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Dysfunctional Family Roles Part 2: Are You a Scapegoat or A Hero?

November 3, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  The Scapegoat Aliases: “The Problem,” “The Bad One,” “The Crazy One” The scapegoat is the person in the family who is obviously struggling. They might express unhealthy behaviors, such as participation in illegal activities or acting out in the classroom or in the home. They might be viewed as unstable or as a “rebel.” The scapegoat is often in the family spotlight because they are regarded as the family member who…

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Dysfunctional Family Roles Part 1: Are You an Enabler or a Jester?

November 1, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  Regardless of if your family is biological or chosen, you have a role in your family. Your role may be healthy, unhealthy, or perhaps a combination of both. There are many factors that contribute to which role(s) you adopt and which one(s) you do not. It’s important to assess and change any dysfunctional roles in order to support your emotional health and improve your family relationships.  Ask yourself, do I embody…

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Family Enmeshment: Part 2

October 23, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC In Part one of this blog, I discussed the topic of enmeshment within family systems, including what it is and signs for noticing it is occurring. As discussed, growing up in an enmeshed family might mean that you now have replicated enmeshment and codependency in other relationships in your life. In part two of this blog we will discuss four components of reversing enmeshment and becoming a healthier, more authentic version of yourself. …

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Family Enmeshment: Part 2

October 19, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC In Part one of this blog, I discussed the topic of enmeshment within family systems, including what it is and signs for noticing it is occurring. As discussed, growing up in an enmeshed family might mean that you now have replicated enmeshment and codependency in other relationships in your life. In part two of this blog we will discuss four components of reversing enmeshment and becoming a healthier, more authentic version of yourself. …

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5 Ways to Help Your Child Cope with Depression

October 18, 2020

By Hannah Hopper The National Alliance on Mental Health highlights that many children struggle with depression in their teenage years, but it’s often undetected by parents. Teenage depression can look different than adults struggling with depression, and this blog gives several ways that you can help your child cope.  1) Pay attention to the warning signs Teens go through a lot of different stages, and this can make it harder to pinpoint if your child is feeling…

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Family Enmeshment: Part 1

October 5, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini Being close with your family is not an inherently negative thing. For me, coming from a large Italian family meant that I was constantly around family, sharing stories, food, and details about my life. So, what does it mean to be too close? Enmeshment within family systems describes a lack of boundaries in which roles and expectations are confused, parents are overly reliant on their children for support, and children are not allowed to…

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Adapting to Becoming a Stepparent

September 12, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC Becoming a stepparent can be an exciting and fulfilling time. For some who have never had kids of their own, it becomes an opportunity to share your life with someone new and help shape their character. In some cases, new family members get along without a problem. However, there are sometimes bumps in the road.  Figuring out how to navigate this new role can be challenging. Aside from the day-to-day responsibilities, there can…

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Understanding Teenagers and Anxiety

September 5, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC It’s no secret that the teenage years are difficult, especially in this day and age. Witnessing your teenager go through hardships and not knowing how to help them can cause you to feel helpless and scared. My aim here is to help parents of teenagers struggling with anxiety better understand as well as learn ways to help. So, what is going on with teenagers? During adolescence, massive biological and psychological maturation floods them…

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The Dangers of Hustle Culture

September 4, 2020

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC How many of us have heard, and probably lived by, “work hard, play hard?” For years this had and has been the ideal quote to live by for young, working professionals. However, it seems like nowadays the “play” part of the phrase is nowhere to be found.  Modern culture has created the pressure of succeed-or-you’re-nothing. People are increasingly connecting their identity and their internal value to their work ethic and professional achievements. The…

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Practical Tips to Help Children Fall Asleep

August 27, 2020

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Certified  There are many emotional reasons why children struggle to fall asleep. They might feel excited, worried, bored, or distracted, which can make it difficult to wind down. Try these tips to help a child to fall asleep:  Meet Comfort Needs What does the child need to feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed at night? You can identify these needs by asking the child, or you can experiment by providing these needs and…

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