Month: March 2017

Written by: Colleen Lennon, LCSW

Would you call what you do a job or a career? Do you wake up dreading going into work or do you look forward to each day? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a job is defined as “a piece of work; something that has to be done,” while a career is defined as “a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling; a field for pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life.”

Written by: Rachel Koutnik, LCSW

Are you a good listener? Some people think they are good listeners, but the reality more than often is that poor listening skills are the culprit behind feeling misunderstood, disconnected and the precursor to all those unnecessary arguments.

Written by: Rebecca Hirsch, AMFT
Symmetry Counseling Chicago

I often get the question how often couples should be having sex. As a therapist, I dislike the word “should”, especially when it comes to sex. This is an impossible question to answer for a number of reasons. Sex is not a one-size-fits-all, and every individual and couple has a different idea of how often they want to be having sex and what that looks like.

Attending therapy for the first time can be an intimidating and nerve-racking process for many new clients. I often hear new clients say that they’re relieved that I talk during sessions and that it feels more like a conversation, which is something they may not have anticipated. Therapists and psychologists are often portrayed in movies and in our culture as being a distant figure in a chair who takes notes while clients lay on a couch and…

Getting engaged can be one of the happiest and most exciting times of your life. When your partner pops the question or you two mutually decide that you’re both ready, excitement and joy fill you up. You get to share your love and joy with your families and close friends and celebrate your relationship. That excitement and joy can often quickly turn into stress and feeling spread too thin with wedding planning, appeasing families, and discovering what…

It is no surprise to anyone that the recent election has shown us what a divided country we are. This election felt incredibly personal to so many people, and when something feels close to our hearts, our emotions are on the line. Dialoguing about contrasting political views can often be filled with emotion and defensiveness. Many of my clients in individual and couples therapy have spent time discussing how to talk to family members with opposing political…