Chicago Counselor

Zoe Mittman, LSW Life is filled with so many transitions — both big and small, but all impactful, nonetheless. As humans, we like some degree of certainty and control. Naturally with transitions, however, uncertainty, change, and a lack of control arise. That said, it is during these scary times that you can grow the most. It may not seem like it at the moment, but reflect back on any transition you have experienced and ask yourself what…

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Is Your Relationship Reciprocal?  All healthy relationships include reciprocity. What’s reciprocity? It’s a mutual exchange between two or more people or groups of people who are in some type of relationships, such as romantic partners, family members, friends, community members, and work colleagues. This blog will focus on romantic partnerships. Reciprocity is also referred to as a “give and take.” What is mutually exchanged in relationships? Some things that are exchanged…

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC “Nice guys finish last.” You’ve probably heard that expression before, but have you ever given thought to what that really means? Why would nice people be less likely to win? It would seem that a nice person would actually have an advantage over nasty people in the social hierarchy. They’re more enjoyable to be around, they radiate positive energy, so why would they then “finish last?” Is there any truth to this cliché…

Andrew D. Castillo, LCSW, MSW Trust and a sense of safety are the foundations of a healthy, long-lasting relationship. When those foundations are undermined, the impacts can be devastating. Betrayed partners are often left with a multitude of questions; Why did this happen? What does this mean for the future? How do I recover from this? Offending partners may wonder how they can rebuild what has been lost, and even what led them to this point. While…

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC As a couples and marital counselor, infidelity is one of the common trends that comes up often. Clients often ask me if it’s possible to overcome infidelity within a relationship and the short answer is yes. However, there needs to be a desire to overcome it on both ends of the relationship and it takes a large amount of mental, emotional, and psychological work. To begin, three main factors are involved…

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC The narrative of “I’m not good enough” has become far too common across America. It can “plague” people of all kinds of different cultures, incomes, education levels, and income levels. This one, though, is the “mother thought of despair.” It can drag you down and overwhelm you with anxiety and depression. This blog will provide seven reasons why these thoughts are happening and make suggestions of how you can feel better…