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About Audrey
Highland Park Spotlight
In the wake of the tragic 4th of July shooting in Highland Park, Audrey spearheaded the mobilization of a team of therapists to provide free counseling services to the community. In partnership with School District 113, the City of Highland Park, the FBI and the Red Cross, and over the course of five days (July 5-July 9), the pop up Community Counseling Team (CCT) saw survivors and individuals at a rapid rate. The following are the outcomes of our service.
Community Impact Summary
Audrey Grunst, LCSW & CEO founded Simply Bee in February 2018 with a vision to create an impact in mental health.
Audrey has been a provider in the mental health field since 2007, most known for her therapy skills in outpatient and intensive therapeutic programs. She opened Simply Bee in 2018 after spending 10 years in residential, group homes, intensive outpatient and partial hospital programs. Audrey has been able to connect treatment centers to community organizations and schools in order to provide the best continuation of care possible for her clients. Currently, Audrey spends a lot of her time presenting her Growth & Resiliency Model© to school districts and corporations across the country.
Audrey graduated from Loyola University Masters of Social Work Program in 2011 and developed programs for centers such as Lawrence Hall Youth Services, Eating Recovery Centers and Center for Contextual Change. Most recently, Audrey was awarded The Illinois Senate Award for her leadership in the Highland Park Fourth of July Shooting in 2022 for organizing over 600 therapists in a 5 day volunteer operation. Audrey combines her clinical knowledge and leadership skills to consult on several boards for mental health and safety in the Lake County, IL area and was recognized on Top 50 Women Leaders of Illinois for 2023.
Creator of the Growth & Resiliency Model©
The Growth & Resiliency Model© was created and copyrighted in 2021 by Simply Bee CEO Audrey Grunst, LCSW. It is the foundation of the work we do here. This comprehensive five-step model is designed to fuse theory, skill, and knowledge into people's understanding of their personal growth and emotional development.
The theory behind this model is that a growth mindset occurs when you are aware of your internal world, can observe it without judgment, know how to respond instead of react, and can integrate all of that information into the external world effectively. The final step is to reflect on the process, celebrate what went well and learn from what didn't. Through the use of this model, we believe you can learn to intuitively overcome life's daily challenges and appreciate them as opportunities for positive change.
Podcast
Hosted by Audrey Grunst, LCSW
Our biggest lessons in life come from imperfect moments. That is why “well, not perfect” is an honest yet encouraging phrase often heard inside Audrey Grunst's therapy practice, Simply Bee. Everyday we face messy, difficult and real life problems and striving for growth rather than perfection is the healthiest mindset to have.
On this podcast, you will hear experts share their personal and professional experiences that aim to inspire and humble listeners to examine their own mindset through a therapeutic lens that only a mental health expert can offer.
Join us and learn how our guests are breaking stigmas, raising awareness, providing support—and overall taking action to make this world a more mental health inclusive place, despite the process being…well, not perfect.
Published Works
5 Steps To Grow A Resilient Mind
“Therapy in between therapy” is how many are describing 5 Steps To Grow A Resilient Mind. Written by experienced therapist Audrey Grunst, LCSW for clients who need a little more support than what traditional once-a-week therapy provides, Audrey put her knowledge on paper to teach anyone how to grow themselves anytime and anywhere. This book takes an in-depth look at each of the five steps of Audrey's Growth & Resiliency Model©, providing background information, tangible skills, and journaling template pages to practice what you've learned.
4 Ways To Cope With Uncertainty E-Book
Uncertainty is a major stressor and barrier for many. Through the topics of growth mindset, mindfulness, the grief and loss process and confidence, Audrey Grunst, LCSW provides tips on how to stay motivated and grounded during times of change.
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