psychologist
Kaitlin Broderick, M.Ed., LCPC Early sobriety from alcohol and drugs can be a difficult time. When addicts and alcoholics begin to emerge from the dark and erratic experience that led them to hit their bottom, a stretch of clean living can make them feel like they’re floating on a “pink cloud.” This “pink cloud” is described by many to be a temporary phase in which the world seems to shine brighter with joy excitement and love that…
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Have you felt that you have tried everything possible for your relationship to feel “normal” again? Have you tried time and time again to connect with your partner by doing things for them, attempting to cuddle at night, or trying to spend alone time with them? While your efforts may be meaningful for you, you may be missing the mark, because you may not be speaking your partner’s Love Language. Gary Chapman, author of “The 5 Love…
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Yes! You have completed and achieved your goals in therapy. Congratulations on this big milestone in your personal life that should be celebrated! Whether you have been in therapy for a month or a year, you now feel at peace that your goals in therapy are being implemented effectively outside your sessions. What now? This means it’s time to talk to your counselor and express to them you feel it may be time for termination. The termination…
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A friend once told me, “I feel like I need couples therapy… but with my roommate.” Although she initially meant it as a joke, my friend felt she was no longer on the same page with how her home should operate, and what she began to describe was her growing resentment for her roommate. She was not sure how to approach her feelings without causing a conflict. I began to recognize these thoughts and feelings are comparable…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling When you really think about it, you spend most of your days at work. You are there at least 8 hours per day, five days per week, for most of your adult life. With work being so present in our lives, it becomes clear how much workplace negativity affects our moods on a daily basis. You may notice when you disagree with another colleague, got poor feedback at your review,…
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We are constantly being bombarded with messages about love and relationships in our culture. Whether it’s on TV, the radio, a magazine, or social media, we are always hearing about dating, relationships, and marriage and what is “normal” and “healthy”. It can be difficult to weed through what is not only helpful, but also what is appropriate and relevant for our own lives and relationships. Some input may be helpful for one couple but can be extremely…
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Does your partner limit the people you can contact? Do they monitor your whereabouts, phone calls, texts, emails, or social media activity and become angry when you veer from their guidelines? Of the various forms of abuse that can take place within a relationship, emotional abuse can often be one of the most difficult to identify due to its often insidious onset and lack of physical injuries. It is not uncommon for a victim and their loved…
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Have you ever wondered if you are an introvert or an extrovert? If your significant other is an introvert or an extrovert? The extrovert/introvert scale is actually a spectrum as some people are a blend of both. One way to find out where you might fall on the spectrum is by taking the Myers Briggs Personality Test. So, you take the test and realize that you and your partner are not the same type. Does it matter…
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In this video blog, Shannon Duffy talks about the basic modules of dialectical behavioral therapy. Follow along for our video series in which our team of experienced therapists in Chicago explains different therapeutic concepts that you may find helpful. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to connect with one of our counselors and we would be happy to help! Dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, originated in the 80s as a…
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Going through a breakup with your significant other is not the easiest life transition. It can be very challenging, sad, stressful, confusing, complicated, and anxiety provoking. Whether you are the one who initiated the breakup or the one who was doing the breaking up, it can be a hard mixture of emotions to navigate. While a feeling of heartbreak is a normal response while going through a breakup, it is also an opportunity for some self-reflection. The…
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