Life Balance Counseling Peoria

09/05/2026

Small things can bring a real sense of comfort and stability during an uncertain time, especially for a child.

We’re sharing Cuddles with Kindness Project Sleep Tight® because the care behind this local effort matters.

Project Sleep Tight® serves children who are going through homelessness, foster care, children’s homes, crisis centers and similar situations.
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American Institute for Research has found that 1 out 30 children will suffer from homelessness in 2018.

In Peoria, IL as of May 2025 678 kids are in foster care in Peoria County alone.
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We want to help ease the fear in these children by providing them with a stuffed animal, book, bag and blanket. These kids deserve a normal bed time routine and something they can call their own.

Now until the end of October help us in providing 500 Sleep Tight Bags to kids right here in Central Illinois! This year
we have many different ways you can support us.

To sponsor visit:
https://forms.gle/qYVps9AdUuNea33R8

09/05/2026

𝐀 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬

Therapy needs are rarely one-size-fits-all. Our clinicians bring specialized experience across trauma, addiction, relationships, chronic illness, military and first-responder concerns, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ issues, and major life transitions.

Across the Life Balance Couneling Peoria team, that experience includes advanced training and credentials in s*x and po*******hy addiction treatment, substance-use recovery, gambling and gaming addiction, betrayal trauma, couples work, chronic illness, and military populations—including CSAT/CSAT-S, CMAT, CADC, APSATS, ERCEM, gambling-specific certification, and Prepare/Enrich training.

Every clinician at Life Balance Counseling Peoria is EMDR trained, giving our team a shared foundation in trauma-informed care while allowing each therapist to bring their own areas of clinical expertise. Our website profiles can help you find the clinician whose background best matches what you are looking for.

📞 309-676-0538
🌐 www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com

09/04/2026

𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐂𝐂

Ryne Rush, LSW, spent part of the day representing Life Balance Counseling Peoria at the 2026 Illinois Central College Wellness Fair.

It is not often one of our clinicians is able to make it to a weekday community event, so we were especially glad Ryne could be there and connect with ICC students.

Our theme for the day was “Get It Out of Your Head.” Sometimes that means talking with a therapist. Sometimes it starts with journaling, sketching, writing down a thought that keeps circling, or putting a reminder somewhere you will actually see it.

We brought along Journals, Notebooks, Post-it notes, stickers, and other simple ways to put thoughts onto paper instead of carrying everything around mentally all day.

Thanks to Illinois Central College for having us and for creating space for conversations around student wellness, stress, and mental health.

𝟑𝟎𝟗-𝟔𝟕𝟔-𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟖

www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com

09/03/2026

𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭

Narcissism isn’t always loud, arrogant, or easy to recognize. Sometimes it shows up much more quietly — through insecurity, hypersensitivity, withdrawal, resentment, or relationship patterns that leave the people around them questioning themselves.

In his latest Healthy Cells, Magazine, Greater Peoria Metro Area Edition article, Ryne Rush, LSW, explores the quieter or “vulnerable” side of narcissism and what these patterns can mean for relationships, boundaries, and our own sense of self.

It’s a thoughtful look at a complicated subject, with an important reminder: 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Ryne is a therapist with Life Balance Counseling Peoria and is currently accepting new clients. If you’re dealing with difficult relationship dynamics, trying to understand patterns that keep repeating, or simply want a place to sort through what you’re experiencing, Ryne would be glad to talk with you.

https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/about-ryne-rush

📞 𝟑𝟎𝟗-𝟔𝟕𝟔-𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟖
🌐 lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com

To view the whole Sept 2026 Issue: https://www.healthycellsmagazine.com/3d-flip-book/september-2026-2/

09/02/2026

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬

In Peoria, the St.Jude Runs offer a powerful example of how empathy becomes action. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a cherished Central Illinois tradition, bringing together runners, donors, organizers, businesses, and volunteers in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Participants travel from surrounding communities—and, in the signature Memphis-to-Peoria Run, hundreds of miles—to raise funds for research and treatment for children facing cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Their commitment reminds us that compassion is more than feeling concern; it is choosing to help carry another family’s burden. During September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, that message deserves renewed attention. Gold ribbons and awareness campaigns honor children in treatment, survivors, and the families who endure uncertainty, long appointments, and difficult decisions. Yet 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞. Community members can volunteer at events, support a runner, organize a fundraiser, donate, or share accurate information about childhood cancer. Every contribution, whether large or small, strengthens a network of care. 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭. 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. Through empathy and volunteerism, the community turns hope into practical help and shows families that they do not face childhood cancer alone.

I volunteer as a Make-A-Wish Illinois granter and a member of the Peoria Area Advisory Board, walking alongside families and offering hope during some of the darkest moments of their lives. My commitment also extends to the East Peoria to Peoria St. Jude Run, where I volunteer as a can shaker. On the first Saturday in August, you can find me collecting donations and supporting longtime friends at the St.Jude Telethon. As the parent of a child with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease, I understand firsthand the emotions that accompany a diagnosis, long days at clinics, extended hospital stays, and the fear of the unknown. As a therapist, I strive to provide a safe space filled with warmth, understanding, and empathy for those navigating a difficult journey.

Ashley Heeren, MA., LPC

Life Balance Counseling
7625 N University St Suite B1, Peoria, IL 61614

[email protected]

https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/about-ashley-heeren

09/01/2026

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞-𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐌𝐃𝐑 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

Painful experiences can continue shaping your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and reactions long after the event has passed.

EMDR therapy reduces distress connected to difficult memories, reduces responses to trauma triggers, shifts the negative beliefs we have about ourselves tied to the trauma, and processes experiences without requiring extensive detailed retelling. EMDR has the strongest recommendation for being an effective treatment in several clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of PTSD by the VA and Department of Defense.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐌𝐃𝐑-𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐌𝐃𝐑 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐌𝐃𝐑 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.

Additionally, we put a great deal of thought into the spaces where this important work happens. Our offices are intentionally designed to feel 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, because the environment matters too.

We are accepting new clients for in-person and online therapy. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to explore whether EMDR may be appropriate for you.

To learn more about EMDR: https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/emdr-trauma-therapy

📞 (𝟑𝟎𝟗) 𝟔𝟕𝟔-𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟖
🌐 www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com

09/01/2026

🦋 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬

Some journeys are completed one small stretch at a time.

Monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles during migration, yet no single butterfly completes the entire round trip.

There is something worth noticing in that.

Growth, recovery, and change often happen the same way—not in one dramatic moment, but through many smaller shifts over time. A difficult conversation. A boundary held. A new response to an old trigger. Asking for help sooner. Trying again after a setback.

Progress does not have to look impressive from the outside to be meaningful.

Sometimes the next part of the journey is enough. 🦋

www.lifebalanacecounselingpeoria.com

🦋🍂One of nature’s most incredible journeys is underway!

Each year, monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles across North America, making their way toward the mountain forests of central Mexico. Even more remarkable? No single monarch completes the entire round-trip migration.

Follow the routes on our map and see how these tiny travelers cross an entire continent using instinct, sunlight, and generations of determination. Link To More Informaiton in Comments

Have you spotted any monarchs where you live? 🦋🍂

08/31/2026

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞.

Sometimes the right therapist is someone who brings both experience and a real connection to the community they serve.

Tonya Camacho has deep Peoria-area roots and years of experience in the mental health field. Her work includes some of the issues people often have the hardest time talking about—s*x addiction, trauma, addiction, anger, anxiety and depression. She also works with veterans and is LGBTQ+ friendly.

Tonya brings extensive training, life experience and a straightforward, compassionate approach to her work. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐭.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐚’𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞.

To learn more or ask about scheduling, call 𝟑𝟎𝟗-𝟔𝟕𝟔-𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟖 or visit https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/about-tonya-camacho

08/30/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

Relationships change over time—and so do the ways we need to connect with one another.

Whether a couple is just beginning life together, trying to improve communication after years together, navigating conflict or disconnection, or facing the painful impact of betrayal, meaningful relationship work can make a difference.

We offer Prepare/Enrich for couples building a strong foundation early in their relationship, traditional couples counseling, and specialized work with betrayed partners and couples rebuilding trust after s*xual or po*******hy-related betrayal.

The circumstances may look very different, but much of the work comes back to the same things: 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

If your relationship could use a little more clarity, connection, or direction, our team offers several ways to begin that work. Learn more at lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com or call 𝟑𝟎𝟗-𝟔𝟕𝟔-𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟖
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 & 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/premarital-counseling

𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐱 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/betrayed-partners-of-s*x-addicts-counseling

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠:
https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/couples-counseling

There’s no instruction manual for how to get through tough times with your marriage intact, so here are 3 universal principles to guide you

08/29/2026

𝐑𝐲𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡, 𝐋𝐒𝐖, is currently accepting new clients and works with a variety of insurance plans. To learn more about scheduling with Ryne or to verify insurance coverage, contact Life Balance Counseling Peoria at 𝟑𝟎𝟗-𝟔𝟕𝟔-𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟖 or visit https://www.lifebalancecounselingpeoria.com/about-ryne-rush