Chicago Therapist
Steven Losardo, LMFT Similar to the anxiety that you may experience after posting a selfie on social media, putting yourself out there on dating apps can also be nerve-wracking. At times, using a dating app may lead to few matches and result in feelings of rejection. Dating apps such as Bumble, Plenty of Fish, and Tinder are popular with millennials and have sparked many healthy relationships. However, this isn’t always the case. Remember, when using a dating…
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Steven Losardo, MFT Returning to the office after working from home or being unemployed during the pandemic can be an adjustment. The change may be adding stress and negatively impacting your relationships, but there are paths to relief. Together with your spouse, you can help each other relieve stress by using various exercises. Tip 1: The Gottman Stress Reduction Conversation One of the best ways to reduce stress with your spouse is the Gottman Stress Reduction Conversation,…
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Melanie Lustbader, LPC As a newborn, babies are either given a blue or pink hat, depending if they’re male or female. As the infant gets older, the females are expected to play with dolls and males are expected to play with trucks or trains. Society gives gender roles and assigns either objects or certain activities to be feminine or masculine. Gender roles are culturally defined as behaviors that are seen as appropriate for males and females including…
Read MoreBy: Danielle Bertini, LPC At some point in your life, you’ve probably been asked the questions, “So tell me a bit about yourself?” What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?” Maybe you’re able to answer those questions without hesitation, however a lot of people struggle with answering these questions due to not knowing who they are as a person. Some people make it quite far in life without giving their identity too…
Read MoreAmanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR When someone in your life is grieving, you want to support them. Yet, you may not know what to say to them or you might be afraid of saying the wrong thing. Consider these tips when supporting your loved ones who are grieving. Be Curious. Does your love one want to discuss their grieving process with you? You may not know, and that’s ok. Allow them to decide what they need in…
Read MoreBridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Has anyone ever told you that it’s okay to see a therapist? Yes, it is okay to see a therapist. Read that again. In fact, 48% of Americans seek counseling and the stigma around mental health has decreased in recent years. Unfortunately, because of the stigma with mental health, many people seem to be ashamed to admit that they do in fact see a therapist. When our stomachs hurt, when we break…
Read MoreI work with many clients who are experiencing anxiety related to the current state of the world in 2020. Prior to the pandemic, many clients in sessions would speak to what their goals were, what success looked like to them, and how they could reach their goals. I recently have been speaking to my clients about the idea of redefining success right now. There are certain things in life that are much more challenging than prior to…
Read MoreBy Eve Brownstone, LCPC Why write a book? We all have a story to tell. Doubts come in. Do I have a story to tell? I will bore people. I am not a writer. So we convince ourselves that we don’t have a story to tell and we push down our creative energy. I realize not everyone is going to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, but I believe everyone has a heartfelt story to tell and…
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What is self-awareness? It can be used as praise, “wow you’re so self-aware!” or as an insult, “she has no self-awareness.” But what do we actually mean when we label ourselves or others as having or lacking self-awareness? The official Merriam-Webster definition of self-awareness is, “knowledge and awareness of your own personality or character.” In other words, truly knowing yourself internally, individually, and within the context of relationships and the world. Being able to identify how you…
Read MoreSteven Losardo, AMFT Maybe more so than ever, we need safety in our lives, and that includes secure individuals. These people have attributes that include being easy to get close and dependability. Safe people are comfortable depending on others and do not worry about abandonment or someone getting too close to them (Johnson, 2013). How do we know we have these kind-hearted people in our lives? This blog will review the characteristics of a safe person to…
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