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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling You have worked all day, commuted home, made dinner, did some cleaning up around the house, and you feel exhausted. Chances are you probably then hang out on the couch, watch some TV, or scroll through social media on your phone until bed. When you repeat this routine every day of the week, it can feel like all you have done is work and did nothing for yourself. The reality…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Your mood, health, and productivity are directly connected to your ability to sleep. But what if you’re having trouble getting to sleep because of racing thoughts? Racing thoughts are thoughts you experience that just won’t stop, especially at night. They might be worries, lists of what you need to do tomorrow, ideas about financial planning, future goals, or anything else that’s difficult to stop thinking about. These thoughts can prevent you from falling…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We all have our personal boundaries when it comes to dating; however, there are times when our boundaries can get in the way of making the connection we desire. Ideally, our boundaries should be flexible, yet firm. They should not be so rigid that emotional intimacy is prevented, but they shouldn’t be so loose that you risk getting hurt. When you are dating, you want to pace the rate at…
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Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Therapists are constantly campaigning about the importance of self-care. They provide us with recommendations of ways to take better care of ourselves and constantly remind us to practice self-care and to do it often. Have you ever wondered what exactly those same therapists do to take care of themselves? I spoke with therapists who practice at Symmetry Counseling, Chicago’s mental health and relationship specialists, to discover how they practice self-care. Morning Rituals Many…
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Many of my clients discuss a lack of satisfaction within their jobs. Through talking to them, I can help uncover why they aren’t finding meaning in their career. For some, their career was chosen simply to pay their bills and provide for their family, which is why they may not be fully happy; they feel contempt for their current position and are simply looking to add more value to their day-to-day lives. Others are unsure and looking…
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Have you noticed that the conflicts in your relationships tend to be fought the same way? Whether the conflict is with your parent, your sibling, your friend, or your partner, you often will fight with them the same way every single time. This is not surprising, because when couples begin to engage in conflict behavior with one another, usually they will fall into a cycle. Understand Your Pattern Our conflict cycles often begin with a trigger. The…
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Throughout life, we challenge ourselves and create goals to improve our physical and mental health. While our intentions are good, it can feel impossible to hold ourselves accountable as we try to meet the goals we know will make us better. For example, many people make the decision to eat healthier or incorporate meditation into their morning routine. It may feel tolerable for a week or so, but eventually many…
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With the holidays quickly approaching, many of us are already beginning to plan our get-togethers with family and friends. For this reason, sometimes “the most wonderful time of the year” often is also the most stressful time of the year. If you are in charge of the family and social calendar in your household and you feel mounting pressure around the holidays, it may be worthwhile to evaluate and change some of your holiday traditions. When is…
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Many people have heard of the condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), characterized by a depressed mood that onsets in fall and winter. SAD is not (any longer) a distinct diagnosis, but is now a commonly used term to describe a very real condition, depression with a seasonal pattern. Winter is the most common season for this, so with fall upon us and winter quickly approaching, perhaps it is helpful to take a closer look at what…
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I work with many clients who struggle with making tough decisions in their daily routines, whether it is something as simple as choosing between bananas or apples at the grocery store, or something as big as a significant career change. When working with these clients, I use a bit of psychodynamic theory, asking them about their childhood and how they made decisions when they were younger. Many times, they report that their parents tried to make decisions…
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