APRIL events are scheduled!
Psychotherapy and support groups at Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC offer a safe, guided space to share your story, deepen insight, and practice new ways of coping and connecting with others. Together, we work to reduce feelings of isolation, build self‑awareness, and support meaningful, sustainable change in your life.
We offer groups for different ages and life stages, creating supportive spaces for youth, adults, and caregivers to learn, heal, and grow alongside others.
Empowering teen girls to grow into their authentic selves
Becoming Her is a creative, supportive counseling group where teen girls age 14-18 can grow, express, and embrace who they are—becoming who they’re meant to be, one moment at a time. Through art, reflection, and connection, participants learn to understand their emotions, strengthen self-awareness, and build confidence and compassion toward themselves and others.
When: 2nd & 4rd Saturday of the month | 1–3 PM
Where: Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC
Who is this group for?
Teen girls ages 14–18 looking for a supportive, growth-focused group.
Teens navigating stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, mood changes, or relationship/friendship challenges who could benefit from peer support and coping skills.
Teens who may already be in individual counseling and want added support, or those new to counseling who want a gentle, creative place to start.
Teens who are open to using art, reflection, and conversation to explore emotions, mind–body connection, and their growing sense of self.
Why Join?
Explore emotions and self-expression through creative activities.
Build confidence, resilience, and emotional awareness.
Learn how thoughts, feelings, and body responses are connected.
Strengthen communication and boundary-setting skills.
Connect with others in a supportive, judgement-free environment.
Develop self-compassion and a sense of belonging.
Investment:
No cost, come as you are!
Light snacks and refreshments provided.
Facilitator: Jennifer Pendleton, BS, MHP, Graduate Student Intern under supervision
Join Today: This is an open, ongoing group - drop-ins welcome with registration. Click "Reserve Your Spot" and follow the prompts!
Questions?
📞 309-232-8669
✉️ admin@pulsecounselingandwellness.com or jennifer@pulsecounselingandwellness.com
"Rooted in creativity. Growing in confidence. Becoming Her."
Discover, Create, & Connect
Creative Connections is a ongoing personal growth group for adults 19+ that blends expressive art with guided self-reflection in a welcoming, judgment-free space. Participants explore emotions, values, and communication styles while building self-awareness, coping skills, and healthy boundaries through connection, reflection, and skills-based learning. No art experience is needed—just a willingness to show up, be curious, and grow.
When: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month | 6-8 PM
Where: Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC
Who is this group for?
Adults age 19+ seeking a supportive space for personal growth, reflection, and connection.
People navigating stress, life transitions, relationships, or burnout who want practical tools and a grounded, creative outlet.
Those already in therapy who want added support, or anyone new to growth work who prefers a gentle, low-pressure entry point.
Community members open to using art, discussion, and self-reflection to better understand themselves and how they relate to others.
What You Can Expect
Boost your confidence and creativity in a supportive, judgment-free group.
Practice real-life communication, boundary-setting, and coping skills in a safe environment.
Build meaningful, supportive connections with others who “get it.”
Experience interactive, hands-on learning that engages both mind and body.
Take intentional time for yourself to slow down, reflect, and reset.
Investment:
No cost, come as you are!
Light snacks and refreshments provided.
Facilitator: Jennifer Pendleton, BS, MHP, Graduate Student Intern under supervision
Join Today: This is an open, ongoing group - drop-ins welcome with registration. Click "Reserve Your Spot" and follow the prompts! Click "Reserve Your Spot" and follow the prompts!
Questions?
📞 309-232-8669
✉️ admin@pulsecounselingandwellness.com or jennifer@pulsecounselingandwellness.com
“Your story, your strengths, your community—come create with us.”
Group Counseling for Adults 50+
Moments That Made Us is an 8‑week, closed counseling group where adults age 50+ can reflect on life experiences, discover personal strengths, and build meaningful connections in a warm, supportive space.
When: Every Wednesday | 1:30 - 3 PM | April 8th - May 27
Where: Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC
Who is this group for?
This group is designed for adults age 50+ who want to:
Reflect on the moments that have shaped their life story.
Recognize and build on their personal strengths and resilience.
Form meaningful, supportive connections with others in a similar life stage.
What You Can Expect
In this group, you will:
Take intentional time to slow down, reflect, and reset with others who “get it.”
Practice real-life communication, boundary-setting, and coping skills in a safe environment.
Share stories, explore emotions, and learn from others’ experiences to reduce isolation and increase a sense of belonging.
Engage in interactive, hands-on activities that support both mind and body.
Investment
$30 per session (8 sessions; $240 total)
Insurance & private pay accepted.
Light snacks and refreshments are provided!
Facilitator
Nick Widger, MS. Ed., QMHP, tLMHC
Jennifer Pendleton, BS, MHP, Graduate Student Intern under supervision.
Join Today
This is a closed group with a maximum of 8 participants. Once the group begins, no new members will be added so that trust and connection can deepen over time.
All clients interested in participating in the group will complete a 60-minute individual group screening with the group facilitator in order to determine level/appropriateness of fit.
Click “Join Today” to complete the brief interest form.
Questions?
📞 309-232-8669
✉️ admin@pulsecounselingandwellness.com or nick@npulsecounselingandwellness.com
“Reflecting on life’s journey and creating new experiences with others."
Group EMDR is a structured, evidence‑based approach to begin processing stuck stress and trauma in a small, therapist‑led group. It is designed to help you reduce emotional distress, increase regulation, and experience the power of healing in a supportive community setting.
You work quietly on your own within a structured group setting. Each session, you choose what to focus on, with guidance to help you pick something manageable. There’s no pressure to talk, explain, or disclose—just focused trauma processing at your own pace.
Getting started includes a one‑time 60‑minute individual intake/screening and orientation to be sure the group is the right fit and to help you feel prepared. After that, you attend drop‑in group EMDR sessions as your schedule allows.
When: Saturday, April 18, ongoing bimonthly | 1-3 PM | Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center
Where: Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC
Who is this group for?
Adults 18+ experiencing trauma‑ or stress‑related symptoms who are looking for structured support.
People who have gone through distressing or overwhelming experiences and feel “stuck” in the after‑effects.
Those already in therapy who want an additional, trauma‑focused space, or anyone open to EMDR in a gentle, guided group format.
Community members who like the idea of healing in connection with others but do not want to share their trauma story in detail out loud.
What You Can Expect
Process distressing experiences in a structured, EMDR‑informed group using the G‑TEP protocol.
Learn grounding, regulation, and coping skills to support your nervous system between sessions.
Reduce trauma‑ and stress‑related symptoms in a safe, therapist‑guided environment.
Experience the power of healing in community while still maintaining your own privacy and boundaries.
Build resilience, self‑understanding, and a greater sense of safety in your daily life.
Investment:
Intake/Screening Appointment: $100 for a 60‑minute Intake/Screening
Group Session: $130 per 2‑hour group session
Light snacks and refreshments provided.
This program is offered as a private‑pay service and is not billed to insurance. You may be able to use HSA/FSA funds; check with your plan. Limited reduced-fee spots may be available.
Facilitator(s):
Autumn DeKoster, LCPC, LMHC, CCMHC, ACS, CAADC, Certified EMDR Therapist,
Nick Widger, MS. Ed., QMHP, tLMHC
Click “Join Today” to complete the brief interest form.
Our team will contact you to set up your SimplePractice Client Portal, send intake forms, and schedule your Intake/Screening Appointment.
After your Screening, if we decide together that Group EMDR is a good fit, you can attend the April 18th group and future drop-in EMDR group sessions as your schedule allow.
Questions?
📞 309-232-8669
✉️ autumn@pulsecounselingandwellness.com
Please note:
Members will be accepted on an ongoing basis as room in the group allows (8 members max)
This group EMDR session is not a substitute for ongoing individual therapy or crisis services. Participation may increase emotional activation temporarily as trauma material is processed. If you are currently in crisis, have unstable medical or psychiatric conditions, or are in an unsafe environment, please seek a higher level of care or crisis support instead of this group.
“Healing what happened, with structure, safety, and support.”
Wellness Sound Journey is a counseling group is a therapeutic space for adults to rest, reset, and reconnect through sound and mindfulness. This group integrates sound therapy and mindful awareness to support emotional balance, resilience, and nervous system regulation. Participants learn practical coping skills for everyday stress, anxiety, and low mood while experiencing a calming, restorative environment for personal growth and connection.
When: To be announced. Check back for upcoming cohort dates.
Where: Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC
Who is this group for?
Adults 18+ seeking a gentle, restorative space to manage stress, anxiety, or low mood.
People curious about sound therapy and mindfulness as part of their wellness or recovery journey.
Those already in therapy who want additional nervous system regulation support, or anyone new to mental wellness spaces who prefers a low-pressure, experiential group.
Community members who want time set aside to slow down, tune in, and care for their mind and body.
What You Can Expect
Boost your confidence and creativity in a supportive, judgment-free group.
Practice real-life communication, boundary-setting, and coping skills in a safe environment.
Build meaningful, supportive connections with others who “get it.”
Experience interactive, hands-on learning that engages both mind and body.
Take intentional time for yourself to slow down, reflect, and reset.
Investment: No cost, come as you are! Light snacks and refreshments provided.
Facilitator: Autumn DeKoster, LCPC, LMHC, CCMHC, ACS, CAADC
Join Today: Click "Reserve Your Spot" and follow the prompts!
Questions?
📞 309-232-8669
✉️ autumn@pulsecounselingandwellness.com
“Where sound softens stress and nurtures resilience.”
Wellness Sound Journey for Helping Professionals is a counseling group designed specifically for therapists and other helpers to prioritize their own well-being. Through a blend of sound therapy, mindfulness practices, and guided reflection, participants can gently decompress, reduce compassion fatigue, and reconnect with themselves beyond their professional roles. Led by a licensed clinical professional counselor, each session weaves together sound baths, guided meditation, and shared dialogue to support nervous system regulation, resilience, and sustainable practice in the helping professions.
When: To be announced. Check back for upcoming cohort dates.
Where: Pulse Counseling & Wellness Center PLLC
Who is this group for?
Therapists, counselors, social workers, case managers, and other helping professionals seeking space to tend to their own wellness.
Helpers experiencing stress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or early signs of burnout who want gentle, embodied support.
Clinicians who want to deepen nervous system awareness and regulation skills they can use personally and clinically.
Professionals who value community, reflection, and experiential practices like sound baths and mindfulness.
What You Can Expect
Create intentional space to care for the caregiver in you.
Experience sound baths and mindfulness as tools for nervous system regulation and recovery from stress.
Develop practical, portable coping strategies for compassion fatigue and burnout.
Connect with like-minded professionals who understand the realities of helping work.
Leave feeling more grounded, resourced, and aligned with your values as a helper.
Investment: No cost, come as you are! Light snacks and refreshments provided.
Facilitator: Autumn DeKoster, LCPC, LMHC, CCMHC, ACS, CAADC
Join Today: Click "Reserve Your Spot" and follow the prompts!
Questions?
📞 309-232-8669
✉️ autumn@pulsecounselingandwellness.com
“Where helpers pause, rest, and remember themselves.”
Creative Connections is supported in part by a Community-Based Group Counseling Grant from the Illinois Association for Specialists in Group Work (IASGW).