What Does Being in Love Mean To You? Could It Be Infatuation?
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…
Read More8 Simple Steps for Choosing the Right Therapist in Chicago
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…
Read MoreBeyond AA: Discover Six Support Groups You’ve Never Heard Of
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…
Read MoreTherapy Groups vs. Support Groups: What You Need to Know Before You Join One
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Therapy groups and support groups are often spoken of as if they’re interchangeable, but they are not the same. It’s true that they are similar. Both types of groups can be sources of valuable treatment information as well as validation, acceptance, empathy, belonging, and mentorship. But therapy groups—sometimes called group…
Read MoreSelf-Sabotaging In Relationships
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Engaging in romantic relationships is one of the biggest risks you can take. While they may bring you so much joy and happiness, they can also encompass pain and betrayal. As you continue to open yourself up and become vulnerable physically and emotionally with another person, the risk…
Read MoreAttachment in Romantic Relationships: What Is Your Attachment Style?
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Our attachment style is something we carry with us throughout our upbringing and into our adult romantic relationships. Attachment is defined as the strong, intimate, and emotional bond typically formed between an infant and its caregiver in the early years of life. Attachment affects everything from selecting your…
Read MoreNew Dads with Depression: How Can We Help?
We live in a society where depression is slowly becoming more talked about in general, and an area which has specifically seen improvement is among postpartum mothers. However, rarely does society consider depression among the fathers. A recent New York Post article titled, “Dads are just as likely as moms to become depressed: study,” explored…
Read MoreThe Power Of The Present
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling The idea of living in the present moment, also known as mindfulness, is a foreign concept to many. We all get so wrapped up in multi-tasking, worrying about the future, and ruminating on the past that we don’t get to appreciate what is happening right now, in this…
Read MoreBenefitting From All 6 Types of Self-Care
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling When you think of “self-care” you most likely think of working out and eating healthy. While physical self-care is crucial, the other five forms of self-care are just as important in achieving the level of happiness and balance you deserve. A lot of people burn themselves out from…
Read More7 Ways to Help a Friend or Family Member with Depression
Struggling with depression can be incredibly challenging for an individual, but it can also be very challenging for their friends or family members who can’t seem to help their loved one feel better. One of the first questions I ask a client who is struggling with depression is what kind of support system they have…
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