Empowering Minds

06/08/2026

Streator Location Bloopers — Fire Edition

Today’s blooper is hard to beat.

The building next door caught on fire.

Yes. Literally.

At this point, opening the Streator location has included paint drama, wallpaper issues, window film issues, sign delays, leaking bathrooms, questionable lighting, mismatched ceiling tiles, and now actual fire.

So if you were wondering whether this process has tested my flexibility, patience, and nervous system regulation skills, the answer is yes. Aggressively.

A huge thank you to Streator Fire Department and everyone who responded quickly and helped keep the situation from becoming worse. We are grateful for the work you do in our community.

And somehow, we are still building.

New beginnings are not always peaceful and pretty.

Sometimes they come with delays, messes, repairs, reroutes, and moments where you laugh because otherwise you might cry.

Actually, the bathroom floor has already been cried on, so we are covering all bases.

This space does not have to come together perfectly to become something meaningful.

It just has to be built with care.

And it is.

Streator location: despite the universe clearly testing the plot.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1PB9VpfLm6/

On Wednesday May 27, 2026 Streator Fire Department responded to a garage fire at 124 S. Sterling St. Please see the detailed press release for more details.

06/06/2026

We'd like to officially welcome Matt to the Empowering Minds family! 🎉

Matt brings a unique blend of counselor, educator, encourager, and occasional "let's look at this from a different angle" specialist. 😂

With a passion for helping people navigate life's twists, turns, plot twists, and unexpected sequel seasons, Matt creates a warm, collaborative space for children, teens, and adults where they feel truly heard, understood, and empowered to grow. Whether you're facing anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, or simply trying to figure out what chapter comes next, he's ready to walk alongside you.

📚Fun fact: Before becoming a therapist, Matt worked in education, where he discovered that the most meaningful learning often happens outside the classroom and inside authentic human connection.

We're excited to have Matt on board - join us in giving him a warm welcome! 💙

Empowering Minds Counseling helps individuals of all ages, couples and families on their journey to self empowerment.

06/04/2026

**Building Something Beautiful: The Unfiltered Version**

**Day 2: The Messy Middle**

Today’s reminder from the Streator location:

It is a work in progress.

Not a finished product.
Not a perfect reveal.
Not the fully polished version I had pictured in my head.

A work in progress.

And honestly, I have had to remind myself of that more than once.

We have had wallpaper issues, window film issues, sign delays, lighting that feels like an “interrogation room,” and plenty of unfinished details still waiting for attention.

My perfectionist side wants everything done, beautiful, peaceful, matching, and finished yesterday.

But that is not how growth usually works.

Growth often looks like adjusting the plan, making another phone call, waiting on someone to call you back, solving one issue at a time, and choosing not to spiral over every unfinished corner.

With Mercury retrograde shadow approaching, the communication delays feel suspiciously on brand.

But maybe that is the lesson:

The messy middle still counts.
Progress still counts.
A work in progress is still progress.

Streator, we are not perfect yet.

But we are getting there.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

Building Something Beautiful: The Unfiltered Version

Day 1: Progress, Panic & Paint

Opening the Streator location has already included a very specific theme:

Paint drama.

First, our Ottawa building was recently painted… accidentally in the wrong color.

Then, because apparently the universe was committed to the bit, an entire gallon of paint spilled in the back of my new car.

Yes. My new car.

There was a moment where I just stared at it and thought, “Okay, so this is what we’re doing now.”

Thankfully, B and C Perfection and Polish came to the rescue, and he did an amazing job getting it cleaned up. Truly, this could have been so much worse, and I am very grateful.

Astrologically, this feels very Pluto retrograde: transformation, surrender, and being reminded that control is mostly an illusion with better branding.

And honestly? That has been the theme of this whole process.

Opening a second location has not been perfect, polished, or smooth.

But it is happening.

We are problem-solving, adjusting, laughing when we can, crying when we need to, and still building something beautiful.

Streator location: coming soon.

Also, if anyone needs detailing after a paint-related emotional crisis, go see B&C Perfection Polish.

05/29/2026

Streator, we are getting closer!

Our new Empowering Minds Counseling location is coming to life, and we are so excited to share this beautiful window art by The Laced Brush. She took our vision and turned it into something that feels warm, welcoming, and full of growth — exactly what we want this space to represent.

We are so grateful to be joining the Streator community and cannot wait to open our doors to clients here soon.

Empowering Minds Counseling in Streator will be accepting new clients, and we are looking forward to offering a supportive space for healing, growth, and mental health care close to home.

A huge thank you to The Laced Brush for helping make this space feel like us.

Streator, we’re almost ready for you.

The Laced Brush

05/29/2026

At Empowering Minds Counseling, we help clients recognize patterns, understand where they came from, and begin building healthier ways to move forward.

05/28/2026

Thanks to Run Today for Tomorrow, Inc. for allowing us to make this group happen!

05/21/2026

Our phones are currently down.

We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to get this resolved as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, please contact us by email at [email protected] or message us here on Facebook, and we will respond as soon as we can.