Guiding Light Counseling, LLC

07/29/2026

When you didn't grow up in a world with a lot of emotional support
and you find yourself having a big reaction in the modern day,
you might find yourself reaching to justify that reaction.

Looking for ways to validate what you're feeling, to make it logically sound, so that you're allowed to feel this way.
You might explain, look for evidence, build a case, try to make the other person or the situation the problem —
and the goal (and maybe you don't even know this)
is to make it safe and acceptable for you to feel the way that you feel.

But what if you learned how to allow yourself to have big feelings without needing to justify them?
What if you trusted that your own body's response is worth your sacred presence and attunement, even if you can't put your finger on the why just yet?

What if you didn't need to immediately solve it, and you could just be with that tension, that hurt, that defensiveness,
that anxiety, that frustration, that fear,
that dread, that disappointment, that resentment?
What if you let yourself sit with that feeling and met that part of you with gentle compassion?

What then?

What if you simply gave yourself a little hug and said,
"I love you. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

The story might begin to change.
The rumination might start to soften.
You might begin to breathe a little bit easier,
a little deeper.
And, yes, some tears might fall —
and you might begin to feel a little more at home in your body,
and in the present moment.

Maybe the answer will become clearer,
or maybe you'll feel a little more at ease sitting in the unknown in this moment.
Because when you can sit with your own discomfort,
anything becomes possible.

Okay, everyone —
today I am opening the doors to a new EQ School online community.
In this community, the whole EQ School curriculum will be available, as well as weekly opportunities to practice new skills, and to connect with other people who are deeply committed to this work.
If you sign up by August 1st and commit to staying for at least 3 months, I'll send you a free copy of my new book, The Wisdom of Feeling.
I can't wait to meet all of you and discover what we can create together 🫶

https://www.skool.com/the-eq-school-9321/about

07/24/2026

The struggle is real

07/03/2026

My first podcast!

07/02/2026

07/02/2026

I love seeing progress that clients can actually measure.

Recently, I've been having clients complete the GAD-7 (anxiety) and PHQ-9 (depression) questionnaires throughout treatment. These screening tools help us track changes over time instead of relying only on how someone feels in the moment.

One client recently completed two Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) sessions and then filled out the GAD-7 again. Over the course of two months, their anxiety score decreased by 11 points.

Every person's journey is different, and results vary, but moments like these are a reminder of why I love what I do. It's incredibly rewarding to see both the subjective changes clients describe and the measurable progress reflected in their screening tools.

If you've been feeling stuck and traditional talk therapy hasn't brought the relief you're looking for, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) may be worth exploring!

06/30/2026

My client's feedback after having ONE ART session:

"My nervous system has completed relaxed and I am feeling calm! I told my story for the first time today without it causing chest tightness and triggering my fight or flight response!"

06/21/2026

I finally read this book. From what I heard about the book, I did not have high hopes that it would be good.

And it was good.

I liked that she added the Let Me in each section of the book. Showing that you can't control other people or situations, and you can control how you behave or what you say.

Would recommend this to people who struggle with control.

06/13/2026

If you have OCD or know someone with OCD, you know how stressful it can be to manage the intrusive thoughts and urges that are constantly coming in.

I have been doing the 'typical day' ART script with my clients with OCD and have heard that it is helping them feel more confident with themselves.

For example, I did an ART session with a client, having them process their typical day, and when they came in for their next appointment they told me they are feeling more confident in challenging their behaviors. They went on to explain that they recently went out to eat and spilled their milkshake on the table. They scooped up their milkshake with their hand and LICKED IT!!!!!

Are you ready to feel more confident? Click the link to schedule a free consultation:

Counseling offering in person and Telehealth appointments. Paperwork can be filled out online. Online payments are accepted. Schedule an appointment today. Contact ME at (605) 413-6835.

05/25/2026

Accepting new clients!

05/18/2026

Do walks help you feel more regulated?

Next time you’re overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in your head… go for a walk.

Walking creates bilateral stimulation; a left-right rhythmic pattern that activates both hemispheres of the brain alternately. This is the same mechanism used in EMDR therapy, one of the most effective trauma treatments we have. Your body figured it out long before we had a name for it.

That rhythm signals safety to your nervous system. It helps process stored stress, unresolved tension, and emotional weight that gets stuck in the body when we’re sedentary and overwhelmed.

This is exactly what Brainshaping Academy is built on — the understanding that your mental health doesn’t start in your mind. It starts in your body. Your gut, your mitochondria, your immune system, your nervous system. All of it shapes how you think, feel, and function every single day.

Brainshaping Academy shows you the root cause biology behind anxiety, low mood, and brain fog — and gives you a complete plan to address it. Drop a YES below, and I’ll DM you a link to join the waitlist. 🧠