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Hannah Hopper

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Keys to Communicating With Your Partner

March 11, 2020

Hannah Hopper Often times when a couple comes in to see me for counseling, one of the biggest things they are trying to work through is how to communicate better with one another. This could be from not getting enough time together to talk throughout the week, not knowing how to express their needs without getting into an argument, or being unable to respectfully listen to their partner when they disagree and hold different opinions and values.…

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Am I in a Healthy Relationship?

February 24, 2020

Hannah Hopper There are some things that your partner does that initially seemed cute and endearing, but as the months go on you’ve started to feel uncomfortable and question if these behaviors are healthy or not. Sometimes in the midst of an unhealthy relationship, it can be hard to spot the warning signs and red flags, but this blog focuses on some ways that a relationship can be unhealthy. Not Accepting You as You Are Yes, we…

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Winning the Fight With Winter Blues

January 30, 2020

Hannah Hopper It’s that time of year again in Chicago when the days are shorter, the sky is grayer, and it feels a lot harder to get out of bed and face the piercing wind. Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a mood disorder that typically begins and ends around the same time each year, and often takes place in the winter months. For most people the symptoms begin in the Fall as the colder weather sets…

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Signs You May Be Having An Emotional Affair

January 27, 2020

Hannah Hopper  It may just seem like you have really good chemistry with someone from work. Or maybe it is a friendship where you can always be met with a listening ear and someone who gives you a lot of special attention. Going from casual friend to someone you’re having an emotional affair with is a blurry line, and sometimes this can happen so gradually that it’s difficult to even notice when it first began. Verywell Mind…

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Increase Your Focus

December 22, 2019

Hannah Hopper The pattern goes like this. You’re sitting at work with a string of unanswered emails, a project that keeps getting kicked back no matter how many times you’ve met with your team, and a daunting number of tasks to complete for the day. So you pick up your phone and start scrolling to have temporary relief from the anxiety of the to-do list. And while becoming more focused can feel like a daunting task, there…

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Improving Your Mental Health With Mindfulness

December 15, 2019

Hannah Hopper Have you ever felt distracted by stressful events that happened in your past, this last week, or even several hours ago? Have you ever been so anxious about what could happen in the future that you’re unable to even focus on the things that are happening in your present moment? If any of these things have been true for you (and let’s be honest, we’ve all experienced this at some point), then you might consider…

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3 Ways to Have Healthier Conflict With Your Partner

December 6, 2019

Hannah Hopper Conflict is something that we all experience, yet when it comes to conflict with a loved one or a significant other, emotions can quickly escalate to make us say things that we later regret, or make our argument escalate to being even bigger than the original issue we started with. Remaining calm in a conflict is a huge challenge, and it takes work to keep an argument from spiraling out of control. And while it…

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The Link Between Your Mood and Diet

October 9, 2019

Hannah Hopper We’ve all heard that the food we eat impacts the way that our bodies feel, but according to recent research the food we consume can also impact our mind and emotions, and in some instances poor nutrition has been linked to depression. According to Dr. Eva Selhub of Harvard Health Publishing, certain foods that are high in sugar and processed fat are harmful for the brain, while foods like fruits, vegetables, unprocessed grains, and seafood…

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Back to School Basics

August 15, 2019

Hannah Hopper When summer comes to an end and the school year rolls around again, it can be a hectic and overwhelming transition for many kids. Whether you’re feeling relieved that the kids will have school again or feeling stressed that there will be a fuller schedule to manage, it can also be a stressful time for kids as they anticipate a new classroom, a different teacher, and another grade. The National Association of School Psychologists has…

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