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Winter blankets. A warm cup of tea. Soft background music. And sometimes, a gentle golden retriever named Tucker resting at your feet. At Still Waters Counseling, therapy is rooted in creating a safe, grounding environment where clients feel fully seen and supported. While traditional talk therapy is at the center of the work we do, we also recognize that healing doesn’t always happen through words alone. For some clients, the presence of an animal can offer a non-verbal path

Caregiving can be one of the most rewarding experiences, yet it can also bring an unexpected emotional burden: guilt. Whether you’re caring for an aging parent, a partner with chronic illness, or a child with special needs, feelings of guilt often sneak into your daily life. You may feel guilty for taking time for yourself, for asking for help, or even for feeling frustrated. While some guilt can be a signal of your deep love and responsibility, chronic or excessive guilt can

Winter arrives quickly. The air cools, the sky darkens earlier each evening, and the pace of life turns inward. For many people, this shift is cozy and restful, an invitation to slow down. But for others, winter feels heavy, isolating, and emotionally draining. Instead of calm, there’s a lingering sadness. Instead of motivation, there’s fatigue. Instead of connection, there’s withdrawal. If you notice your mood consistently drops during the colder months, you’re not alone. Ma

When “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Feels Like Pressure For many people, the holidays bring joy, togetherness, and meaning. But for others, they bring pressure. Pressure to make everything perfect, to host beautifully, to give the right gifts, to smile even when you’re exhausted. If you’ve ever felt like the holidays are less about connection and more about performance , you’re not alone. Perfectionism tends to flare during this time of year. The decorations, the gathe

We often think of grief as something that follows death: a response to a clear, defined loss. But what happens when the loss isn’t clear? When someone you love is still physically here, yet profoundly changed? When a relationship fades but never truly ends? When life itself looks familiar but feels foreign? This is what psychologist Pauline Boss termed “ambiguous loss.”  It’s the kind of grief that defies resolution, because there’s no clear line between what’s gone and what

The holidays can intensify grief in ways that surprise us. Traditions, songs, and family gatherings often stir up vivid memories, reminders of what once was, and what’s no longer here.

As the end of the year approaches, November offers us a time of reflection and an opportunity to realign how we think about mental health. Many of us carry assumptions about mental health that go unchallenged, and those misunderstandings can create barriers to seeking help, providing support, or simply talking openly about what’s going on with our minds.

Living with chronic illness is not just about managing symptoms, medications, and doctor visits. It’s also about learning to live with the persistent ache of loss, the life you once had but no longer do. Many people find themselves missing who they used to be: the energetic, active, spontaneous version of themselves who didn’t need to plan life around pain, fatigue, or limitations.

Anxiety at night is incredibly common, and for many people it becomes a frustrating cycle: the more you worry about not sleeping, the harder it is to fall asleep. The good news? There are practical strategies you can use to calm your body, quiet your mind, and create the conditions your brain needs for rest.

Starting therapy is a big, brave step. Whether you’ve been thinking about it for months or you booked your first session on a wave of courage, you might be feeling a mix of hope and nerves. That’s completely normal. Most people walk into their first therapy appointment unsure of what to expect, what to say, or even if they’re “doing it right.”