Psychologist Chicago
“I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” — Oscar Wilde As adults, we are expected to manage the emotions that we experience and to not let them be the driving force behind our behavior and decisions. That being said, everyone experiences moments when they feel overwhelmed with feeling. Unfortunately, not being able to control feelings, such as anger or anxiety, often…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling As the saying goes, “If you want to learn if you are compatible with someone, travel together.” Traveling with your significant other is an opportunity to discover/rediscover aspects of their personality that you wouldn’t otherwise see. Being under the stress of buying plane tickets, finding places to stay, experiencing delayed or canceled flights, and being together 24/7 can display character traits that you have never imagined. You may experience a…
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Amanda Gregory, LPCP, EMDR Practitioner It’s important to find a therapist who’s a good match for your personality and needs. The first step in this process is figuring out the logistics: who, what, when, where, how much. This essential information can often be found on agency websites or other online sources, but if you’re unable to find answers to certain questions, you’ll need to ask potential therapists directly. Here are 10 questions you should ask prospective therapists:…
Read MoreOld habits die hard, but when it comes to bad ones, die they must. Bad habits suck your time and energy. They make it impossible to achieve your goals and they are mentally and physically toxic. When you’re trying to move away from certain behaviors, there are ways to set yourself up for success. Identify Your Reason Habits are hard to break, so you need something to motivate you to break one. Before you take action, think…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner I’m not good enough. I’m unlovable. I’m worthless. No one wants to believe these things. But they are common core beliefs. Dr. Greensberger and Dr. Padesky state that “core beliefs are absolute statements about ourselves, others or the world.” Core beliefs, they say, are “the deepest level of cognition.” In short, core beliefs are powerful. They dictate our emotions and actions, often without our awareness. These beliefs are created in childhood and…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Empathy is one of the most powerful ways we can connect with others. Alfred Adler, founder of the school of individual psychology, wrote, “Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.” The experience of stepping into someone else’s shoes without judgment and letting ourselves feel what they’re feeling is vital to experiencing intimacy in our relationships. But often it…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Intimate relationships can bring so much light and happiness into our lives, but when they are unhealthy or come to an end, you may feel alone and empty. A quick fix that comes to mind when the relationship causes you to feel this way may be to invest a new love interest. Although going from one relationship to the next may bring you temporary love, excitement, and happiness, is it actually…
Read MoreSaint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and it happens to fall on a Saturday this year. Saint Patrick’s Day in Chicago can be a fun event to be part of as the city brings everyone together turning the river green and playing Irish music at the local restaurants. It can also be a holiday heavily focused on drinking copious amounts of alcohol. While some may consider themselves to be social drinkers and can enjoy having…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Most of us have too much stuff. Our belongings accumulate in closets, drawers, guest bedrooms, and storage facilities. Dr. Randy Frost of Smith College reports that people collect clutter for three reasons: sentiment, utility, and aesthetics. Your clutter could be the result of one or all of these. Sentiment. We keep objects that represent memories of positive people, places, or emotions. These include family heirlooms, photographs, and souvenirs, to name a few.…
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Anne Brennan Malec, PsyD, LMFT, Financial Therapist, Owner, Symmetry Counseling As therapists, we frequently work with clients who engage in a lot of negative thinking patterns. Part of providing clients with cognitive behavioral therapy is to help them deconstruct these patterns and begin to look at events more realistically. Listed below are some negative thinking traps that can befall all of us from time to time. Are you guilty of engaging in any of the following negative…
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