Alexandria Gohla, MSW, LCSW, Ed.S, a licensed clinician and owner of Bluebird Counseling Services shares her expertise on how to best support parents whose children are in therapy. From understanding the emotional rollercoaster that parents may face to offering practical tips for creating a nurturing environment at home, this conversation is a must-listen for any caregiver, educator, or mental health professional. Tune in for actionable advice that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of both parents and children navigating the therapy journey.

Heather Olsson. LCPC of Ellie Mental Health and Matt Toman, FNP-C of Just Breate Mental Health come together to discuss the importance of addressing your physical and mental health as one.

Matt Toman, APRN, Integrated Whole-Person Focus (FNP-C, PHMNP expected 2025)
Matt Toman brings a unique blend of empathy and expertise to mental health care. With a background in family practice and oncology, he now practices in mental health medication management at Just Breathe Mental Health, emphasizing an integrated whole-person focus that unites physical and emotional wellness. Matt’s passion is deeply personal. Recently married, his relationship has taught him the power of empathy, honest communication, and self-growth — lessons he applies daily in his work. As a Dad and Bonus Dad to neurodivergent children, Matt has developed a profound understanding of the diverse ways people experience the world, inspiring his patient-centered, compassionate approach. He is dedicated to helping clients build stronger, healthier connections that uplift not only individuals but entire families. If there’s a hat, yo, I wear it! Heather Olsson earned her LCPC in 2011 and has been juggling roles ever since. As the Executive Director for Naperville Ellie Mental Health, Heather seamlessly switches between therapist, marketing guru, presenter, corporate/school trainer, supervisor, and consultant. She even developed an internship program and isn’t afraid to dive into some occasional maintenance work when needed.Heather Olsson, LCPC, leads Naperville Ellie Mental Health with a blend of compassion, humor, and the occasional coffee-fueled pep talk. As Executive Director, she emphasizes an integrated whole-person approach, believing that true wellness comes from addressing emotional, physical, and relational needs. Heather’s dedication is fueled by her roles as a mom and bonus mom, advocate, and President-elect of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling in Illinois (ACACI). She also serves as a board member of Youth Outlook, supporting LGBTQ+ youth and advocating for inclusive community resources. When she’s not busy “taking these broken wings and learning to fly” at work or at home, she’s championing meaningful change with vulnerability and a steadfast dedication to helping others learn to self-advocate and understand that “what we resist, persists.”

Disclaimer: Heather’s bio may contain borrowed Beatles lyrics and wise words from Carl Jung — because who wouldn’t want some classic wisdom and a little rock ‘n’ roll flair in their life story?

Myriam Sanchez is a licensed clinical professional counselor and the owner of Your Family Wellness Village PLLC – a mental health private practice focusing on perinatal, couples, and families. Her small but mighty private practice group includes 3 employees and services over 60 clients a week through in-person and telehealth services. Other specialties include, faith-based therapy, OCD, grief, and trauma. In 2023, Myriam opened up Cohera LLC – a health and wellness community and coworking space for mental health, healthcare, and wellness providers. The Cohera community now comprises of over a doze independent businesses servicing the DuPage county through mental health, pre and post-natal doula, massage, and acupuncture services, as well as hosting several healthcare and wellness events each month.

Myriam obtained her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler University in 2012. Prior to launching her mental health practice, Myriam worked for 7 years in several settings. During those years, she was a clinical therapist and supervisor at a private practice, provided Maternal Mental Health consultations for patients in the Mother-Baby unit and for outpatient providers at Edward hospital, and led pregnancy and postpartum support groups. Myriam also previously worked in a therapeutic day school and in the PHP/IOP programs at Linden Oaks Outpatient. Her favorite populations to work with include expectant and new parents adjusting to parenthood, perinatal anxiety, depression and OCD, couples seeking help for intimacy and communication issues, as well as new parents needing support and guidance in their parenting skills.

When Myriam is not working on developing her businesses, she spends time running after her 9- and 7-year-old, perusing recipe books to meal-prep whenever she can, tries yoga or barre classes every now and then, and attempts to keep up with home chores. It is not easy navigating these ever-changing roles as working moms, but Myriam believes that by connecting to our supportive village around us, we can do it! Because, it truly does take a village!

For more information on Myriam’s business ventures, visit www.yourfamilywellnessvillage.com and www.wearecohera.com.

**There has been an edit regarding the Hormones and Mental Health CE training we will be offering that I referred to on the show. Hormone CE is March 7 from noon to 3:30pm presentation by Mandy Hahn perinatal psychiatrist and Myriam Sanchez perinatal therapist. The link to register is: https://heritageprofessional.thinkific.com/bundles/hormones-in-the-lifespan-bundle

Join Alexandria Gohla, owner of Bluebird Counseling Services and your host. Today, we’re diving into the essential DBT "HOW" skills: One-Mindfully, Non-Judgmentally, and Effectively. These powerful techniques are designed to help you navigate life with greater focus, acceptance, and purpose. Join me as we explore practical ways to incorporate these skills into your daily routine and discover how they can enhance your emotional well-being and resilience.

Join Alexandria Gohla, owner of Bluebird Counseling Services and your host. In today’s episode, we’re delving into the DBT "What" skills: Observe, Describe, and Participate. These essential techniques are designed to help you engage more effectively with your experiences and surroundings. By learning to Observe without judgment, Describe with clarity, and Participate fully in the present moment, you can enhance your emotional awareness and improve your interactions with the world. Join me as we explore how to apply these skills in your daily life to foster greater mindfulness and resilience.

In this episode of The Nest, Alexandria Gohla—owner of Bluebird Counseling Services and host of The Nest Podcast—delves into the DBT strategy known as Wisemind—a concept that beautifully integrates our “Doing Mind” and “Being Mind” to help us navigate life with greater balance and clarity. Wisemind encourages us to walk the middle path, finding harmony between action-oriented thinking and mindful presence. Join me as we delve into how Wisemind can help you achieve emotional equilibrium, make thoughtful decisions, and respond to life’s challenges with wisdom and grace. Let’s dive in!

Join Justin Irvin, LCPC, of Ivy Lane Counseling our dynamic DBT expert, as he dives into the world of Dialectical Behavior Therapy with energy and enthusiasm! Justin brings a sense of whimsy to the process, using gamified treatment methods and collaborative problem-solving techniques in both group and individual sessions. His mission? To help you reconnect with the life you desire by focusing on the things and people that matter most to you. Tune in for insightful skills and strategies that can transform your journey!

Join Kristen Marzolf, LCSW, SEP from The Family Resilience Group as we discuss adding somatic methods to therapy.

Kristen is the Founder and Director of the Family Resilience Group. She made it her mission to build a practice that went beyond traditional talk therapy to transformative family change. She recognized early on the need for a deeper level of work and constantly seeks out the most innovative approaches to treatment.

Kristen has then spent the last decade building a team that shares the same enthusiasm for learning and dedication to excellent client care.

As a clinician, Kristen brings a connected, effective, clear presence to the therapy room that often feels very reassuring to clients. Her clients credit her with the ability to combine compassionate wisdom with the cutting-edge insights of Somatic Experiencing to first meet people where they are, while guiding them towards where they want to go with clarity. She skillfully manages a loyal following of clients with complex situations, some from different parts of the world/country by telehealth. She especially enjoys working with parents to identify different ways to manage their families with health, warmth and skill.

https://www.familyresilience.org/kristen-marzolf/