Counselor Ellice

08/05/2025

01/05/2025

Happy World Laughter Day =)

Today I think of Dr. Steve Wilson, who is not only my teacher who invented laughter therapy, but also is a family friend of my good friend & RCIA sponsor, Mrs. Nikki Veneziano. He worked for decades in the prison system. He observed that every person regardless of background or (dis)ability, is born with the physical capacity to laugh. And, laughter is a very healthy practice. "Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem." (Mayo Clinic)

I love to laugh. Who or what makes you laugh? When's the last time you laughed?

26/04/2025

Rest in peace, Pope Francis. All the angels and saints, pray for us as you welcome him into heaven. 🙏

0400 EST Funerary mass cast live by CNBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06LtbYNuhEc

23/04/2025

Happy National Book Day =)

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."

There are a couple families' stories of how they formed their children, that really impacted me from a young age. The Kennedys required their children to read and report what they learned about the world, at the family dinner table; this developed the capacity to appreciate multiple perspectives, and to engage in critical discourse in a familial and kind manner.

One of the best gifts from the ultra wealthy of the early 1900's was in developing the national public library system in the USA. One of my fondest memories was participating in the library's reading challenges throughout the year, with my friends and siblings.

Who is an author that feels like a friend to you? What is a book that you wish more people would read? What is the book you would like to write, that has been waiting to be shared from inside of you?

23/04/2025

Maybe it's a little silly but I'm excited to learn with St. Catharine of Siena Church – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉 This parish is very special to me, because it is where I learned who my patron saint would be for my Catholic conversion and confirmation of faith! All the angels and saints, pray for Saint Catherine of Siena parish. May the Lord bless them.

22/04/2025

Happy World Earth Day =)

My favorite type of vacation is to visit a family friend's farm and get my hands in the dirt alongside them. My very good friends, the Doughertys, started Oxbow Farm, inspired by Dorothy Day's Catholic Worker Movement. It's a beautiful mission, open for folks who might have uncertainties or challenges in their journey, needing to figure things out, to come live and eat at their farm in exchange for providing helping hands on the farm.

The APA shares that taking care of the environment can positively impact mental health by reducing stress, improving mood, and enhancing overall well-being through activities like spending time in nature and maintaining a clean, organized environment.

What are your favorite plants? To eat? To plant and grow? Feel welcome to share photos of your favorite views of nature =)

20/04/2025

Happy Easter, the Lord is Risen from the Dead ❣

It is a day of new life and new beginnings: What are the new beginnings and journeys you intend to embark?

In our home, we thank the Lord and bless the name of the Lord for the Blessed Trinity's supremacy, sovereignty, and sufficiency over both life and death as we remember our late loved ones who we will meet again in heaven. We pray to live rightly in memory of them, and in honor of God.

18/04/2025

Mary, the Mother of God – Holding Grief with Grace

She held the Savior in her arms…
and later, she held Him as He died.
Mary, the Blessed Virgin, knew joy beyond words.
And sorrow beyond measure.
She said yes to mystery.
She said yes to things she couldn’t understand.
She stayed — even at the foot of the Cross.
📖 “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” – Luke 2:19
If your heart feels heavy with grief, confusion, or quiet pain —
Mary sees you.
You don’t need to rush clarity.
You don’t need to perform strength.
Just breathe. Just stay close to God.
She is with you in the silence.

11/04/2025

I'm so please to learn I received my first badge as one of EWTN's top fans! 🎉 Resources like EWTN may offer some benefits for mental health through its focus on faith and community. They offer stories of faith and resilience promoting a positive outlook. They also have pieces that focus on prayer and meditation which are wonderful practices to aid in finding peace and relaxation or managing stress and anxiety. It's essential to prioritize professional mental health care for diagnosis and treatment, for those who need that kind of support. (not an ad, ha) 🥰

11/04/2025

Happy National Siblings Day!

My and my husband's siblings are the best parts of our childhood, and have helped make us into who we are -- both for challenges and for good. Proverbs 17:17 “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

I was very touched that at both his own wedding, and at my own, my first brother recounted his vivid childhood memory of me advocating for him and our youngest sibling, so that older boys would not only be nice but also actively involve them on the basketball court. And everyone had a great day. I don't remember that moment, but I am so appreciative. I was protective of them when we were younger; and as we got older, I experienced them become my protectors, too.

Families don't come in a one size fits all. Sometimes sibling relationships are beautiful life-long, and sometimes sibling relationships go through many evolutions. Sometimes we "acquire" siblings in friends who feel like a kindred spirit. Who are the people you consider siblings, what are they like?

Romans 12:9, "Let love be genuine."

08/04/2025

Random Acts of Kindness shout out: Mr. G.R., a hospital parking attendant, covering the parking cost for a mom grieving the loss of a baby.

"This kind of thinking leads to a release of serotonin and dopamine, chemicals in the brain that are associated with happiness and pleasure. Acknowledging gratitude also decreases stress hormones. The short-term result is a reduction in anxiety and an improvement in mood." (Quote from HelpGuide)

What's one R.A.K. you benefited from, or, observed someone do? :)

05/04/2025

Hello!

I've experienced God as a loving and benevolent Higher Power, whose grace is unmatched. God has transformed my life in so many ways. One of those ways was inviting me into the world of well-being, to coach, consult, counsel those who need healing, who want growth, and who need support along that path.

I love people IRL, even though I'm definitely socially awkward and am later than a late bloomer with social media/ the online world. I have no idea how to share that same love online that I give in real life. But I want to give it a try, by here sharing something positive or helpful one post at a time.

Feel welcome to follow along, join any threads of conversations, ask questions, ask for prayer intentions, refer someone to my services, or reach out to start your path to living well!

With prayer and love,