Creating Progress - Nikkie Evans PLLC

07/06/2026

Recently I decided to clean out the playroom closet.

I thought 'how hard could it be?' A quick project. Maybe an hour.

Instead, I found myself sitting in the middle of a room covered in toys, puzzle pieces, half-empty bins, and random items I couldn't identify. My kids were dancing through the chaos while asking for snacks, and all I could think was:

"Why did I even start this? It looked better before I touched it."

The funny thing is, therapy can feel a lot like that.

Sometimes, before things can be organized, they have to come out. The stress you've been carrying. The grief you've been avoiding. The anxiety you've been managing. The experiences you've packed away and tried not to think about.

For a little while, things can feel messier than they did before.

But here's what makes therapy different:

You don't have to sit in the middle of the mess alone.

A therapist isn't there to judge the clutter or tell you that you should have handled it differently. They're there to sit beside you, help you sort through it, figure out what still serves you, and help you create space for what matters most.

💛 Healing isn't about pretending the mess isn't there. It's about having support while you work through it.

We're resharing one of our favorite blog posts, The Closet, the Chaos, and Why Therapy Feels a Lot Like Both.

Read it here:
https://www.creatingprogress.net/post/the-closet-the-chaos-and-why-therapy-feels-a-lot-like-both

The Closet, the Chaos, and Why Therapy Feels a Lot Like BothWritten by a Therapist Who Regretted Cleaning the Playroom (For a Minute)Today, I made what I thought was a simple decision: clean out the playroom closet. You know — just a quick little organization project. One of those tasks I’ve bee...

07/05/2026

One thing we've learned from sitting with hundreds of people over the years?

Everyone is carrying something.

The mom who looks like she has it all together. The college student trying to find their place. The professional who seems confident and successful. The friend who always shows up for everyone else.

Everyone has moments where they feel overwhelmed, uncertain, insecure, stuck, exhausted, or just plain confused about what they're doing. And honestly? That's part of being human.

We spend so much time believing we're the only ones struggling, the only ones who feel awkward, the only ones who don't have it all figured out. Meanwhile, most people are quietly wondering the exact same thing.

At Creating Progress, our team is made up on therapists who are human too. We laugh too hard at silly things. We have bad days. We second-guess ourselves. We have strengths, imperfections, quirks, and stories that have shaped who we are.

Maybe that's why we love this work so much.

Because at the end of the day, therapy isn't about one person having all the answers. It's about creating a space where people can stop pretending, be fully themselves, and realize they're not alone.

We're all just humans trying our best. And we think there's something pretty comforting about that.

So if you've ever worried that you're a little weird... good news. So are we. 😆

www.creatingprogress.net

07/03/2026

Have you ever had a thought that felt so convincing, so real, that you didn't stop to question it?

💭 "They're mad at me."
💭 "I'm failing."
💭 "Something bad is going to happen."
💭 "I'm not good enough."

Our minds are constantly generating thoughts—but thoughts aren't always facts.

In our newest blog, we explore how anxiety, stress, self-doubt, and past experiences can influence the stories our minds tell us, and why learning to step back from our thoughts can be a powerful part of healing.

✨ You don't have to believe everything you think.

Read the full blog here:
https://www.creatingprogress.net/post/youdonthavetobelieveeverythingyouthink

What is one thought you've learned to question rather than automatically believe?

07/02/2026

Reminder: Your body hears everything your mind says.

The way you speak to yourself matters.

When your inner dialogue is filled with criticism, pressure, shame, or constant worry, your body often carries the weight—through tension, fatigue, headaches, overwhelm, difficulty sleeping, and more.

What if you spoke to yourself the way you would speak to someone you love?

Not every thought deserves to be believed. Not every fear deserves to be followed.

Today, try offering yourself the same compassion, grace, and understanding that you so freely give to others. 💛

www.creatingprogress.net

07/01/2026

✨ Meet Kayla Block, LCSW ✨

Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of your next steps? Kayla believes you don't have to have it all figured out before reaching out for support. With over 10 years of experience, she creates a warm, compassionate space where you can bring every part of yourself—the messy, the uncertain, and everything in between.

Kayla specializes in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, infertility, IVF, miscarriage and pregnancy loss, adoption, perinatal and postpartum concerns, relationship challenges, self-esteem, and women's issues. She also has extensive experience helping teens and parents navigate school-related concerns and IEP supports.

Using a personalized approach that may incorporate CBT, IFS/Parts Work, Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, Kayla works alongside clients to help them create meaningful and lasting change.

💛 Accepting new clients
🌙 Daytime and evening appointments available
📍 Telehealth throughout Illinois

Ready to take the next step? Reach out today to learn more about working with Kayla.

📞 847-790-4959
📧 [email protected]
www.creatingprogress.net

07/01/2026

Growth is often uncomfortable because it asks us to leave behind what is familiar.

Whether you're setting boundaries, starting therapy, healing from past experiences, changing careers, or learning to show up differently in your relationships, growth rarely feels comfortable in the moment.

But discomfort doesn't always mean you're doing something wrong. Sometimes it means you're stepping into something new.

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. To learn. To stumble. To grow.

Progress isn't about perfection—it's about continuing forward, even when the next step feels uncertain. 💛

www.creatingprogress.net

06/29/2026

06/25/2026

Sometimes one of the best ways to take the power out of anxious thoughts is to step back and look at them differently. Humor won't solve anxiety, but it can help create enough distance to remember: just because your brain says it doesn't make it true.

What's the funniest Yelp review you could leave for your anxiety?

[email protected]
www.creatingprogress.net

06/24/2026

Have you ever noticed that sometimes your body feels stressed before your mind even realizes what's going on?

Maybe you're feeling tense, irritable, restless, emotionally drained, or disconnected. You try to "think your way out of it," but nothing seems to help.

That's because your nervous system is designed to respond to stress automatically. When life feels overwhelming, your body shifts into protection mode long before you have words for what you're experiencing.

The good news? Small, simple actions can help signal safety and bring your system back toward balance.

If you've been feeling stuck in survival mode lately, these small shifts can help.

✨ Which sign of nervous system overload do you notice most often: tension, overwhelm, numbness, or difficulty concentrating?

Save this post for later and share it with someone who may need the reminder today.

[email protected]
www.creatingprogress.net

06/23/2026

If you needed a sign to take a screen break, this is it. ✨

A few minutes away from notifications, emails, and endless scrolling can create space to breathe, reset, and reconnect with the present moment.

No rules. No pressure.

Just an invitation to pause.

www.creatingprogress.net