Can Feeling Bad Actually Be Good?

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Written By: Rachel Koutnik

It takes courage to start therapy. Most people have no idea what to expect when they begin to talk about their feelings. As a therapist, I notice that many people feel defeated by their emotions.

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5 Things to Keep in Mind When Starting Therapy

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Attending therapy for the first time can feel intimidating and nerve-racking for many new clients. I often hear new clients say that they feel relieved when sessions turn into genuine conversations rather than something scripted or clinical. Therapists are often portrayed in movies and media as distant figures sitting quietly in a chair taking notes while clients…

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Why Premarital Counseling is Important

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Getting engaged can be one of the happiest and most exciting times of your life. When your partner pops the question or you two mutually decide that you’re both ready, excitement and joy fill you up. You get to share your love and joy with your families and close friends and celebrate your relationship. That…

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Rational vs. Irrational Emotions: What Am I Telling Myself?

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By: Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC, Symmetry Counseling, Chicago There is a difference between guilt and remorse. Let’s say I have done something that goes against my own value system, something that I consider to be bad. I have the choice (yes, it is a choice) to either make myself feel guilty or make myself feel…

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Have Politics Influenced Your Dating Preferences?

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It is no surprise to anyone that the recent election has shown us what a divided country we are. This election felt incredibly personal to so many people, and when something feels close to our hearts, our emotions are on the line. Dialoguing about contrasting political views can often be filled with emotion and defensiveness.…

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Interfaith and Intercultural Couples Therapy

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It is becoming increasingly more common and more accepted to date and marry someone from outside of your faith and cultural background. Thanks to living in large cities and urban areas, such as Chicago, we are now exposed to different types of people with diverse backgrounds and upbringings more than ever before. Not only are…

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YOU are Responsible for Your Happiness

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Many people believe that if they were to make more money, have a nicer car or larger house, be in a relationship, have more friends, be more attractive or lose weight, have a different job, live somewhere else, and on and on, then they would finally be happy. But this is a false belief and…

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You Are Not a Failure as a Parent if Your Child is in Therapy

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When I first started out as a therapist, a good part of the work I did was with children and adolescents, which I still continue to do today. Providing therapy to children and adolescents comes with its own set of struggles and barriers, in comparison to working with adults, but one common issue I frequently…

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Dating Authentically

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Dating has become more accessible than ever. The majority of single people have many options when it comes to dating due to the increasing popularity of dating websites and apps as well as people in large cities waiting longer to settle down and get married. However, with the higher accessibility, and therefore frequency in dates,…

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Budgeting Can Increase Happiness

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“You want me to budget for “fun” money? But I am supposed to be paying off all of my debt, how is that going to help me reach my goal?” In my work as a Financial Therapist, that is typically the response I receive from clients when I tell them they need to add in…

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