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The summer is quickly passing by and Chicago’s winter tundra is getting nearer and nearer. As someone who loves the sunshine, I am trying to maximize the rest of my summer as I know I will miss it this Fall. So why not put together a list of things to do and start checking them off? I know people get busy with work, kids, friends, weddings, birthdays, etc. but if you cannot find a time to get…
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Hannah Hopper When summer comes to an end and the school year rolls around again, it can be a hectic and overwhelming transition for many kids. Whether you’re feeling relieved that the kids will have school again or feeling stressed that there will be a fuller schedule to manage, it can also be a stressful time for kids as they anticipate a new classroom, a different teacher, and another grade. The National Association of School Psychologists has…
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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…
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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…
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Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW Recently my mind repeatedly wandered back to a book I had just finished reading. It occurred to me that, like in mindfulness, I should not ignore my wandering mind, but instead acknowledge the cause of the distraction. I realized that my mind was making a connection between the book and my work as a therapist. The book that I had just finished titled Where the Crawdads Sing is a bit of a phenomenon at the…
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Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW Sometimes your relationship with your therapist can feel one-sided. This is, in part by design, and appropriate, and in part it is an unintended consequence of the therapist-client relationship. This balance can be different for each client and therapist, and the bottom line is that the focus should be completely on the client’s well being. However, it is natural to have some questions about your therapist and your relationship with them. Some of the…
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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…
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Do you ever feel like you’re burning the wick from both ends? And that you’re having difficulty keeping motivated? Or feel a constant frustration and anger but feel unclear about where it is coming from? Or feeling low energy and depressed at work? As a therapist working with clients with workplace stress and having a history of working with Employee Assistance Program clients, I have heard numerous clients share their work-related stress and “burnout” experiences. Work-related burnout…
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This summer is flying by, and with it passes a whole season of weddings and birthdays. With this fast flight into September, I have heard a lot of buzz from family, friends, and clients questioning where they are in their lives in comparison to their peers. Here are a few common thoughts I hear: “______ is getting married and I’m not.” “_____ is so excited about his/her/their promotion but I still don’t know what I want to…
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It’s not just a conversation with friends anymore. You finally have that plan together to achieve those future hopes and dreams that have been on your heart since you were twelve. Unfortunately, a felt sense of doom is already flowing through you, indicating another battle will be lost. You thought, “this time was going to be different,” and even with some expert advice, you still “feel stuck.” What you might be experiencing are common setbacks that are…
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