Blog
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. 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
Holding Life with Open Hands
August is always a bittersweet month for my family. Being married to a teacher and having school-aged children, the month brings the last hurrahs of summer fun and ushers in the transition back to school. This year will be different than Augusts past. Alongside the normal back-to-school preparations, we are also getting ready to move…
Amy’s Blog: Building a Legacy Every Day
I always like to say that every season is my favorite when it begins, and this summer that has been especially true. It has been such a joy to soak up the sunshine, enjoy the longer evenings, and watch the flowers bloom. Every morning when I walk into work, I’m treated to seeing the Center’s…
Billie’s Blog: Resolution Begin Agains
Half of 2026 is over. Did you make New Year’s resolutions or set intentions for the year with all the fervor you could muster? Did you choose a word to guide you through 2026? Are you wondering where the first six months of the year went? You may have given up on your resolution back…
Hard Times Will Never Be the Whole Story
When I was a kid, our family had three different Volkswagen pop-up camper vans. We didn’t have a whole lot of money, but we did have some great adventures driving around the country and camping. When I was seven or so, we took the first van to South Dakota. A missing heat shield made for…
Over $250,000 Raised to Support Mental Health Services in Central Iowa at Women Helping Women 2026
Over 500 attendees joined the Center’s 28th annual Women Helping Women event on May 15, 2026, raising over $250,000 to support vital mental health counseling, education, training and services for underinsured women, children and families in need. This year’s luncheon offered guests an intimate and heartfelt conversation centered on grief, loss and healing. Guided by…
2026 Women Helping Women Donors and Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors who helped the 28th Annual Women Helping Women event raise over $230,000! Your contribution ensures mental health services for women, children and families who are uninsured or underinsured.
The Spiritual Practice of Camping
It’s the most wonderful time of the year–camping season! I confess that I have become a very spoiled camper, as our family has left the tents and air mattresses far behind in favor of a travel trailer with a real bed, AC and a bathroom. Though we travel with many of the comforts of home,…
Walking the Labyrinth: From Burnout to Spiritual Renewal Through PrairieFire
Many years ago, when I was still working full-time as a pastor of two small churches, I would regularly visit a retreat center with a large labyrinth made of restored prairie. Though they resemble mazes, labyrinths have a singular path that those who walk them follow in and out as they pray or meditate. I…
Read More Walking the Labyrinth: From Burnout to Spiritual Renewal Through PrairieFire
Earth Day Reflections: Healing Through Nature
Image: Ewing Park, Des Moines Register Each year, Earth Day invites us to pause and reflect on the beauty, resilience and generosity of the world around us. It’s a reminder that the Earth not only sustains us physically, but can also support us emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Nature has a quiet way of meeting us…
Billie’s Blog: A Life of Hope
On February 14 this year, I received the ultimate Valentine. My son and daughter-in-law delivered a special card to me, announcing I would be a first-time Grandma in October. What a delightful surprise! I have been floating in the clouds ever since, and I am wearing a permanent grin. What fun I am having as…
