Do I Have a Gambling Problem?
By Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Gambling has pretty much always been popular since money has existed. Today, it is as immediately accessible as it ever has been through online lottery purchases and mobile apps for casinos and sportsbooks, where players can win and lose real money really fast. In Illinois, online sports betting became legal…
Read MoreCompassion Fatigue: What Is It and How Can I Prevent It?
By: Danielle Bertini, LPC Have you ever heard of compassion fatigue? Maybe you heard it from the job you work at or from a family member. Maybe you’ve actually never heard of it before. Compassion fatigue can be a serious hazard, especially for those working in helping professions. This isn’t surprising, as those with…
Read MoreWhat Happens To My Brain When I’m Anxious?
Ariannah Hood, LMSW Everyone deals with anxiety to varying degrees and if you find yourself dealing with intense and consistent anxiety it can be helpful to know what is going on inside your brain and what you can do to counter it. Anxiety is a response to perceived danger and stressful events. We can actually…
Read MoreCommon Defense Mechanisms: What Are You Defending and Why?
By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Explanations and justifications often happen automatically, especially during moments of stress or discomfort. In psychology, these defense mechanisms reflect the mind’s attempt to manage inner conflict and emotional overload. Awareness creates space for empathy, accountability, and healthier responses, which opens the door to meaningful personal growth. At Symmetry Counseling,…
Read MoreCan’t Fall Asleep? Avoid These Behaviors
Amanda Gregory, LCPC You have to get good sleep. If not, you’re risking your physical and emotional health. But, what if you simply cannot fall asleep in the first place. Perhaps you’ve tried new methods to improve your sleep. Yet, you may need to focus on cutting out certain aspects that could be hindering her…
Read MoreCan Texting Increase Our Stress Levels? Part 2
As discussed in part 1 of this blog post understanding the relationship between our stress levels and texting can allow us to provide ourselves with grace. Instead of throwing our phones across the room when we receive a text, take a pause acknowledge the validity of our feelings. The more we understand our emotional responses…
Read MoreCan Texting Increase Our Stress Levels? Part 1
As we deal with the ongoing pandemic of Covid-19, social distancing and isolation remain ways to ensure the safety of ourselves and loved ones. Because of this reality, texting, group chats, phone calls and facetimes have become our only connection to friends, family and loved ones. So, if our phones are a way to seek…
Read MoreCan Some Stress Be Good for You?
By: Danielle Bertini, LPC Stress definitely has a bad reputation, and for good reasons. When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, not many people are wishing for “more stress” in the year to come. And there is science to back this up, as stress is often linked with negative health and well-being…
Read MoreCan I Break Problematic Relationship Patterns?
Jessica Pontis, LCSW As we move from winter into spring, we experience change, almost as if the sunlight and blossoms inspire an emotional renaissance. With this change in season let us take the time to do some spring cleaning, to look at ourselves and our relationships and determine what patterns we would like to…
Read MoreUnderstanding Bipolar I and II
Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, LPC, NCC Every now and then, everyone will have a “bad day”. We may cry, feel depressed, overwhelmed and tired. We also will have other days where we are energetic, full of life and happy. A certain population, however, experiences unusual mood disorders which amplify more common mood swings. In fact, this population…
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