How can well-being and wellness impact your life now - and in the future?
Research shows that stress and anxiety can kill us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Stress and anxiety in relationships can minimize our full potential often resulting in a total breakdown in communication.
Featuring contemporary clinical research and historically proven spiritual practices, the mindfully contemplative courses offered by the Awaken Kindness Academy, division of the Center to Awaken Kindness, provide inspiration to navigate a better life balance. Learn how to refocus and de-stress while enhancing well-being and wellness in self and others. These courses are for you if you desire to begin living into a different way of life.
Get ready to engage new thinking, explore new methods of participating in life, and benefit from access to on-demand self-guided mindfully contemplative courses.
Our Team of Experts
Penny and Bill are Doctors of the Soul. For over 20 years Penny and Bill, Rev Dr Penny Taylor LCSW and Rev Dr Bill Ressl LCSW, have been helping folks rediscover their life’s treasures and imagine new possibilities. As licensed clinical social workers, pastors, and professors, both Penny and Bill have supported individual renewal for those they have counseled, pastored, and taught.
Today they share their knowledge base to help inspire mindfully contemplative techniques, tools, and practices that are grounded clinically, spiritually, and ritualistically. Both Penny and Bill are Ordained Ministers in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) in Illinois. They bring their perspectives of their individual knowledge bases grounded in their PhDs in theology, ethics, and human sciences, MSWs, MDivs, and post-graduate certificates in family systems theory. And yes, Penny and Bill also share experiences from being married for over 30 years.
Rev. Dr. Penny L. Taylor, LCSW
Hi! I'm Penny Taylor.
I have dedicated my life to encouraging transformative adaptation in individuals, families, and social groups. As Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC) since 2004 and an LCSW in Illinois since 2009, I also hold a PhD in theology, ethics, and the human sciences as well as a post-graduate certificate in Bowen Family Systems Theory, MSW, and MDiv. In addition to teaching online, I have also taught graduate courses at Aurora University, Chicago Theological Seminary, Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago, and North Park University.
As a Co-Founder of Center to Awaken Kindness, I am always exploring new methods to offer mindful contemplative practices and tools online, including these online courses. I can also be found as a practicing Licensed Clinical Social Work. I serve clients through the Center to Awaken Kindness in Brookfield, Illinois and SamaraCare Counseling in Downers Grove, Illinois.
Rev. Dr. William G. Ressl, LCSW
Hi! I'm Bill Ressl.
Combining an interdisciplinary educational journey culminating in a PhD in theology, ethics, and the human sciences, I have dedicated my life to supporting transformative adaptation in individuals, families, and social groups. As an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC) since 2004 and an LCSW in Illinois since 2009, I have taught at Chicago Theological Seminary, Dominican University, and North Park University. From 2012 to 2020 I taught advanced clinical MSW and DSW courses at Aurora University.
With Penny Taylor, I am a Co-Founder of the Center to Awaken Kindness, a division of the Penny & Bill Company. Visit us at the Center at CenterToAwakenKindness.com I also practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Work serving clients through the Center to Awaken Kindness in Brookfield, Illinois and SamaraCare Counseling in Downers Grove, Illinois.