Psychologist Chicago Archives
Often times we just feel stuck. It seems as if everything that we have tried is impossible to get out of this rut and we cannot feel any better. We have tried coping skills that we know and that others have encouraged us to use, we have tried to ignore it, we have tried to focus on it, and nothing seems to work. We often times feel stuck when we have a big decision to make and…
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Sexual Transmitted Diseases, also known as STDs, are more common that one would think. Educating not only yourself, but also your partner about STDs is very important and making sure that both of you are being tested frequently if you have multiple partners, especially in open relationships, polyamorous relationships, LGTBQ individuals. I would know if my partner had an STD You might think you know your partner(s) well, but unfortunately you cannot tell just by looking at…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor Spring is here and that means longer days, warmer weather, and a fresh start. It can be a great time to reflect on how your year has gone so far and consider areas for growth. Maybe it’s exercise, healthy eating, your social life, or your relationship, but it is also important to consider adding more positivity to your life. Seeing the positive side to life lifts your mood, the mood of those…
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Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Unconditional self-acceptance teaches us to accept all aspects ourselves because we are unique, and to be forgiving of ourselves because we are fallible. Practicing USA instead of relying on conditional self esteem increases our ability to rationally cope with adversity. If we base our self esteem on our ability to successfully achieve status, we will be unable to unconditionally accept ourselves. It is important that we strive towards short- and long-term goals for…
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If you like to “Netflix-and-chill”, it’s likely that you have watched (or at least heard of) the popular show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. This show is gaining a lot of attention because the premise hits close to home for many people – de-cluttering your cluttered life. Marie Kondo, the adorable mastermind and host of the show, applies the KonMari method to help families de-clutter their homes. The KonMari method is broken down into five specific categories…
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Shannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC When we seek out help from medical providers, we are putting trust in that the provider can “fix” or “solve” our presenting concerns. This is also seen within the mental health field, in how individuals will enter therapy for answers to what is “wrong” with them. Finding these answers cannot always come from the help of just one provider or treatment method. It can be helpful for an individual to utilize all…
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Whether I am working with couples, families, or individuals, one topic never fails to come up in therapy. Communication. Communicating is something that we are constantly doing, either verbally or nonverbally. Communication may be challenging with others when you are not communicating clearly and effectively. It would be important to note that what is clear and effective to you, may not be the same to someone else. For instance, you may need to speak very clearly and…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Do you get less than seven hours of sleep a night? If so, you could experience symptoms such as lack of focus, decreased productivity, fatigue, and a variety of physical symptoms. Getting enough sleep is very important. Sleep Cleans Your Brain Simply put, you need sleep because your brain needs to be cleaned. Jeff Stibel reported that the brain needs to cleanse itself of toxins that build up when were awake. This cleaning…
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Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW So, you and your partner have a new baby. It’s likely you have heard all the words of solicited and unsolicited wisdom and cautionary tales. People are always excited to tell you how you are going to fall in love with your child the second you see them, or to tell you that you can forget all the things you used to enjoy, there’s no time to read anymore, or go out, or travel.…
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Laura Cox In the famous words of Dr. Seuss, “when you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.” Bad days can happen to all of us. Whether your bad day is brought on by an interpersonal conflict, a disappointing circumstance, or you are just feeling “off,” there are ways to cope with your bad day and improve your mood. I love Dr. Seuss’s quote because it validates that bad…
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