Adoption
Posted on May 17, 2025
by Sue Shields, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC
As children grow and understand more about their adoption story, it’s natural for them to have questions about their birth parents.
Whether your adoption is open or closed, how you speak about birth parents — and how you frame your child’s story — plays a vital role in building their confidence, identity, and emotional security.
Adoption
Posted on May 15, 2025
by Sue Shields, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC
Adoption, while beautiful, can also stir up feelings of loss, confusion, or sadness alongside love and belonging. Children need the freedom to express these feelings without fear or judgment.
In this article, we’ll explore how to handle tough conversations about adoption in a way that honors your child’s heart and strengthens your family’s bond.
Adoption
Posted on May 12, 2025
by Sue Shields, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC
As children grow, so does their understanding of the world around them — and their own unique story. Adoption is not a one-time conversation but a journey of ongoing dialogue, growing deeper and more meaningful over time.
In this article, we’ll walk through how to talk about adoption at each stage of your child’s development, offering simple tools to help you build connection, identity, and trust at every age.
Adoption
Posted on May 10, 2025
by Sue Shields, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC
The truth is, having open and loving conversations about adoption from the very beginning is one of the most important ways to build trust, security, and a strong family bond. As Christian families, we are called to walk in truth and love — reflecting God’s steadfast love to our children through every season of their lives.
Giving
Posted on May 5, 2025
by Rev. Max Phillips
With Easter joy, our work as the Lord’s church marches on from here toward heaven. Salvation is won, Christ’s victory is ours. Though, in a strange contradiction, tears in this world shall remain until the end. There will be seasons that will make it appear that there is no end to struggles in this life. There is help where there is hope.
Marriage & Relationships
Posted on April 24, 2025
by Hannah Fowler, tLMFT
Premarital counseling with a therapist or trained professional who can help you and your future spouse navigate topics and issues, and tailor premarital counseling sessions to you, is a wonderful way to prepare for your marriage.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on April 20, 2025
by Angela Kollbaum, LIMHP, CPC, DCE
March 15, 2020 is a date that will be forever remembered. While the world slowed down and isolated in their homes to work and educate, church workers were increasing their pace and workload attempting to educate, minister, and care for the people of the church. Five years later, church workers need to finally allow for some slowing down.
Adoption
Posted on April 14, 2025
by Sue Shields, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC
Adoption is a lifelong journey filled with joy, complexity, growth, and faith. As families consider adoption, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. Our culture, media, and even well-meaning friends often contribute to adoption myths or misunderstandings that can make the adoption journey more challenging.
Mental Health
Posted on April 9, 2025
by Rita Burley, LISW
Meet Rita Burley, LISW, a mental health therapist serving clients in person in Fort Dodge and Carroll, IA and throughout the state of Iowa via telehealth. With more than two decades of experience, Rita has a special interest in working with farmers, farming families, and rural communities.
Marriage & Relationships
Posted on April 2, 2025
by Hannah Fowler, tLMFT
As wonderful as babies are, the addition of a new member to the family system is certainly a time of adjustment! My husband and I both felt the strain of the adjustment and had to work at staying connected while caring for our tiny little blessing. Here are some ways we worked at staying connected.
