She’s Not Crazy

Book, Podcast & Movement….

Are you exhausted from the pressures today’s world puts on us for being perfect? Striving to be your best in relationships, friendships, family, dating, marriage, parenting, career, and – oh, and don’t forget- looking physically perfect?

It’s enough to make anyone feel like you’re going crazy.

If you’re like millions of other “she’s”, you may feel confused by your mood, anxiety and feelings. Understanding your mind, mood and feelings are the key to unlocking your greatest life. You’re not crazy. You’re not alone. You’re not the only one dealing with your struggles. We’re in this together!

About the author

Lauren Schifferdecker is a TEDx speaker, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, entrepreneur, author, wife and mom . She founded Inspire in 2015 in a humble storage closet. Today, Inspire has nearly 70 employees across four locations in the Chicagoland area, offering counseling and psychiatry services. Most recently, Lauren has been named a “Power Woman” in Sheridan Road magazine’s 2023 roundup– as well as the “Most Influential Women Entrepreneurs Thriving in the Healthcare Ecosystem in 2023” by Healthcare Insights magazine.

Lauren’s here to offer a fresh approach for mental health with humor and heart-felt stories, and techniques that will inspire, educate and entertain you along the way!

“She’s Not Crazy” BOOK

If you’ve ever felt lost or confused by your feelings, you’re not crazy. More importantly, you’re not alone. “She’s Not Crazy” is an act of love.
Lauren is a seasoned psychotherapist sharing heartfelt, relatable and vulnerable stories from her own life and professional tools to harness your feminine power. This isn’t just for women. Feminine power is for all humans. Feminine power is in all humans.
Society openly celebrates masculine power, but often overlooks the feminine gifts in power. The truth is we need both for balance. In this book, you’ll gain realistic and easy steps to harness your divine feminine power to enhance your relationships, success and life.
ALL PROCEEDS from the book will be used for Inspire Change for Mental Health. A 501c3 Non-Profit group Lauren started to offer counseling services to people without insurance or ability to pay for services.
She’s Not Crazy book will be available for pre-order on Amazon and Kindle in late 2023. Sign up for our e-newlsetter to be notified once the book is available for order.

“She’s Not Crazy”

Book by ~ Lauren Schifferdecker, MA, LCPC

As a mom, wife, former public relations executive, multi-site counseling practice owner, TEDx speaker and Podcast host–I can tell you I know a thing or two about feeling crazy trying to keep up with everything!! (and yes, I know, I use too many explanation points and emojis!!!)

After struggling to feel comfortable in my own skin for years, I finally decided to do something about it. In my quest to understand what was going on in my own head, it turned into a life-long obsession to create understanding and hacks to help find balance and peace. I’ve helped hundreds of clients, employees, listeners and people in the community step into who they really are and confidently show up in their lives like never before. I’m glad you’re here, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s next!

Catch all new episodes of "She's Not Crazy" Podcast only on

About The Show

Are you exhausted from the pressures today’s world puts on us for being perfect? Striving to be your best in relationships, friendships, family, dating, marriage, parenting, career, and – oh, and don’t forget- looking physically perfect? It’s enough to make anyone feel like you’re going crazy.

If you’re like millions of other “she’s”, you may feel confused by your mood, anxiety and feelings. Understanding your mind, mood and feelings are the key to unlocking your greatest life. Tap into the power of feeling balanced and living life on YOUR terms. Join thousands of other “she’s” on a journey to have more peace, happiness, connection and authentic relationships.

When you feel balanced and feel in control, everything in your life works better.

Tune In to The Latest Episodes!!

“She’s Not Crazy” PODCAST

Lauren Schifferdecker, TEDx speaker, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, is here to go on a journey, together, of discovery using a fresh approach for mental health hacks, humor and heart-felt stories, and techniques that will inspire, educate and entertain you along the way!

“She’s Not Crazy”

Podcast Host ~ Lauren Schifferdecker

As a mom, wife, former public relations executive, multi-site counseling practice owner, TEDx speaker and Podcast host–I can tell you I know a thing or two about feeling crazy trying to keep up with everything!! (and yes, I know, I use too many explanation points and emojis!!!)

After struggling to feel comfortable in my own skin for years, I finally decided to do something about it. In my quest to understand what was going on in my own head, it turned into a life-long obsession to create understanding and hacks to help find balance and peace. I’ve helped hundreds of clients, employees, listeners and people in the community step into who they really are and confidently show up in their lives like never before. I’m glad you’re here, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s next!

Catch all new episodes of "She's Not Crazy" Podcast only on

About The Show

Are you exhausted from the pressures today’s world puts on us for being perfect? Striving to be your best in relationships, friendships, family, dating, marriage, parenting, career, and – oh, and don’t forget- looking physically perfect? It’s enough to make anyone feel like you’re going crazy.

If you’re like millions of other “she’s”, you may feel confused by your mood, anxiety and feelings. Understanding your mind, mood and feelings are the key to unlocking your greatest life. Tap into the power of feeling balanced and living life on YOUR terms. Join thousands of other “she’s” on a journey to have more peace, happiness, connection and authentic relationships.

When you feel balanced and feel in control, everything in your life works better.

Tune In to The Latest Episodes!!

“She’s Not Crazy”

Podcast Host ~ Lauren Schifferdecker

As a mom, wife, former public relations executive, multi-site counseling practice owner, TEDx speaker and Podcast host–I can tell you I know a thing or two about feeling crazy trying to keep up with everything!! (and yes, I know, I use too many explanation points and emojis!!!)

After struggling to feel comfortable in my own skin for years, I finally decided to do something about it. In my quest to understand what was going on in my own head, it turned into a life-long obsession to create understanding and hacks to help find balance and peace. I’ve helped hundreds of clients, employees, listeners and people in the community step into who they really are and confidently show up in their lives like never before. I’m glad you’re here, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s next!

Catch all new episodes of "She's Not Crazy" Podcast only on

About The Show

Are you exhausted from the pressures today’s world puts on us for being perfect? Striving to be your best in relationships, friendships, family, dating, marriage, parenting, career, and – oh, and don’t forget- looking physically perfect? It’s enough to make anyone feel like you’re going crazy.

If you’re like millions of other “she’s”, you may feel confused by your mood, anxiety and feelings. Understanding your mind, mood and feelings are the key to unlocking your greatest life. Tap into the power of feeling balanced and living life on YOUR terms. Join thousands of other “she’s” on a journey to have more peace, happiness, connection and authentic relationships.

When you feel balanced and feel in control, everything in your life works better.

Tune In to The Latest Episodes!!

“She’s Not Crazy”

Podcast Host ~ Lauren Schifferdecker

As a mom, wife, former public relations executive, multi-site counseling practice owner, TEDx speaker and Podcast host–I can tell you I know a thing or two about feeling crazy trying to keep up with everything!! (and yes, I know, I use too many explanation points and emojis!!!)

After struggling to feel comfortable in my own skin for years, I finally decided to do something about it. In my quest to understand what was going on in my own head, it turned into a life-long obsession to create understanding and hacks to help find balance and peace. I’ve helped hundreds of clients, employees, listeners and people in the community step into who they really are and confidently show up in their lives like never before. I’m glad you’re here, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s next!

Catch all new episodes of "She's Not Crazy" Podcast only on

About The Show

Are you exhausted from the pressures today’s world puts on us for being perfect? Striving to be your best in relationships, friendships, family, dating, marriage, parenting, career, and – oh, and don’t forget- looking physically perfect? It’s enough to make anyone feel like you’re going crazy.

If you’re like millions of other “she’s”, you may feel confused by your mood, anxiety and feelings. Understanding your mind, mood and feelings are the key to unlocking your greatest life. Tap into the power of feeling balanced and living life on YOUR terms. Join thousands of other “she’s” on a journey to have more peace, happiness, connection and authentic relationships.

When you feel balanced and feel in control, everything in your life works better.

Tune In to The Latest Episodes!!

Transforming work relationships & culture trough conflict

Listen to how real conflict at work can be used to build trust, eliminate drama, transform the culture in the midst of growing pains.

Men’s emotions – what’s really going on?

Get the scoop from a top male therapist who reveals what’s really going on with men’s emotions and the struggle between feeling shut-down and explosive blow ups. Not only that – hear his personal story about relationship struggles, counseling and why men so often stay silent.

Why guys struggle with emotions.

There is a profound loss for boys and men when they can’t express their wants, needs and feelings. If we can redefine masculinity and manhood, we can improve relationships and allow guys to feel alive and happy again.

Being a person your kids want to talk to

Snag this magic tool for talking to your kids, so you are a person they’ll want to share with again. Relating instead of fixing our kids problems.

What should we do when our kids face challenges?

It’s so hard when our kids face challenges and make mistakes. Here’s one simple trick to partner with them today, so they have tools to solve bigger problems in the future.

Go to bed angry

We’ve all heard, never go to be angry. But, there’s a good reason to give yourself one night’s sleep to be more self-respecting and deliver a message that’s actually heard and understood.

The dance all couples do

All couples do a sort of dance. When your partner engages with you, asks a question or shares their feelings – it’s like asking you to dance. See why it’s so important to engage in those small, seemingly unimportant everyday interactions and “dance” with your partner.

Motivation is overrated ….and not required for success

How to talk to your kids, so they’ll talk to YOU!

No-Brainer ways to increase Self-confidence…. (seriously, no thinking required!)

Using jealousy to make your life better

The enemy of anxiety is action

Halloween drama has already started… and it’s not even October. 🎃

Every year, we hear from parents whose child wasn’t included in the group costume… wasn’t invited to trick-or-treat… or suddenly realizes everyone else already has Halloween plans.

And Halloween can make friendship struggles feel especially painful.

Because unlike a sleepover or birthday party, there isn’t an obvious limit.

You can trick-or-treat with one kid… or 20.

So when your child is the one left out, it can feel VERY personal.

And as parents, our instinct is often to FIX it.

Text the other parents. Find out what happened. Make new plans. Tell them those kids aren’t worth their time.

But before you fix anything… listen.

Try:

“That really hurts. I can understand why you feel left out.”

Sometimes these painful moments give us an opportunity to connect with our kids in a way we can't when everything is going well.

And then — as hard as this part is — let them experience some of the discomfort.

Because one of the most important things kids and teens can learn is:

“I can go through something hard… and I can handle it.”

We don’t build resilience by making sure our kids never feel rejected, disappointed, embarrassed, or left out.

We build it by staying beside them while they move through those feelings.

Halloween might feel huge right now.

But knowing, “I can handle hard things”?

That lasts a lot longer than Halloween. ❤️
Is your kid's friend group changing? 💔

When you hear, “They don’t like me anymore” does your heart skip a beat? Do you get fired up? Most parents feel something in the fight-flight range of reactions. We want to protect our kids from all pain. 

Maybe your daughter comes home crying. Her best friend is suddenly hanging out with someone else. She wasn't added to the new group chat. Maybe everyone was invited somewhere except her.

And every parental instinct in you says:

FIX IT.

Should you call another parent? Contact the school? Tell her those girls aren't worth her time?

Sometimes the best first step is actually much simpler:

Listen and connect. 

Friendships can change during the tween and teen years. Kids are figuring out who they are, where they belong, what they value in relationships, and how to navigate conflict, rejection and repair.

That doesn't make the heartbreak any less real.

Instead of immediately jumping into problem-solving mode, try:

💛 “That sounds really painful.”
💛 “Do you want me to listen, or would you like help figuring out what to do?”
💛 “What do you think happened?”
💛 “What would you like to happen next?”

Giving your child room to navigate age-appropriate friendship struggles can help them build confidence, boundaries, communication skills and resilience. So they can navigate age-appropriate struggles as they grow older. 

But stepping back doesn't mean ignoring everything.

If you're seeing persistent bullying, harassment, threats, online cruelty, significant school avoidance, increasing isolation, or major changes in your child's mood or behavior, it may be time for adults to become more involved.

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of parenting is recognizing that our job isn't to protect our kids from ever experiencing rejection. 

It's to help them realize they can handle it, and they are resilient. Also, they can learn that you are a safe person they can return to when it happens. ❤️

#TeenFriendships #MiddleSchool #MiddleSchoolFriendships #TweenParenting #ParentingTeens #TeenMentalHealth #FriendshipProblems #TeenAnxiety #ParentingTweens #InspireCounselingCenter
“I love my child…but I don’t fully understand.”

If your child or teen tells you they’re LGBTQ+, you may experience a lot of emotions at once. ❤️

You may worry about saying the wrong thing. You may have questions. You may need time to understand what your child is experiencing.

You don’t have to have all the answers to be a safe, supportive person in your child’s life.

Start with:

🌈 Listen before trying to solve
🌈 Stay curious
🌈 Ask what support looks like to them
🌈 Educate yourself rather than expecting your child to explain everything
🌈 Repair and try again when you get something wrong
🌈 Most importantly, remind them that your love isn’t conditional

Sometimes the most powerful thing a parent can say is:

“I may not understand everything you’re experiencing yet, but I love you, I’m listening, and we’re going to figure this out together.”

Our therapist Shannon Sabol, MS, has a special passion for supporting children, teens, young adults, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Shannon is an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist with professional experience supporting transgender and gender-nonconforming clients in both therapy and neuropsychological settings.

She also works with parents who want a supportive place to ask questions, learn, and strengthen their relationship with their child.

✨ Shannon is accepting new clients at our Evanston office and virtually.

Read Shannon’s full blog, “How Can I Support My LGBTQ+ Child—Even If I Don’t Fully Understand?” at the link in our bio.

#LGBTQYouth #LGBTQTeens #LGBTQParents #ParentingTeens #TeenMentalHealth #LGBTQMentalHealth #AffirmingTherapy #EvanstonTherapist #ChicagoTherapist #InspireCounselingCenter
Homecoming isn't fun for everyone. 💛

While some teens are excited about dresses, dates, pictures and the dance, others may be quietly worrying:

• What if nobody asks me?
• What if I don't have a group?
• What if my friends make plans without me?
• What if I hate how I look?
• What if I don't know what to do at the dance?
• What if everyone else is having more fun than I am?

And thanks to social media, teens don't just hear about what they missed anymore—they can watch the pictures, parties and group plans unfold in real time.

For parents, it can be tempting to say, “It's just Homecoming!” or “Just go and have fun!”

But to a teenager, Homecoming can feel like something much bigger: a very public measure of whether they belong.

So if your teen is struggling, try this instead:

💛 “I can understand why that hurts.”

💛 “What part are you most nervous about?”

💛 “Do you want me to listen, or do you want help figuring out what to do?”

And remember: A great high school experience doesn't require a picture-perfect Homecoming.

Our latest Inspire blog shares more about Homecoming anxiety, FOMO, friendship groups, dating pressure, body image—and how parents can help without trying to fix everything.

Read: “My Teen Is Anxious About Homecoming. How Can I Help?”

#Homecoming #HomecomingAnxiety #TeenAnxiety #TeenMentalHealth #ParentingTeens #SocialAnxiety #FOMO #TeenFriendships #BodyImage #InspireCounselingCenter