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Mind & Spirit Counseling Center Blog
Welcome to the Mind & Spirit Counseling Center blog, your go-to destination for insightful and supportive content on mental health and well-being. Our posts are dedicated to exploring a wide range of topics, from practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety to the latest research on emotional wellness, or updates about what is going on at the Center to an inviting message from our Executive Director, Jim Hayes. Whether you’re seeking guidance on personal growth, tips for maintaining a balanced lifestyle, or information on the benefits of therapy, the Center aims to provide valuable resources and thought-provoking articles to support your journey towards a healthier, more fulfilled life.
The Center Blog
Women Helping Women 2025 Ignites Community & Connection with over $234,000 raised to support mental health services in central Iowa
Nearly 600 attendees joined the Center’s 27th annual Women Helping Women event on May 2, 2025, raising over $234,000 to support vital mental health counseling, education, training and services for underinsured women, children and families in need. This year’s luncheon offered guests the first experience of a panelist discussion in the history of Women Helping…
2025 Women Helping Women Donors and Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors who helped the 27th Annual Women Helping Women event raise over $234,000! Your contribution ensures mental health services for women, children and families who are uninsured or underinsured.
Billie’s Blog: Let’s Talk About Mental Health
Mind and Spirit Counseling Center hosted the 27th Annual Women Helping Women luncheon on Friday, May 2, at Prairie Meadows. Nearly 600 attendees were treated to a delicious lunch while honoring community leader Mary Gottschalk. Women Helping Women began in 1999 with a mission to support women and girls who lack financial resources to access…
Reclaim Your Mind: Setting Healthy Boundaries with Social Media
Did you know the average person spends over 2.5 hours a day on social media—and teens can spend even more? According to the Pew Research Center, 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and nearly 1 in 2 say they’re online “almost constantly.” While these tools can foster connection, the mental health cost is…
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Art in Therapy: A Powerful Medium for Expression, Exploration, and Healing
Written by Sierra Lauber, PhD, Postdoctoral Psychologist Art has a unique ability to reach parts of ourselves that words often cannot. Art in therapy can serve as a powerful medium for expression, exploration, and healing. For clients across the lifespan, art can facilitate a new way of seeing emotions or past experiences, and may help…
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Billie’s Blog: The Antiracism Book Club Explained
You may have considered joining the Center’s Antiracism Book Group announced in the newsletter, but you have some questions and do not know whom to ask. May this month’s post be useful. According to Statista, in 2020, of the 1,020 people killed by police officers, 243 were Black. These numbers included Breonna Taylor, murdered on…
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Knowledge is only rumor until it gets into the muscle
Written by Chris Ogle, Licensed Independent Social Worker March 2025 marks my fifth year working at the Center. I am grateful to be part of this wonderful organization and our dedication to provide high-quality services to people from all walks of life. Reflecting on my time here, what I believe makes the Center unique is…
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What a Mess That Could Have Been
I had just started my practicum at Pine Grover Recovery Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I was working as an intern in the Therapeutic Arts Therapy department. It was a team of fun, creative, and caring people and for Valentine’s Day we were raising money for charity by “delivering” singing valentines to the staff. We worked…
Jim’s Blog: Dear Friends
Jim Hayes, Executive Director Dear Friends, It is with mixed feelings that I have informed our board of directors that I plan to retire by the end of 2025. While some of you may have already heard this news, I wanted to share my personal reflections here. Anyone who knows me is aware that I…
How to Pour Into Yourself and Your Child This Month
Written by Elizabeth Moreno, Licensed Independent Social Worker Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Show Love to Others, And Yourself Too! February is a time where the holiday of love is celebrated. Most of the time, it is focused on how we can love and care for others and show our gratitude to them. If…
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