Knox Graduate Becky Mowers Nelson Continues Her Practice in Galesburg

A student, an athlete, a coach, a graduate, and a Hall of Famer—Becky Mowers Nelson ’04 accomplished just about everything at Knox College. 

After graduating in 2004, the Toulon, Illinois, native continued to build on her experiences. She earned an MSW in clinical social work from Washington University in St. Louis, played club volleyball for Team USA, and started multiple businesses.

Since 2008, Mowers Nelson and her family have called Galesburg their home, joining the many Knox College graduates who choose to stay or return to their collegiate hometown.

What brought you to Knox for college?

I visited 22 schools, which was insane. I knew I wanted to go to a small, private school, somewhere within a five-hour drive. Knox was one of the last schools I went to. I thought it was too close, but I loved the campus. It was so green, it felt homey, and I really clicked with [softball and volleyball] Coach [Kathy] Wagoner, with whom I had two sports. That was a big deal for me. I liked the quality of the academics Knox was known for, which was important to me, and, really, it all just felt right.

Did you always intend to pursue psychology, or did your path change along the way?

I thought I was going to do something like environmental studies. I tried three different majors, then I took a counseling class, and that was it for me; it was like, “I love this.”

How much do you think athletics played a role in your time at Knox, but then also in your life post-graduation?

I was always a student-athlete. Athletics were a very big part of me; I knew I wanted to play, but I also wanted to be challenged academically. It was a nice mix at Knox. I always did better when I was in season. You only have so much time to study, so doing athletics helped me better manage my time. It’s a lot of work, it takes a lot of organization, especially when you’re doing long bus rides to and from games. It helped me be a good planner, and it taught me lessons from sports: how hard you can push yourself, how far you can go, and not to doubt yourself.

Did you continue your involvement in athletics after your time at Knox, and if so, in what ways?

I played sports past Knox, too. I played club volleyball in grad school at Washington University in St. Louis, and that was really fun. They have an excellent program that went to an international tournament. I was selected for an all-star team and played in the Virgin Islands with Team USA.

What led you back to Galesburg after your studies?

I was planning to stay in St. Louis. I really liked the area, but I got a call from Coach Wagoner. She didn’t have an assistant in either sport and asked me to come back and be her assistant coach. I didn’t know if I could get a job, but I put my application in at Bridgeway, and they were so happy to have a master's-level clinician come in, so I got hired right away. I did some assistant coaching for a year, then my schedule got crazy at Bridgeway.

After returning, what has kept you in Galesburg over the years?

I met my husband, fell in love, and bought a house. Plus, both of our families are from around here. I like living in a smaller community. I loved growing up in Toulon, so I was fine with staying in a smaller community. Our families are so close, it’s tough to beat.

Professionally, what has your journey in Galesburg looked like since you settled here?

First came Crossroads, the group private practice we run. My business partner and I, Lindsey Peachey, started it in 2008. She worked with me for a while at Bridgeway, then we were recruited to work at a private practice in Macomb. We were there for about a year, and they closed. She was all about starting a private practice. I didn’t know (about starting a practice) because I was 25, but we took the big risk, and it’s been a huge success. 

In addition to Crossroads, you started Abby & Noah Co. How did this business begin?

Since late 2022, in my spare time, I've started another business called Abby and Noah Co., which designs sensory products for people with sensory issues, whether it’s autism, anxiety, or sensory processing issues. I found a manufacturer, and I sell them on my website and on Amazon. It’s a field that needs support. There’s a major increase in the number of people diagnosed with autism, and there are very few products, especially for adults. 

What is your experience providing counseling services within the Galesburg community?

Working in rural mental health care has its blessings and challenges. You have to be able to be everyone because there aren’t many referral sources, so it’s hard to specialize. That’s been nice in a way—you learn a lot because you have to be competent in everything. Through the years, I have definitely realized you have to have experience working with trauma because everyone has trauma, even if they come in for other things; there’s always some trauma background that’s causing issues. I’ve really started honing in on specialized treatment for trauma. It's hard work, but it is so rewarding; You make so much more progress than people would otherwise.

The community has been very welcoming; it’s a huge need. We were accepted by the medical community right away, as well as by referral services and the faith community, because we offer Christian counseling. We don’t only do that, but it is a specialty we can do. You realize how small the town is because you can't go anywhere without seeing clients, but people are really good about it. I've just really enjoyed it.