Therapy Chicago
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR In my blog An Inside Look: Symmetry Counseling’s Therapists Reveal Their Self-Care Practices, I spoke with five therapists who practice at Symmetry Counseling, Chicago’s mental health and relationship specialists, to discover how they practice self-care. This time we’ll hear from a few more Symmetry therapists to discover more of their personal self-care methods. Podcasts Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW, listens to podcasts to manage stress. “The most helpful way I have found to practice self-care…
Read More
Maggie Reynolds, LCPC, NCC We often talk about our creations, our decisions, our opinions, and our beliefs without looking further into the processes that led us there. Mindfulness has become a big part of mental health treatment and life for many people. An important component of mindfulness can be identifying and understanding the way your mind works and not just what thoughts or emotions you may be experiencing. What follows are some common mental processes: Concentration Flow…
Read More
Kaitlin Broderick, LCPC You just got back from another amazing date with a new person. You have been texting back and forth, having late night phone calls, and receiving the physical and emotional attention you had been fantasizing about just a few weeks earlier. Feeling giddy and euphoric, you can’t wait to call your friends and tell them the good news — you finally met “the one.” However, even though this exhilarating feeling is fun and new…
Read More
Mindfulness has been practiced in Eastern cultures for centuries in religious, non-religious, and traditional ways. Like a tree with strong roots, mindfulness has become rooted in Western society. Mindfulness is quickly being integrated into our culture to help physicians care for their patients, in schools around the country, and by mental health professionals. Mental health providers use mindfulness as a tool to treat anxiety, depression, to reduce rumination, or for emotional and attention regulation. There are numerous…
Read More
Effective communication is not as simple as it might seem on the surface. It is a skill that takes time, energy, and practice to develop. Effective communication is more than just talk. It involves active listening and appropriate, honest expression. Following are some helpful tips for the two elements of communication: expressing and listening. Expressing Effective expression will not put others on the defensive or escalate conflict. Try some of the recommendations below: Use “I” messages instead…
Read More
Kaitlin Broderick M.Ed, LCPC The holidays are also known as the happiest time of the year. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for a large majority of people. Many find the holidays to be the most stressful time of the year for a myriad of reasons. The holidays can be a source of financial stress for many people ranging from reasons of having to travel to see family, buying gifts for extended amounts of people, decorating the house…
Read More
When I ask this question for the first time to my clients, I’ve found that most immediately dismiss the idea that they could, in fact, be a perfectionists. The primary reason? “Well…I’m not perfect.” Occasionally, those who will acknowledge their tendencies may claim that perfectionism is how they have been able to achieve success. While it is relatively easy to identify perfectionist aspects of our society and mainstream culture at large, it can be more difficult to…
Read More
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Our emotions can feel so big sometimes; so big that they can feel overwhelming and out of our control. When your emotions feel overbearing, how do you comfort yourself? Some people may be able to list out things that soothe them, but others may struggle to think of an adequate answer that question. Self-soothing, or grounding techniques, are used when we feel distressed, triggered, or overwhelmed by emotion and are…
Read More
Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Overspending is not a new phenomenon; however, by having instant access to our money, limitless offers of credit, and 24/7 online shopping, overspending has taken on an extreme new form and can quickly get out of control if left unchecked. If you think your spending has become a problem, then it probably has. Here are 5 warning signs: Responding to stress: We have all at some point taken comfort in “retail therapy.” Overspending…
Read More
Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Procrastination is the poison of progress, and its antidote is building motivation through planning and action. In the Stages of Change, we can find ourselves lingering in the Contemplation or Preparation Stages for weeks, months, or even years. Here are 5 simple steps to help increase motivation and overcome procrastination: Define the goal: What exactly are you striving for? Be as specific as possible. While goals of “be happier,” “get a better job,”…
Read MoreDo You Need Help?
Not what you were looking for?