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Finding Motivation When You Are Feeling Depressed

September 22, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling If you have ever felt depressed and experienced a lack of motivation, you have probably been told at some point to go take a walk, hang out with friends, or “just go do something.” It also isn’t news to you that just “doing something” is so much easier said than done. When you feel depressed, it isn’t that you don’t want to do things, it is that getting motivated to…

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Setting Realistic Expectations In Your Relationship

September 21, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We all enter into romantic relationships with expectations. Expectations that we are going to be cared for, adored, loved, fulfilled, or even hurt or betrayed. Based on our life experiences and relationship ideals, these expectations can vary greatly. If your expectations for your partner fall into the realm of too high or too low, it can be damaging to your relationship. For example, if you expect your partner to complete…

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It Isn’t Always Personal

September 20, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Have you ever felt like someone was rude, judged, or criticized you and it just ruined your day? You may spend the rest of the day thinking to yourself, “What did I do to deserve that?”, “Did I do something wrong?”, “Why did they treat me like that?”. While the statement “Don’t take it personally” is said often in these situations, it is much more difficult to think about as…

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Technology Addiction 101

September 19, 2018

In today’s society and the world, we are always “plugged in” and have a difficult time disconnecting. When walking down the street, most people have their phone in their hands or earphones in listening to music or a podcast or even talking to someone. We live in a world now where it is so easy to reach someone, and we do not even have to call them; we can just text them. It is hard to recognize…

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Benefits of Family Therapy for Addiction

September 18, 2018

Seeing your loved one struggling with an addiction is very difficult for not only you but everyone else around you, including the individual who is addicted. Assuring that your loved one who is struggling with an addiction is the first step, but then for everyone who may be involved in their lives to also seek support. Family therapy can be beneficial for everyone so everyone can understand the addiction and identify ways to help and support. This…

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How to Choose the Right Counselor

September 17, 2018

Being able to find the right counselor for anyone can be really difficult. It is just like finding a doctor or dentist that you like, but with your therapist, you have to feel comfortable with them due to the amount of information you will be divulging to them. It is difficult to open up to anyone and even more to a stranger. Feeling comfortable in having the right therapist is key. In this blog post, I will…

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5 Ways to Practice Resilience in the Face of Adversity

September 16, 2018

We live in a society where many different people are walking their own paths of adversity and also resilience. I come across many clients who have truly struggled in their lives and are searching for the guidance and coping skills to overcome their adversities. Individuals who are searching for these skills truly exhibit something most people strive for: resilience. A recent Medium article titled, “Resilience: How to Rescue Yourself from Adversity,” discussed this very topic that I…

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What Does Being in Love Mean To You? Could It Be Infatuation?

September 15, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling What’s your definition of being in love? For you, it may be the constant thoughts of your significant other combined with your heart racing when you see them. For others, love may mean they can’t stop smiling, see someone as “perfect”, or want to be with them every second. The feeling of love is not entirely universal and often gets mixed up with the feeling of being infatuated. Therefore, my…

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8 Simple Steps for Choosing the Right Therapist in Chicago

September 14, 2018

When feeling depressed, anxious, or struggling with your personal relationships, it can be very tricky to pick yourself up and to start to feel better. One way to move toward that goal of feeling better is initiating therapy. If you’ve made the decision to start feeling better, congratulations! You are one step closer to feeling better! Initiating this big step in your life can be stressful as is, but picking the right counselor can also be overwhelming,…

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Beyond AA: Discover Six Support Groups You’ve Never Heard Of

September 13, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Have you ever considered attending a support group? Many people find support groups to be helpful when they are facing a variety of issues, such as substance use, trauma, and mood regulation. These groups are usually led by volunteers and are often offered at no cost to participants. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotic Anonymous (NA) are examples of well-known support groups, but there are many more that you might not have heard…

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