a lot of outreach from moms who have been deeply affected by recent news and conversations surrounding maternal mental health. For some, it has brought up anxiety, intrusive thoughts, fears, or experiences from their own postpartum period. For others, it has simply been a reminder of how isolating motherhood can sometimes feel.

It feels especially important right now to share MATRIARCH, a weekly therapy group created and led by Theresa Bauer, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Willow Counseling Services.

Theresa created Matriarch to give pregnant and postpartum moms (up to 2 years postpartum) a place to learn coping skills and have the conversations that don’t always happen at playgroups, in the pediatrician’s office, or even with the people closest to us.

The identity changes. The anxiety. Intrusive thoughts. Relationships and intimacy. Asking for help. Boundaries. Returning to work. Family dynamics. And sometimes just admitting, “This is harder than I thought it would be.”

You don’t have to be in crisis to need support. Sometimes you just need a place where you can be honest and know the other people in the room understand.

🌿 Starting weekly September 21
💻 Mondays at 4:30 PM | Virtual
🏡 Thursdays at 4:30 PM | Middletown
🤍 Open group — join anytime
💳 Aetna, BCBS & UnitedHealthcare accepted
💵 $25/session self-pay option

Scan the QR code on the flyer or submit a contact form at www.willowcounselingservicesde.com/contact to learn more or join the group!