Forward Therapy and Consulting

06/25/2026

📰 Staying Connected to What Matters 📰

In a world where information moves fast and misinformation can spread even faster, we believe there is value in having access to trusted, local journalism.

That's why you'll find the Midland Daily News available in our lobby each day for clients to enjoy while waiting for their appointments.

Local news helps us stay informed about the communities where we live, work, raise our families, and support one another. It keeps us connected to local events, community successes, challenges, and the stories that shape life here in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

At Forward Therapy and Consulting, we believe that caring for our mental well-being includes staying thoughtfully informed—and sometimes that means slowing down, putting away the endless scroll, and spending a few minutes with a newspaper and a cup of coffee.

We invite you to take a look the next time you're in the office. ☕📰

06/22/2026

Remember when Rachel said it wasn't "goodbye," but rather "see you later"?

Well guess what... she's back! 🎉

We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Gaus, LLMSW, back to the Forward Therapy and Consulting team!

Rachel is passionate about helping children, teens, and families navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience. She also enjoys supporting adults through difficult transitions, emotional struggles, and periods of personal growth. With more than 10 years of experience working with the disabled community and a strong commitment to creating a safe, supportive space for all clients, Rachel brings compassion, energy, and authenticity to her work.

As an LGBTQIA+ ally, Rachel strives to help clients feel understood, valued, and empowered as they work toward their goals. Her areas of focus include anxiety, grief and loss, emotional regulation, self-esteem, coping skills, social-emotional development, and family transitions. She utilizes evidence-based approaches including CBT and DBT to help clients build practical skills and lasting confidence.

Rachel is now accepting both returning and new clients, and we couldn't be happier to have her back at Forward.

Welcome back, Rachel! 💙

To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact our office or visit www.forwardmidland.com.

06/20/2026

Screen time isn't inherently bad, but it becomes harmful when it replaces physical activity, real-world play, and face-to-face human connection. True balance focuses on content and context over strict time limits alone.

How Screens Impact Development
•Executive Function: Excessive use impairs attention, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills.
•Psychological Health: High usage correlates with lower self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
•Language Skills: Toddlers with high exposure show poorer language development and lower reading readiness.

Healthy Screen Use
•Child: Match screen options to your child's specific personality and maturity.
•Content: Choose high-quality, educational programs over mindless scrolling.
•Context: Focus on the purpose of use (e.g., social connection vs. zoning out).
•Co-viewing: Watch together to turn screen time into a shared, interactive family activity.
•Crowding Out: Ensure screens do not displace sleep, exercise, reading, or chores.

Action Steps for Families
•Keep meals and bedrooms completely screen-free.
•Turn off all screens at least one hour before bedtime.
•Avoid using screens as the sole method to soothe or calm an upset child.

06/17/2026

📚 Did You Know? 📚

Each week, Megan carefully selects a new collection of books from her office bookcase to feature in our lobby for clients to browse before their appointments.

And yes... it's that bookcase—the one many clients comment on that's organized by color! 🌈📖

Whether you're looking for insight, encouragement, a fresh perspective, or simply something interesting to flip through while you wait, we hope these rotating selections offer a moment of reflection and discovery.

Here are a few of this week's featured picks! Which one would you be most likely to pick up? 👇

06/13/2026

“90s Parenting" isn't about nostalgia; it is about trusting kids with age-appropriate freedom. By stepping back, parents allow children to experience boredom, cultivate imagination, and build genuine independence.

•Independence Builds Confidence: Unsupervised exploration teaches self-reliance.
•Boredom Has Value: Empty time forces children to problem-solve and create their own entertainment.
•Resilience Through Risk: Navigating small, manageable challenges builds real-world confidence.
•Stepping Back: True learning happens when adults stop constant intervention.

Perfect balance in parenting does not exist. The goal is simply to provide safe boundaries while leaving enough open space for children to figure things out on their own.

06/09/2026

Wishing everyone a fantastic tournament weekend filled with great memories, friendly competition, and community connection. ⚾❤️



https://business.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02cgmPa9AUMnWFL7PGcL3BWDJhPnUuWWjh1cBsAG2tq1gP8JR2c4CTcSFj7sJJ3sypl&id=61560899312901

05/28/2026

We’re incredibly happy to support the Currie Stadium Memorial Tournament again alongside many other community-minded organizations. ⚾️💙

Currie Stadium was more than just a ball field — it was a landmark woven into the heart of our community and home to countless memories for generations of families, athletes, and fans. From summer nights at the ballpark to lifelong friendships built in the stands and dugouts, it represents connection, tradition, and community pride in such a meaningful way.

At Forward Therapy and Consulting, we deeply value opportunities to support events that bring people together and celebrate the community we care so much about. We’re honored to be a field sponsor for this special tournament and look forward to cheering everyone on in just a few short weeks!

Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone helping keep the spirit of Currie Stadium alive.

3rd Annual Currie Stadium Memorial Tournament Bracket! Games will be played at Red Coats in Midland.

BIG thank you to our tournament sponsor Modern Realty - Midland! In each of our three years, you have been our tournament sponsor and we are grateful for your support!

We would also like to extend another big thank you to LIV1 Health for being a field sponsor for each of our three years!

Community support makes these tournaments extra special! We still have sponsorship opportunities available. If you own a business and are interested, contact Adam Wittbrodt at 989.600.2048.

05/14/2026

At Forward Therapy & Consulting, we believe healing and growth happen best in strong, connected communities — and that means supporting the incredible local small businesses that make our community special. 💛

One small way we’re living out that value is through our Reset & Refresh snack area, where we’ll be featuring local treats for clients to enjoy during their visits.

First up: the amazingly talented team at Messenger Cookie Company 🍪🌼

These beautiful daisy cookies are almost too cute to eat… almost. They are absolutely delicious, thoughtfully made, and quickly became a favorite around the office. Sarah and Alex are not only wonderful to work with, but incredibly creative too — we’re pretty convinced they can turn just about anything into cookie form.

We’re grateful to partner with local businesses that pour so much care into what they create, and we’re excited to continue highlighting more community favorites along the way.

If you haven’t checked out Messenger Cookie Company yet, consider this your sign. 💛

https://www.messengercookieco.com/
https://www.facebook.com/messengercookieco/

05/08/2026

At Forward Therapy and Consulting we believe healing can include laughter, personality, comfort items, and a little fun along the way.

Therapy doesn’t always have to feel so serious. 💛

Our new mugs, glass cups, and tote bags are now available in the office for $20 each

Featuring phrases like:
✨ “Boundaries Over Burnout”
✨ “That’s a Pattern”
✨ “Did You Try Talking About It?”
✨ “Big Feelings Welcome”

Perfect for your coffee, your errands, your therapy journey, or your emotionally aware era. 😉

Stop by and check them out during your next appointment — because sometimes healing looks like deep conversations… and sometimes it looks like carrying your iced coffee in a cup that makes you laugh. ☕

05/07/2026

Step outside, slow down, and reconnect 🌿

We’re excited to share this beautiful free community opportunity designed with care and accessibility in mind. This guided Forest Therapy experience—rooted in the practice of Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing)—invites you to engage your senses, explore mindfully, and enjoy the calming presence of nature… all from a gentle golf cart ride.

Taking time to be present in nature can be deeply restorative—for your mind and body.

FREE | Ages 18+ | Registration required by May 17

Meet at the Visitor Center

If you’ve been needing a soft reset, this might be a lovely place to start 💚

5/19/2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM