Guiding House

07/10/2026

Do you ever wonder why you feel stuck, even though you’re trying so hard?

Maybe you’ve been carrying anxiety that won’t quiet down. Maybe past experiences are still affecting your relationships. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or wondering why life feels harder than it should.

You don’t have to have all the answers before reaching out.

Many people wait months—or even years—to start therapy because they think they should be able to figure it out on their own. The truth is, healing often begins when you finally have a safe place to talk honestly without fear of judgment.

Mel offers a warm, down-to-earth approach to therapy where you can simply be yourself. Clients often describe her as compassionate, easy to talk to, insightful, and refreshingly genuine. She believes therapy doesn’t have to feel intimidating—it can feel like sitting down with someone who truly listens, understands, and helps you make sense of what you’re carrying.

Mel works with both men and women navigating:
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Relationship challenges
• Life transitions
• Sexual health and intimacy concerns
• Questions about meaning, purpose, and connection

No matter where you’ve been or what you’re facing, you don’t have to keep carrying it alone.

Sometimes one conversation can be the beginning of a very different chapter. We’d be honored to be part of yours.

📍 Guiding House Counseling & Coaching
📍 North Canton/Jackson Township & Telehealth throughout Ohio
📞 (330) 778.2919

Bio in link below:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/melody-scott-canton-oh/1791014

* Welcoming new clients
* Many insurances accepted

Modalities : IFS, EMDR, CBT, DBT, Art , Person-Centered.

Melody Scott, Licensed Professional Counselor, Canton, OH, 44718, (330) 446-3818, Have you ever wondered, “Why does everything feel harder than it should?” Maybe you’re carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, relationship struggles, sexual concerns, or questions about in...

05/27/2026

Happy Birthday, Dr. Paris!

He’s one of the most genuine, hardworking, and fair people we know. So much of what we have built personally and professionally exists because of his steady support, sacrifices, and willingness to carry so much behind the scenes. He’s one of the world’s “good guys”.

He consistently shows up for people. He cares deeply about his family, our team, and our clients and works incredibly hard, even when no one fully sees the weight he carries.

Guiding House would not be what it is without this wonderful man.

I hope today you feel appreciated, celebrated, and truly loved for all that you are, not just for what you do. We are incredibly grateful for you!

Happy Birthday! 🎈🎈🎈

:

05/18/2026

We had such a meaningful morning joining Burch & Lisa on Heartfelt Mornings, the flagship morning show on Northeast Ohio’s Christian radio station, Heartfelt Radio (WKJA 91.9 FM). 🤍 Heartfelt Radio

Ellie Brooks and Janelle Paris had the opportunity to talk about “Gray Divorce,” hope in marriage, and how faith, understanding, and practical tools can help couples reconnect.

We also shared about the book How We Love — a resource that has deeply influenced the work we do in our Marriage Intensives at Guiding House Counseling & Coaching.

And yes… Ellie “knows a guy.” 😉
Her husband, Brian Brooks, is the Program Director/Host at the station, which made the experience even more special. They’ll also be celebrating 35 years of marriage together this year. ❤️

Food for thought…
Did you know that 500 years ago, when couples said “until death do us part,” marriage lasted about 20 years on average because life expectancy was so much shorter?

Today, marriages often span decades longer, which means relationships need support, intentionality, and tools more than ever before. Hope is possible. Healing is possible. Connection is possible. 🙏

How We Love

03/30/2026

✨ What a special day! ✨

We had the opportunity to join 91.9 WKJA (Birch English) at Heartfelt Radio and spend time talking about something that is at the very heart of what we do every day… connection 🤍

Connection to God, to ourselves, and to each other.

Because the truth is…when we feel disconnected, it doesn’t just affect our emotions… it impacts our mental health, our physical well-being, and even our sense of purpose.

And when we begin to reconnect?
That’s where healing starts. That’s where peace grows. That’s where relationships come back to life.

We loved getting to share from both a personal and professional place…what we see in our work, what we’ve lived in our own lives, and what we believe is possible for others.

Grateful for the conversation, the platform, and the reminder that we were never meant to do life alone.

If you caught the show, we’d love to hear what stood out to you 💬
And if not, we hope this encourages you to lean into connection today, even in a small way.

🤍

— Janelle & Dr. Paris

03/16/2026

At Guiding House, our child therapy room is intentionally designed to support the autonomic nervous system.

Children cannot heal or learn in chaotic environments.

Their bodies must first feel safe and regulated.

This is especially true for children with neurological differences such as ADHD, OCD, Autism, and giftedness, who often experience the world more intensely through their senses.

So we design spaces with:

• soft lighting
• calming visuals
• warm textures
• predictable environments

Because when the body feels safe, the brain can finally access learning, connection, and healing.

Regulation before conversation. Safety before solutions.

02/28/2026

One of my areas of specialty is in personality disorders. Although I’m certified to treat them, I very rarely see individuals with personality disorders in my office.

I typically see the people impacted by them.

Why?

Because one of the core traits of a personality disorder is an impaired ability to truly self-reflect or take accountability. This leads to patterns of behavior that are persistent and pervasive …across relationships, work, family, and life.

So what do I look for?

Step 1: Start here

Two primary markers:
• Inflexibility
• Inability to adapt to change

Then ask:
Is the pattern persistent, pervasive, and problematic across relationships, work, and life?

If it shows up everywhere …not just in one season or one relationship , that matters.

⸻

Step 2: Relationship dynamics

When you’re in a relationship with someone who has a personality disorder, you often feel like you only have two options:

• Fight
• Enable

And they tend to operate from one of two roles:
• Pathetic victim
• Angry victim

This is where they feel justified in anger no matter the situation. You’ll see:
• Projection (turn the pronoun around — it’s often more honest)
• Blame shifting
• Justification of harmful behavior
• The chronic feeling of “walking on eggshells”

⸻

Step 3: Whole Object Relations

Can they hold both the good and bad in others — and in themselves — at the same time?

If not, they will split:
• Idealize or demonize
• Love or hate
• All good or all bad

This inability to integrate complexity is significant.

⸻

Many people only hear about Cluster B, but there are three clusters of personality disorders:

Cluster A (Odd/Eccentric)
• Paranoid
• Schizoid
• Schizotypal

Cluster B (Dramatic/Emotional)
• Narcissistic
• Borderline
• Histrionic
• Antisocial

(Antisocial doesn’t mean shy or introverted. It means against societal norms — sociopathic, rule-breaking behavior. This is where I recommend those dating to check public records for a pattern of rule breaking behavior-even repeat traffic violations.)

Psychopathy also falls within this diagnostic realm. Research suggests some individuals are born with neurobiological differences impacting empathy and conscience development. (See: The Neuroscientist Who Discovered He Was a Psychopath, Smithsonian: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-neuroscientist-who-discovered-he-was-a-psychopath-180947814/

Within Cluster B, there are subtypes. For example, narcissism can present as grandiose, communal, covert, etc.

Cluster C (Anxious/Fearful)
• Avoidant
• Dependent
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

OCPD is not OCD.
It’s perfectionism, rigidity, control, the need to be right, miserly with money, etc. It is a personality structure , not a neurological anxiety disorder.

⸻

Differential diagnosis matters.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is often misdiagnosed as a personality disorder. Nervous system dysregulation can show up as meltdowns or shutdowns , but the underlying structure is different.

Complex trauma can also look similar. Many people experience trauma. Far fewer meet criteria for a true personality disorder.

Other conditions to rule out:
Bipolar Disorder
ADHD
OCD
Depression
Anxiety

Education matters. Discernment matters. And not every difficult person has a personality disorder …but patterns tell a story.

I’m sharing the Drama Triangle and information on how to escape from it. ❤️🙏

Compassionately,
Janelle Paris, MAEd., LPCC-S

https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/docs/escaping_the_drama_triangle.pdf

02/06/2026

What Couples Don’t Say Out loud …

For more info on our private weekend marriage intensives (and mini intensives) call or text us at 330.778.2919

12/25/2025

✨ Merry Christmas from Guiding House ✨

At Christmas, we’re reminded of a presence that came close to people—
not with force or perfection, but with compassion.

A presence that listened.
That noticed those who felt unseen.
That brought dignity, comfort, and hope to weary hearts. The Wonderful Counselor was born.

Whether this season is joyful, complicated, quiet, or tender for you,
you are not alone.

From all of us at Guiding House,
we wish you peace, warmth, and moments of rest and comfort this Christmas. 🤍

12/16/2025

We’re feeling deeply grateful.Guiding House Counseling & Coaching was recently recognized as a Top 3 Counseling Practice in Canton for 2025, based on Google Reviews and client feedback.Every review represents someone who felt seen, supported, and safe enough to share their experience.Thank you to our clients and our incredible team for making Guiding House what it is. 💛…and thank you , Mr. Rogers 😉

12/11/2025

Chronic pain, tension, tightness, and numbness are often the body’s gentle (or not so gentle at times) way of saying, “There’s something here that still needs care.”
These are not signs of weakness, and you’re not “overreacting.”
They’re often messages from unresolved trauma your body has been carrying for far too long.

Therapists who truly understand and know how to effectively treat this level of somatic trauma can be difficult to find…

✨ Katya Shilling, MSW, LSW, has opened her schedule and is now welcoming new clients.
Katya brings Polyvagal-informed therapy, somatic approaches, EMDR, and Parts Work together to help women feel safer in their bodies, calmer in their nervous systems, and more deeply understood.

If your body has been sharing signs of needing relief, support, or healing — this may be the moment to say yes.

📞 Contact Guiding House Counseling to schedule. 330.778.2919 (call or text)
You deserve to feel at home in your body again.

Click here for her Psychology Today profile >>>>>>

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/katya-shilling-canton-oh/1647447