Anxiety
Hannah Hopper, LPC You’ve already had several talks with your ex about the end of your relationship, you’ve cancelled future plans, and given back the things they had at your place. But all the feelings are still there on your end and you had no idea the relationship would end like this. So now what? You might be wanting closure with the relationship but are having trouble figuring out how to do that. Here are some things…
By: Danielle Bertini, LPC Sometimes it truly feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Between work, spending time with friends, caring for children and loved ones, staying healthy, pursuing personal interests, it can feel like it’s impossible to balance everything. And in fact, research suggests that this struggle has grown increasingly difficult in recent years, with full time employees in the U.S. putting in nearly one full extra day of work each week and forfeiting…
By Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Emotional energy can slowly drain when too much time is spent managing other people’s moods, expectations, and reactions. Conversations replay in your mind, guilt lingers after saying no, and frustration builds when your needs go unspoken. Learning how to set healthy boundaries changes this pattern by helping you recognize what belongs within your control and what does not. At Symmetry Counseling, boundary work is often important because it guides clients toward greater…
By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC “I hate my job.” So often have I heard this statement from folks. Usually, this awareness did not happen last week, but has been lingering for some time, maybe years. Please do not lose hope: there may be ways to improve your satisfaction with your current job. If that does not work, you have options: switch jobs, find a new career, work for a new company, move to…
By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC There are numerous reasons why we may find ourselves getting involved in unhealthy romantic relationships or with unhealthy partners. A common reason is that we lack examples of what a healthy relationship looks like. Throughout our lives, starting in childhood we have observed many examples of unhealthy relationships and dynamics, but not much else. Thus, we have a strong familiarity with unhealthy relationships and limited exposure to healthy…
By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC You have assessed your current situation and determined that you are depleted, maybe even burned out. First, know that you are not alone. But now what? A next step could be to identify practices and activities that you can add to your life to make you feel better. While this is logical and important to do, a better starting point is to identify current unhealthy behaviors that can…
Matthew Cuddeback LCSW One of the most common difficulties that clients bring up is just a general low mood, maybe you call it being in a funk, maybe sadness, maybe depression. Whatever you want to call it, people often report just not feeling very happy for an extended period and of course are looking for an answer for how to feel better. First it is okay to feel sad and not feel great all the time, it…
By Eve Brownstone, LCPC “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” — Loren Eiseley All my life I have found magic, healing, and fun in water whether in Lake Michigan, a pool at a JCC, or the shore of the Mediterranean. The first time I remember swimming was four years old at a pool at a YMCA in Hyde Park. I was hooked. Many of us live in Chicago to live close…
Megan Mulroy, LPC Intrusive thoughts are characterized by unwanted thoughts that pop up, cause distress, and get stuck in your mind. Often times these thoughts can be violent, sexual, disturbing, or something deemed as unacceptable by society. These thoughts can be really scary and produce a lot of anxiety for people who experience them. Everyone experiences intrusive thoughts- it is so normal to have passing thoughts of rear ending the car in front of you or stealing…
Written by Kara Thompson, Licensed Social Worker When exploring the concept of trauma bonds, it is helpful to start by understanding attachment. Attachment theorist John Bowlby defines attachment as the “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings.” While much of Bowlby’s work surrounded the attachment between child and caregiver, so much of his work influences what we know about connectedness in all nuanced relationships in our lives… even unhealthy romantic partnerships. When we experience a strong, intense emotional…
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