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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Basics

July 18, 2018

In this blog post, you will learn the basics of DBT. Following this post, there are two more posts that explain in a very brief way the 4 modules of DBT. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, also known as DBT, was created by Marsha Linehan, who is currently still teaching at the University of Washington-Seattle. When DBT was first identified in the 1990s, it was originally known to help individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but now DBT is…

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10 Effective Ways to Be Successful Moving In with Your Significant Other

July 16, 2018

You and your significant other have had the conversation about moving in with each other and have finally set a move-in date. There can be a mixture of emotions: excited, nervous, anxious, stressed, anticipation, joy, happy, and perhaps even a little scared. All of these emotions are very normal to experience while making the next step in your romantic relationship. Moving in with someone requires a lot of reflection and neither partner should attempt this next step…

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The Balancing Act: Achieving Work-Life Balance

July 14, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Maintaining a balance between the expectations of your career and your home life is no easy task. Many times, a poor work-life balance can result in you getting burnt out in your career or feeling like your work life is carrying over into your home life. For example, stressful work situations or encounters throughout your day can still affect you at home, as you may feel anxious, depressed, stressed, and…

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4 Questions to Consider Before Getting Back With Your Ex

July 12, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We are all familiar with the emotional toll a breakup can take on us. Intense heartbreak can include a long period of many tears, sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and a wave of emotions ranging from anger to sadness and everything in between. While breakups usually result in a definite end of the relationship, many couples still want to give it another shot. After going through this difficult and emotionally…

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What to Tell Yourself during a Panic Attack

July 10, 2018

Amana Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner I’m going to die. I’m helpless. I’m going crazy. Certain thoughts commonly reoccur during panic attacks. But they’re simply untrue, and the best way to fight them is with the truth. Panic attacks are often misunderstood. Many people believe that panic attacks are short bursts of anxiety or stress that can be easily calmed or avoided. The common reproach “You gave me a panic attack!” implies that these experiences are situational. That’s…

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Anne Malec Featured in The New York Times

July 9, 2018

At Symmetry Counseling, we understand how difficult it can be for engaged couples to consider prenuptial agreements. No one wants to think about divorce before you even get married; it might even feel like you are “jinxing” it if you do. As difficult as it can be, it is worth the effort to protect you and your family. This is one of many topics we can cover in premarital counseling. While many couples struggle to bring it up, there…

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Manage Your Anxiety with Grounding Techniques

July 8, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Get yourself grounded and you can navigate even the stormiest roads in peace. — Steve Goodier Anxiety is a stormy road that can leave you disoriented, distracted, and even physically or emotionally detached. Grounding is an approach to manage anxiety by helping you to focus on the present moment. When you are focused, it is more difficult to continue to feel anxious, as your mind must choose between experiencing anxiety and being…

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What is REBT? It's as Simple as ABC!

July 5, 2018

Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC, Symmetry Counseling Chicago Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) is a therapeutic discipline developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in 1956 that focuses on identifying and disputing irrational beliefs. Its basis can be summed up by the Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus, who said, “Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.” The main tools of REBT are the ABC’s: A is the Activating Event, or more…

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Four Ways to Maintain Positivity In Your Life

July 3, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling With all the negativity in the world today, it can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude on a daily basis. Constantly being faced with life’s challenges, negative attitudes, and bad circumstances can often leave you feeling in a bad mood overall. Over time, these bad days can turn into you feeling disappointed, depressed, stressed, and anxious for months or even years. While it is cliche, a positive mindset can…

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Your Worst Critic: Yourself

July 1, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Think about what you say to yourself when you are feeling down: “You aren’t pretty enough”, “You aren’t important”, “You are a screw-up”. These are just a few of many thoughts that you may say to yourself when you are in this mindset. Now take a second and ask yourself if you would say these things to a friend or family member. The answer is most likely an “of course…

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