Live Better. Love Better. Work Better.

Therapy Chicago Archives

Categories

Procrastination: Why We Do It and How to Stop

August 29, 2019
karim manjra 1395312 unsplash 1 5d0a911460978

I work with many clients who struggle with procrastination. My job as their clinical therapist is to help them understand possible reasons why they are procrastinating things in their life, whether it is in their professional or personal life. Once we figure out why they are procrastinating things, I then help provide possible coping skills to help them with their procrastination tendencies. I recently read an article from FastCompany that touched on this very topic, “Procrastination is…

Read More

How to Beat the Job-Searching Blues

August 25, 2019
tim gouw 79563 unsplash 1 5d0a75e64a701

When it comes to our jobs, we are going to experience a wide range of situations and emotions as long as we are in the work force. You may have a job or career that you love, or you may have a job that you are feeling unfulfilled by. And of course, there’s a wide range of situations and experiences in between. If you are in the work force, you may even experience a point in time…

Read More

5 Rational Steps to Anger Management

August 23, 2019
nrd 1179291 unsplash 1 5d0a702cd501b

Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Many of us believe that we are controlled by our anger and that we cannot manage it. It may feel very real in the moment, but our anger can certainly be managed. This is accomplished by identifying, disputing, and improving our self-talk from irrational to rational in five simple steps: Identify Your Anger It may seem obvious, but the first step to managing our anger is recognizing when we are angry. Physical symptoms…

Read More

Shifting From Short Term Solutions to Long Term Meaning

August 21, 2019
pierre van crombrugghe 178441 unsplash 1 5d0a6d608a0af

Steven Topper, LCPC Many people come into therapy looking for a quick fix. If I could just communicate with my partner more clearly, if I could just make my boss understand I’m doing my job well, If I could just defeat this sadness. We think that if we can be given solutions to these problems, that we will be free to go about our lives with much less discomfort. When people look a little closer at their…

Read More

As Seasons Change, Take the Bold Path

August 20, 2019
boldpath 1 5db9b73796db7

Steven Topper, LCPC As we move toward the end of Summer, so many of us look back on the past few months and think: I wish I could bottle that up. Doesn’t it seem like there’s so much to do during those precious few beautiful months? Outdoors, socializing, exploration – it can feel like the city opens up in unique ways for a few months. And then we turn ahead with worry, here we go again, winter.…

Read More

How to Cope with Loneliness: Volunteering

August 20, 2019
dreamstime xl 19391410 1 5d03b924c84bb

I work with many clients who are struggling with depression related to a number of factors. Often times, I have noticed that clients who are struggling with depression also tend to discuss they feel lonely. As their clinical therapist, I help clients understand possible reasons why they are experiencing loneliness and then possible coping strategies to beat this lonely feeling. I recently read an article from Scientific American that touched on this very topic, “A Solution for…

Read More

Why Do I Feel Anxious While Exercising?

August 16, 2019
tomasz wozniak 484204 unsplash 1 5d03b60a85266

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Isn’t exercise supposed to be a good thing? You are constantly being told by doctors, loved ones, therapists, and the media that you need to exercise in order to receive a variety of health and psychological benefits. If this is true (and it is) then why is exercise causing you to feel anxious? Physical Reactions. Your body’s natural reaction to exercise can be similar to your body’s reaction to anxiety. These similar physical…

Read More

Strengthen Your Relationships with Attachment Exercises

August 14, 2019
helena lopes 459331 unsplash 1 5d03b27f7049d

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Would you like to feel closer to someone in your life? Attachment exercises can help. There is overwhelming research regarding the importance of developing secure attachments, as your relationships have a direct impact on your physical and psychological health. Whether it be a significant other, a child, a friend, or a family member, having and maintaining secure attachments in your relationships is a key ingredient to your wellbeing. Try these attachment exercises to…

Read More

What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Who’s Grieving the Loss of a Pet

August 12, 2019
krista mangulsone 53122 unsplash 1 5d02c636c73b7

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR The death of my dog, Sandy, impacted me more than the death of my father, and someday I will heavily grieve the loss of my cat, Mr. Bojangles. I will need the people in my life to express understanding, acceptance, and support. The last thing I’ll need is for these people to pass judgment, minimize my grief, or try to fix it. Be Curious. Too often people view grieving the loss of a…

Read More

Healing Your Health

August 6, 2019
william farlow 319616 unsplash 1 5d02ba25ab484

There seems to be a lot of hype and news coverage recently about using a holistic and mind-body connection approach in taking care of our health and bodies. As a therapist, I have the privilege of working with clients who cope with chronic pain from migraine headaches and limited or decreased breathing capacity caused by stress. These individuals struggle with migraine headaches and feel debilitated from coping with these ever present-headaches. The individuals who struggle with compromised…

Read More