Are You Depressed?
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, Symmetry Counseling Chicago Sadness is a healthy emotion that we all experience sometimes. But depression is far from healthy. As a therapist who has worked with depressed clients for more than a decade, I know it can be difficult to tell if what you feel is healthy sadness or harmful depression. There…
Read MoreCoping with Societal Trauma in the News
The twenty-four-hour news cycle, covering what can feel like an increasingly violent and chaotic world, is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, depressed, and disheartened. This blog entry is written in the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas mass shooting, yet it is entirely possible that by its posting, another tragic event will have unfolded.…
Read MoreIs My Anxiety a Problem?
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Feeling anxious is a common experience—and at times, it’s even a good thing, helping us to increase our motivation, awareness, and competitiveness. But other times, anxiety can feel overwhelming and even unmanageable. How do you know when your anxiety has become problematic? As a therapist who specializes in the treatment of…
Read MoreCommunication is the Oxygen
Anne Brennan Malec, PsyD, LMFT I have worked as a couples counselor for about 15 years. In that tim,e I have found that there tend to be a few common problems that couples struggle with which bring them into the offices of Symmetry Counseling; poor communication is at the top of that list. Couples within…
Read MoreHow Practicing Mindfulness Can Improve Your Relationship
Therapists often use “mindfulness” as a technique to teach clients how to be more present-focused and ultimately learn to be more attuned to one’s thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. Mindfulness is not a new concept; in fact, it has been around for centuries and is commonly associated with Buddhism and meditation. Studies tell…
Read MoreRe-Entering The Dating World After Divorce
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Divorce is often a painful and stressful life event that leaves many men and women feeling alone, wondering how to get back into the dating scene. These individuals may have been married 2, 10, 20, or even 50 years before they decide to end their marriage, and are…
Read MoreDr. Malec Featured on “Connect the Dots” Podcast
Money often carries emotional meaning that reaches far beyond income or expenses, shaping relationships, self-image, and daily decision-making in subtle ways. Stress related to finances can show up as anxiety, conflict, or avoidance, which makes it difficult to talk openly about money without tension. Financial therapy brings those emotional layers into focus and connects them…
Read MoreArticle Summary: How to Have the ‘Inheritance Talk’ with Your Parents
Last week, an article by Nathalie Lagerfeld was published in The Week that quotes our own Dr. Anne Malec as a financial therapist. This piece focuses on giving practical advice for having the “inheritance” talk with your parents. This is a common conversation that is becoming increasingly more important for adult children to have with…
Read MoreWhen It Feels Like Everyone is Getting Married, Except You
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Scrolling through social media can spark unexpected emotions. Engagement photos, wedding countdowns, and anniversary tributes appear daily, and feeling pressure to get married can begin to grow quietly in the background. Thoughts such as “Why am I not there yet?” or “I thought I would be married by…
Read More5 Symptoms of Infatuation
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Infatuation is a strong, overwhelming, and powerful feeling that we all have felt at some point. You have just met the “perfect” person and you have fallen head over heels for them. You would give anything to be with this person, you get butterflies every time you think…
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