The Healing Power of Kindness
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop Kindness is an essential and transformative aspect of human relationships. By intentionally practicing kindness in our lives, we can transform our experience of loving and being loved. Choosing to be kind to our friends and family members enriches these relationships, making them…
Read MoreBeing an Adult as a Child. Parentification Explained.
Take a minute to think back to when you were growing up. What did your relationship with your parents look like? Do you have memories of your parents being there for you? Did they take care of you when you fell off your bike, or comfort you when you were being picked on at school?…
Read MoreMeditation Made Simple
In recent years, meditation has become a noteworthy buzzword in the global West to which reportedly amazing results can be attributed. However, there remains confusion regarding what meditation is and is not, which can make it seem beyond the scope of possibility for most of us. It often conjures up images of temple monks remaining…
Read More4 Ways to Achieve a Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age
Amanda Gregory, LCPC Do you feel as if you’re always working? Are you constantly checking work email, texts, or voicemail? Technology can blur the lines between work and personal life, and a poor work-life balance can negatively affect your mood, health, and relationships. In this age of technology, the struggle to establish and maintain a…
Read MoreBe Your Priority in 2018
The New Year is under way and for many, it is time to think of a New Year’s resolution. This might consist of changing a behavior that we wish to improve, or attempting to accomplish a goal. If you find yourself unsure of a resolution to try this year, making yourself a priority in your…
Read More6 Ways to Enhance Your Relationships with Nonverbal Communication
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, Symmetry Counseling Chicago Have you ever said the right words, only to be completely misunderstood? The reason might be your nonverbal communication. Here is an example: You tell your partner, “I’m really sorry. My actions have caused you to feel hurt, disappointed, angry, and betrayed. I truly understand now, and I feel…
Read MoreAre There Different Emotional Responses to Different Types of Alcohol (and Does it Matter)?
Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Do certain types of alcohol stimulate certain emotions, positive or negative, more so than others? A recently published study by the British Medical Journal attempts to answer this question by identifying how different types of alcoholic beverages—specifically red wine, white wine, beer, and liquor—impact the emotions of drinkers, whether they be…
Read MoreManaging Job Stress: 4 Coping Skills to Use at Work
Amanda Gregory, LCPC Audio Version Do you feel stressed at work and need to calm down quickly? Is the stress you experience at work carrying over into your personal life? Some of us wait until after work to cope because we don’t have access to our coping strategies. You can’t go to the gym, soak…
Read MoreHead into 2018 with an Open Mind
As we head into the new year, we may have thoughts that are preventing us from moving into 2018 with an open mind. These thoughts could be telling us that we aren’t good enough. These thoughts could be telling us we need to hold onto the guilt from our decisions in 2017. These thoughts can…
Read MoreShould I Leave My Job?
Workplace stress is one of the most common reasons that lead people to seek therapy. As much as we may want to separate our work and our personal lives, it is difficult to avoid the stress of the former bleeding into the latter. An important conversation that often emerges is an evaluation of when, if…
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