Restoration Counseling PLLC

09/03/2026

I had a fabulous time today at the ICC Wellness Fair, and Paul, my husband, took the day off to come with me❤️.

Greeting students and networking with so many other providers is a day well spent! I even caught some of my colleagues from other practices in our photos.

09/03/2026

The office is closed on September 3, 2026. I’m packed and ready for my first time as a vendor. I’ll be at the ICC Wellness Fair all day tomorrow.

Fidgets✔️
Kitchen clips✔️
Pens✔️
Note pads✔️
Brochures✔️
Stickers✔️
Bookmarks✔️
Candy✔️
Chocolate✔️
A new storage and moving system…shopping😂

I’m super excited for this opportunity!

09/02/2026

A quick update for clients and community:

I'm in the process of upgrading the phone and messaging system to Spruce Health. During this changeover, the office phones aren't ringing through just yet — but voicemail is working perfectly, so please don't hesitate to call and leave a message. You can still email or message through the client portal.

I'm checking messages regularly and will get back to you as soon as I can.

I appreciate your patience while everything gets fully connected — this upgrade will make it easier than ever to reach me and stay in touch. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

08/28/2026

One of my fears with this trial is the conversations will end. They must not. We have to keep talking about the reality of PMADs, and the help and hope for recovery.

This trial will end. The need for awareness, education, prevention, and change will not.

As the conversation around postpartum psychosis continues, Cherished Mom remains committed to ensuring families hear about this illness before crisis or tragedy—not because of it.

Please read and share our statement. The conversation cannot end when the headlines do.

psychosis

08/20/2026

Did you know flamingos aren't born pink? They start out gray, and their signature color only comes from the shrimp and algae they eat. If a flamingo gets sick, stressed, or can't access proper nourishment, its feathers actually fade — it loses its pink.

I often think about this reality when it comes to new parents.
So many mothers and fathers glow with excitement going into parenthood, only to find their "pink" disappearing once baby arrives. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) — things like postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and more — affect up to 1 in 5 women and their partners. It's not a personal failing. Nor something to hide. PMADs are a medical reality that deserves real support, just like a flamingo needs the right conditions to keep its color.

Today, I'm wearing pink to stand with the parents whose pink is missing right now. We see you, this is real, and you deserve support to get your color back.

If you're struggling, please reach out to someone — a partner, a friend, a doctor, or a helpline. You don't have to be an alone.

Post Partum Support International help line: 1-800-944-4773

08/14/2026

Dr. Courtney's Trauma Intensive has helped all of the clients I have referred to make more progress in a few concentrated days than months of traditional sessions. It's an experience that has been described as formative for their healing journey — held in a beautiful, local setting designed for you to slow down and just focus on you. Check this out!! You won't regret it!

✨ What if you gave yourself permission to pause, heal, and reconnect? ✨

Join us for Connections: A Healing & Self-Restoration Retreat for Women, a transformative weekend designed to help you step away from the demands of daily life and focus on your own healing journey.

Together, we'll explore how trauma impacts our minds, bodies, and relationships through guided therapeutic experiences, mindfulness practices, and meaningful connection with a small group of supportive women. Whether you are just beginning your healing journey or looking to deepen the work you've already started, this retreat offers a safe, compassionate space for growth and restoration.

Your retreat experience includes:
💜 12+ hours of therapeutic programming
💜 Mindfulness and body-based healing practices
💜 Guided exercises and optional sharing opportunities
💜 A supportive community of women
💜 Delicious meals and comfortable lodging options
💜 A complimentary consultation with Dr. Courtney Stivers before the retreat

You spend so much time caring for others. This weekend is an opportunity to care for yourself.

🌿 Healing happens in connection. We hope you'll join us.

November 13-15
Chillicothe, IL

Read more in our first comment below.

08/13/2026

A question I’ve heard a lot in my office this week: “Are you watching the Lindsay Clancy trial?”

I understand why clients are asking me this, especially after I shared my own postpartum experience on my blog a few months ago. I’ve made the decision not to watch this trial or read any articles. I need to protect myself from the fear and anxiety it could bring up.

As a provider who works with women navigating the postpartum period — the intrusive thoughts, the depression, the anxiety, the sleepless nights, and everything else that comes with it — I want you to know something important:

It’s OK to turn off the TV.
It’s OK to walk away.
It’s OK to watch if that’s what you need.

Whatever you need to do to take care of yourself right now is OK.

But please, in the midst of this incredibly distressing trial, remember: you are not alone. There is a whole community of perinatal support providers here for you — all of us. We are here for you.

08/12/2026

Our youngest starts his senior year this week, and I've been calling this our "year of lasts." But the more I sit with it, the more I realize this transition didn't start this week — it's been happening for years, one season at a time.

I wrote a little about what it's like to move from being the director of your kids' lives to being their coach... and why that shift, as hard as it is some nights, is actually a good thing. I hope you enjoy the read!

https://restorationcounselingpllc.org/2026/08/11/the-final-year/

08/06/2026

A motto to live by!