Live Better. Love Better. Work Better.

Counselor Chicago

Categories

Therapist Collaboration: When is It A Good Idea & How is It Useful?

September 11, 2021

Matthew Cuddeback LCSW There is a complex area that often arises requiring therapists to carefully consider how to proceed while advocating for our clients, respecting their wishes, and protecting their therapeutic experience, that is professional collaboration. Whether it is collaborating with another therapist you may be meeting with, a former provider, or collaborating with a current provider who is prescribing medication it is something that should be given a lot of thought. Let’s talk about what to…

Read More

Venturing Out: How Do I Adjust to Post-COVID Life?

September 10, 2021

Over a year ago, we were all hunkered down amidst quarantine, hoping and dreaming for the day that things start to feel normal again. We deeply missed and longed for all of the experiences in life that we find valuable – an amazing meal at a restaurant, travel, walking into a grocery store without a mask. We all thought how happy we’d be to hug people and jump back into our old routines. We thought the “taste…

Read More

6 Ways to Practice a Mental Health Wellness Routine At Home

June 27, 2021

Steven Losardo, AMFT  If you are someone who has had to transition from working in an office environment to working at home during the pandemic, it is likely that many changes have altered your routine. Mindful Magazine (2020) notes, one effect of switching to remote work is the loss of a social environment, which has impacted mental health for many people. The pandemic has been a source of depression and anxiety for remote workers, which is why…

Read More

Why Do People Self-Harm?

June 15, 2021

Hannah Hopper, LPC  Self-harm is something that happens often, and yet, like many other mental health challenges, there’s a lot of stigma around it. If you’ve never struggled with it before, it might be hard to understand why someone would engage in self-harm. But even though it’s hard to talk about self-harm, we can begin to break down the stigma by understanding why some people engage in it. So why do people self-harm?  To feel present People…

Read More

Did You Know You Can Navigate Your Anxiety?

June 11, 2021

Steven Losardo, AMFT  You may be feeling a lot of apprehension about returning to work after months of working at home or unemployment while knowing we are still in the pandemic. You may be experiencing anxiety about what comes next for you. Feeling this way is common; anxiety has increased for many people during this time. One research study on Google trends discovered that more people have been searching for “worry” and “anxiety” as well as techniques…

Read More

Did You Know Limitations Can Liberate?

May 12, 2021

Steven Losardo, AMFT As we try to adjust to life challenges, it is crucial to maintain both physical and mental health. Today, the drastic increase in remote work requires changing our wellness habits to adapt to our current surroundings. That said, the idea of elevating or even beginning at-home wellness can be easier said than done. Suppose for you this adjustment is not only tricky, but it also seems impossible. Further, you have been here before. A…

Read More

Can Your Anger Be Your Strength?

May 11, 2021

Steven Losardo, AMFT You may have seen a lot of anger as of late, but did you know it can be a strength? You probably did not, as only about 13 percent of those who admit to serious trouble controlling anger get help (Barnhill, 2015). Anger is a range of frustration to severe fury. The emotion is also understood as a state of readiness and results from a sense of injustice (Clinton & Langberg, 2011). This feeling…

Read More

The Power Of Perspective

May 10, 2021

Mary-Lauren O’Crowley, MA, NCC Before I start telling you the details of what this “perspective” deal is all about, I would like all of you to answer a simple question first: Do you view a half-filled glass of water as being half-full or half-empty? This may have sounded silly to you, but believe me, this can tell us a lot about how someone views the world.  I am confident that most of you are familiar with this…

Read More

How Do I Cope With the Holidays and COVID-19?

May 9, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC  You want festive, you want fun, you want fa-la-la-la-la. However, when it comes to celebrating the holidays (and doing pretty much everything else in the world), things look a bit different this year. Coping with the holidays and the COVID-19 Pandemic isn’t an easy adjustment for anyone. On top of that, we’ve never done this before, so we have to adapt and learn as we go. To do this, we have…

Read More

Self-Care or Selfishness?

May 4, 2021

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC “Self-care” has become a buzzword, and for good reason. Many people have discovered that practicing self-care benefits their physical and mental health. As a therapist, I often encounter people who fear that their self-care practices might be “selfish.” Many clinicians will say that self-care is never selfish, but I don’t think it’s that easy. There can be overlap between these two concepts, and it’s important to explore whether your own practices of self-care…

Read More