Gelana Says.....

I heard last night that a child in Washington, IL took his own life after experiencing bullying.  I don't know any details but my heart aches for him and his family.  And yes, even for the bully himself.  Some may wonder how I can feel bad for the one who has caused this death when the child we have lost leaves behind grieving loved ones.  I feel bad because this person will now have the death of someone on his conscious the rest of his life.  The issues making him a bully were already enough. I feel bad for the next kid who is bullied and gives up.  I feel bad for the next family that grieves. I feel bad for the community that is impacted in these situations.  Nobody wins. I worry more because Pekin has been the victim to many young suicides over the years I have lived here. The tragedy doesn't need to continue.  All we have to do is help our children no longer be a victim.  To no longer fear who they are and stand up to other's fear. ...

My family and I moved to Pekin almost 8 years ago and in that time my own children have been met with bullies, suicides and self harming of close friends and multiple other traumas including other kinds of death.   Children shouldn't have to go through these kinds of traumas so early in life, but unfortunately it is our world today. Like many in Pekin and the surrounding area, I have followed the story of Robert Bee.  I did not know him or his family and I will never claim to know what might have happened.  What I do know is how heartbreaking his story is and how it has affected me personally.  I can't imagine how difficult it has been for those who knew Robert personally. Many years ago, before I started grad school, I worked in non-profit agencies that struggled to have enough services available for their clients.  Today I can finally provide something to the community I couldn't in the past. Since bullying is such a huge issue in Pekin, I decided to hos...

It has been some time since I posted to my blog as I have made plans and moved forward into the next phase of my life.  I am still a happy Plexus Ambassador, but I am now living my life long dream and diving into my Psychotherapy Private Practice. I have worked with hundreds of people since I started my career over 20 years ago.  It seems like a lifetime ago, but my journey into private practice has been a dream since that time.  I am very excited to have been given the opportunity to partner and work with Kathleen Woolsey, LCPC in Pekin IL. She has been a therapist for 30 years and a phenomenal mentor thus far. Over the years as I have gained my experience working in the trenches at John R Day/Christian Psychological, Preferred Family Healthcare, Great Circle, Children's Home and Lutheran Social Services.  Those agencies have given me invaluable experience working with trauma, adoption, foster care, families from all walks of life as well as addictions/substance abu...