Chicago Counselor

Steven Losardo, LMFT Having an innate desire to care for those closest to us is part of what makes us human. However, when those needs become excessive and unhealthy, this can be a sign of codependency.  The term ‘codependency’ refers to emotional, mental, or physical reliance on another person.  Codependency often stems from unstable attachments formed during childhood that then arise later on in future adult relationships (Fellizar, 2022; Gould, 2020). Codependent relationships are an unbalanced dynamic…

Jessica Pontis, LCSW We all know that Chicago weather in the spring can be a roller coaster, some days it’s beautiful and sunny and the next day it’s snowing. While it may be inconsistent now, we can all recognize that warmer weather is just around the corner. While some look forward to the summer months, it can be anxiety-provoking for those who may be uncomfortable or self-conscious about their bodies. For those who struggle with body-image issues,…

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Therapy  Parentification is a term used to describe a role reversal that occurs between a parent and a child in which the child acts as the caretaker for their parent. Parentification typically occurs when parents struggle with attachment, trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, emotional immaturity, or a lack of emotional, financial, or community support.  Parentification looks like many things, and the child may be a voluntary or involuntary participant. Here are…

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  The time has come in when you need to return to the office. You might be returning due to expectations from your employer, a job change, or perhaps an awareness that it’s in your best interest. Regardless of your reasons, you might experience a potentially stressful transition. Therefore, it’s best to support yourself in order to ease the discomfort of such a transition.  If you are returning to the office, here…

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified Now you’ve done it. You’ve made a mistake that negatively impacted someone, and it’s time to apologize. For example, perhaps you yelled obscenities at your partner when they failed to do the dishes. Now, your partner is hurt. You know that you shouldn’t have yelled and cursed, and you believe that you need to express sincere remorse and accountability. There are many ways to apologize, and some are more productive than…

Jessica Pontis, LCSW A modified version of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, was created in the late 1970s by Dr. Marsha Linehan for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Over the years this treatment modality has been expanded to also treat depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders. DBT was also the first therapeutic modality to incorporate mindfulness-based practices for the use of mental health treatment. DBT is a treatment aimed…

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC, LPC Our society is riddled with quick fixes. We want to find band-aids to cover our bullet holes in order to avoid the timely and often tumultuous process of healing. Even in therapy, we find ourselves teaching techniques to alleviate our symptoms. We want to make the negative feelings go away as quickly as possible so we find ways to distract or escape. In doing so, however, we ultimately feed into the notion…

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Are you a night owl or an early riser? You may think one is superior and have some preconceived notions about these two terms. One is not better than the other, the important thing is that the individual is doing what works best for them and the way their brain works. With the global pandemic, this has been a popular topic of discussion because COVID-19 didn’t just “upend where we work,…

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Currently, the U.S. is still facing a surge in coronavirus cases, fluctuating physical distancing restrictions and regulations, and now the stress of the holidays coming up. Whether you relate more to the Grinch or the overjoyed family member, it’s important to be able to self-regulate and find a place in-between the two that makes you happy and feels like a good fit. Regulation is key. While we all have so much…

Steven Losardo, LMFT We usually think big when we think about changing our lives, setting goals, or being healthy. But what about the small changes that have a huge impact? But, if you’re looking to make some significant changes in your life, one of the best things you can do is build a routine for your evening. By establishing a set time for yourself each day, you’ll be more likely to stick to those goals and avoid…