Serenity & Hope Counseling

08/27/2026

💔💔💔

08/10/2026

When was the last time?

08/09/2026

🎒 What Makes a Student Feel Welcome During Their First Week of School? 🤍

As a new school year begins, it’s easy to focus on the excitement of new clothes, fresh school supplies, summer adventures, and pictures of children smiling on their first day.

But let’s remember that not every student experienced summer that way.

*Some children didn’t get a vacation.
*Some didn’t get new shoes or a new backpack.
*Some may be using last year’s supplies.
*Some may have spent the summer worrying about things children shouldn’t have to worry about.
*And some may walk into school carrying invisible worries that no one can see.

So, what truly makes a student feel welcome?

✨ A teacher who learns their name and says it with kindness.
✨ A classmate who invites them to sit with them at lunch.
✨ A school that doesn’t make anyone feel “less than” because of what they have or don’t have.
✨ A smile, a genuine “I’m glad you’re here,” or simply being noticed.
✨ Adults who understand that behavior can sometimes be communication.
✨ A classroom where every child feels valued—not compared.
✨ The opportunity to begin the year without shame, judgment, or assumptions.

Belonging doesn’t come in a backpack. It doesn’t have a price tag.

For some students, the most important thing they receive during the first week of school may simply be the feeling that they matter, they are safe, and someone is happy they showed up.

Let’s make this school year a place where every child can walk through the doors and feel:

“I belong here.” 🤍

Because sometimes, a little kindness can become the thing a child remembers long after the school supplies are gone.

📸 Saint Louis Art Museum

08/06/2026

Please Welcome Emily Serenity & Hope Counseling

Emily is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and started working part-time in July 2023. She received her Master of Science in Psychology: Clinical Counseling from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Most recently, she graduated with her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis.

Emily has experience working with the family unit, supporting parents, and conducting therapy services individually and in groups for clients of all ages. Most of her work has been with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She enjoys using a variety of therapy modalities to ensure that her sessions are client-centered and collaborative. Some of her favorite topics and techniques include growth mindset, flexible and positive problem solving, emotional regulation strategies and coping skills, mindfulness, and cognitive behavior therapy.

08/06/2026

You look happier today 💗💗💗

08/01/2026

Today marks the start of National Wellness Month. 🍃

In a world that often demands constant productivity, true wellness is an act of gentle resistance. It means listening to what your mind and body actually need, whether it's movement, connection, rest, or a quiet moment to breathe.

Self-care isn't one-size-fits-all. What restores you might look completely different from what restores someone else, and that’s okay.

As we move through August, we challenge you to try a few of these simple practices.

07/06/2026

07/04/2026

Happy Birthday, America. 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate part of our shared story with hope for a better future and the wisdom gained from the lessons of our past. We can honor the beauty of this nation while also acknowledging the pain, suffering, discrimination, and disappointments that have shaped its history.

True patriotism is not ignoring those realities, but choosing to learn from them and remaining committed to building a country that offers freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all people. We the people have the power to continue shaping that future together.

Today, I celebrate your beauty — your land, nature, diversity, resilience, and the enduring hope for a better tomorrow. 🤍❤️💙

06/28/2026

If you've ever thought, "Why can't I just relax?" - you're not alone.

The truth is, once your body shifts into stress mode, you can't always think your way back to calm.

Your heart rate increases. Your breathing becomes shallow. Your muscles tighten.

Your body isn't looking for more thoughts. It's looking for signals that it's safe.

That's why simple things like slowing your breath, humming, or other calming techniques can be so effective. They help communicate to your nervous system that the threat has passed.

Sometimes the fastest way to quiet your mind is to calm your body first.

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