insights & resources

The Lake County Care Collective Blog

Articles, insights, and resources on mental health, holistic healthcare, and whole-person wellness — written by our providers serving Lake County, Illinois.

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6 min read

The Body Is More Connected Than You Think

Chronic pain rarely starts where it hurts. Nina Verhalen, Neuromuscular Therapist in Gurnee, IL, explores how the body's interconnected systems drive persistent pain — and how holistic integrative bodywork creates lasting relief.

5 min read

Starting Your Own Small Therapeutic Practice: Creating Work That Feels Aligned

For many clinicians, there comes a quiet pull inward — a desire to practice differently, to slow down, and to create something more intentional. April Wazny, LCPC explores what it means to build a small therapeutic practice that honors whole-person healing, and how Lake County Care Collective supports therapists in that journey.

8 min read

The Sweetest Way to Wreck Your Health

The typical American consumes about 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day — double the recommended amount. Certified Health Coach Bex Bucci breaks down what sugar is really doing to your body, your brain, and your children, and why the damage is quieter than you think.

5 min read

How Mold Toxicity and CIRS Led Me Back to Nutrition and Functional Medicine

Sometimes the path that changes your life begins with symptoms you can't explain. Shilpa Patel, Functional Nutritionist, shares her personal journey through mold toxicity and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) — and how it reignited her passion for root-cause nutrition and functional medicine.

7 min read

Transforming Healthcare: A Shift Towards Holistic Care Models

Healthcare is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Patients are seeking integrated, whole-person care — and providers are demanding more autonomy and collaboration. Explore how new models are reshaping the future of care delivery.

6 min read

The Body Is More Connected Than You Think

5 min read

Starting Your Own Small Therapeutic Practice: Creating Work That Feels Aligned

8 min read

The Sweetest Way to Wreck Your Health

5 min read

How Mold Toxicity and CIRS Led Me Back to Nutrition and Functional Medicine

7 min read

Transforming Healthcare: A Shift Towards Holistic Care Models

more coming soon

New Articles on the Way

Our providers are working on new articles covering mental health, holistic wellness, nutrition, and integrative care in Lake County, Illinois. Subscribe to be notified.

Featured Founder

Jennifer Martin Rieck

Founder · Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and founder of EpiJennetics Counseling & Consulting. With over twenty years in healthcare, she specializes in helping individuals overcome narcissistic and self-sacrificing relationship styles through Schema-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is also a Senior Level Executive Contributor at Brainz Magazine.

September 30, 2025 · 5 min read

The Importance of Understanding ADHD Relationships

This post explores the impact of ADHD on relationships, offering insight and practical tips to increase understanding and improve relationship functioning.

April 29, 2025 · 5 min read

Are You a Realist or is Negativity & Pessimism Schema Ruining Your Perspective?

This post explores the Early Maladaptive Schema of Negativity and Pessimism — its origin, impact, and practical tips for healing.

February 2025 · 4 min read

When Misinterpretations Add Insult to Injury

Exploring how misinterpretations in communication can compound emotional wounds and what we can do to break the cycle.

December 2024 · 6 min read

The Entitlement Spectrum: The Importance of Knowing Where You Fall

Social Isolation Schema creates a deep sense of being different and disconnected from others. Learn how schema therapy addresses this pattern.

January 2025 · 6 min read

The Impact and Treatment of Social Isolation Schema

Entitlement exists on a spectrum. Understanding where you fall — and how it shapes your relationships — is a crucial step toward healthier connection.

November 2024 · 5 min read

Enmeshment and Boundaries

Enmeshment occurs when boundaries between individuals become blurred. This post explores the schema roots of enmeshment and how to heal.

The Importance of Values in Mental Health, Identity, and Decision Making

Human values are the deeply held principles that guide behavior, shape identity, and influence decision-making. Across psychology, neuroscience, and counseling, research reveals their central role.

Understanding the Roots of Depression Through Failure Schema

For many struggling with depression, feelings of defeat and inadequacy are more than just symptoms — they are the surface manifestations of deeply held subconscious beliefs.

5 Ways to Practice Acceptance and Conflict Resolution

Boundaries and conflict resolution are deeply intertwined. Jennifer shares five practical ways to practice acceptance while navigating difficult relationships.

6 Tips for Navigating ADHD Challenges in Relationships

As awareness of ADHD grows, so does our understanding of how it shapes relationships. Jennifer offers six practical tips for navigating ADHD-related dynamics.

Understanding Narcissism, Giving, and the Balance of Healthy Relationships

A growing wave of content warns about narcissists — but what does healthy giving actually look like? Jennifer explores the balance between self-sacrifice and narcissism.

Understanding Early Maladaptive Schemas and Schema Therapy

Early Maladaptive Schemas are long-standing, negative belief patterns formed in childhood. Schema Therapy offers a path to identify and heal these deep-rooted patterns.

Featured Founder

April Wazny

Founder · Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC

April Wazny is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and founder of Winora’s Hope Counseling, established in honor of her mother. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in trauma-informed care and intergenerational healing. April is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and is an Executive Contributor at Brainz Magazine.

January 27, 2026 · 4 min read

When the Past Lives in the Present: Generational Trauma and Toxic Patterns from Childhood

Many behaviors people struggle with in adulthood didn’t start with them — they were learned, modeled, and survived in childhood, often across generations.

January 5, 2026 · 4 min read

The Silent Damage: How Narcissistic Personality Disorder Impacts Children

When a parent has narcissistic traits, the family system frequently revolves around control and emotional imbalance — with lasting impacts on children.

November 18, 2025 · 5 min read

Living in a Cancel Culture — When Families Are Divided by Politics, Media, and Miscommunication

Family gatherings that once felt safe now feel like emotional minefields. April explores how cancel culture is reshaping family relationships.

November 9, 2025 · 4 min read

When Love Divides

Divorce is one of the most emotionally complex experiences a family can navigate — especially for the children caught in the middle.

October 26, 2025 · 5 min read

Broken Bonds, Redeemed Hearts

There is a particular kind of grief that doesn’t come with a funeral — the grief of estrangement. April reflects on healing from broken family bonds.

September 8, 2025 · 5 min read

A Therapist's Reflection on Healing from Parental Trauma

As a therapist, April has the privilege of sitting with people in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives — hearing stories of profound pain and resilience.

Building a Practice That Heals the Whole Person

More therapists are beginning to reimagine not only where they work, but how they practice — moving beyond high-volume systems toward something more intentional and whole.

Understanding Generational Trauma and How Healing Begins

Every family carries stories. Some are told often — stories about resilience and sacrifice. But others are carried silently, passed down through patterns of pain.

Healthy Love, Unhealthy Love, and the Stories We Inherited

Many people come into therapy asking, ‘Why do I keep ending up in relationships that hurt?’ April explores the inherited stories that shape our relationship patterns.

The Weight of Silence – Inherited Trauma Across Generations

What happens when trauma does not end with one life? April explores how unresolved trauma is transmitted across generations and what healing looks like.

Navigating the Holidays with Trauma in Mind

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy — but for many carrying the weight of trauma, this time of year can feel overwhelming and isolating.

The Power of the Vulnerability Seat

Vulnerability used to feel like weakness — something to hide or avoid. But April now sees it as one of the most courageous seats we can choose to take.

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