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The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) serves over one million passengers each day. If you live in Chicago or have ever visited the bustling city, you are likely familiar with the CTA and the “L” train system. With so many daily passengers and endless possibilities for mishaps or “interesting situations”, the “L” can at times be a stressful experience for anyone involved. How does this apply to individuals who utilize the CTA and have mental illness? Having either…
Read MoreShannon M. Duffy, MFT, LCPC Reaching out for therapeutic services can feel overwhelming and at times individuals will feel as though their presenting concerns are not severe enough for long term therapy. However, that is not necessarily the case and even the more situational concerns are appropriate for therapeutic services. Specifically, those concerns would be utilizing the therapeutic technique of Solution Focused Therapy. This method can be of benefit by utilizing 3-6 therapy sessions to address finding…
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Sexual intimacy and mental health are more intertwined than you may think. For many, sexual health and intimacy is a very important aspect of life. How we interact with our partner(s) sexually is largely influenced by how our mental health is doing. There are so many different life experiences that impact our mental health and our beliefs and values around sex and intimacy. For example, think of how one’s experiences with trauma may impact their mental health…
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Steven Topper When I was young, I learned about forgiveness. My teachers and parents explained that when someone wrongs me in some way, it’s up to me to say, “I forgive you.” In fact, adults would typically place the person in front of me, ask them to say, “Sorry,” and wait for that very response. Often the reverse was true too, with me asking for forgiveness from another kid. For me, the conversation stopped there for many…
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Steven Topper At some point in our lives, the questions we ask about the world grow in magnitude. When we are little ones, we love to ask big questions about what we’re all doing here. However, as we grow up, this curiosity often vanishes. For many of us, as children we find order and structure in school, and direction through getting into college and/or looking for work. Then we find direction in seeking connection with others and…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR “In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play” -Friedrich Nietzsche Do you remember the child that you used to be? I hope that you do. But if you don’t, that kid hasn’t left you. Your inner child lives inside you and needs to be acknowledged and nourished. Some people have a strong connection to their inner child, while others might feel more distant from them. Some adults might believe…
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Humans are social creatures, and most of us seek comfort and belonging through human relationships and connection. Through our lifetimes, we may experience amazing relationships and also unhealthy, volatile ones. But because our relationships tend to be important to us and we crave that connection, we sometimes are blinded from the signs and behaviors that may be telling us that we are in a toxic relationship or situation. Although it’s difficult to tell when we are in…
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While so much of mental illness is stigmatized through movies, television, and news, few topics are as divisive as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). In critically acclaimed movies such as Black Swan and The Wrestler, depictions of NSSI often come from wounded protagonists who clearly suffer from profound mental health issues. Clinical definitions of nonsuicidal self-injury describe the behavior as: Direct and self-inflicted destruction or alteration of body tissue occurring without suicidal intent or developmental disorder. The most common…
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I work with many clients who are truly struggling in their life, whether it is in their professional or personal life, or perhaps both at the same time. These clients many times are experiencing depression and/or anxiety. They likely are seeking therapy to find a way to cope with these many life stressors. My job as their clinical therapist is to help them understand why these aspects in their life are causing stress, anxiety, or depression and…
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How often have you heard an adult say, “I wish I could be a kid again?” Most kids don’t have a true understanding of the responsibilities of adulthood, so many adults look back on their childhood with a desire to gain some of the wonder, freedom, lightness, and playfulness they experienced as kids. We are especially prone to thinking this way when we are feeling bogged down by the drudgeries of everyday life, attempting to juggle work,…
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