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What Does Being in Love Mean To You? Could It Be Infatuation?

September 15, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling What’s your definition of being in love? For you, it may be the constant thoughts of your significant other combined with your heart racing when you see them. For others, love may mean they can’t stop smiling, see someone as “perfect”, or want to be with them every second. The feeling of love is not entirely universal and often gets mixed up with the feeling of being infatuated. Therefore, my…

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8 Simple Steps for Choosing the Right Therapist in Chicago

September 14, 2018

When feeling depressed, anxious, or struggling with your personal relationships, it can be very tricky to pick yourself up and to start to feel better. One way to move toward that goal of feeling better is initiating therapy. If you’ve made the decision to start feeling better, congratulations! You are one step closer to feeling better! Initiating this big step in your life can be stressful as is, but picking the right counselor can also be overwhelming,…

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Beyond AA: Discover Six Support Groups You’ve Never Heard Of

September 13, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Have you ever considered attending a support group? Many people find support groups to be helpful when they are facing a variety of issues, such as substance use, trauma, and mood regulation. These groups are usually led by volunteers and are often offered at no cost to participants. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotic Anonymous (NA) are examples of well-known support groups, but there are many more that you might not have heard…

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Therapy Groups vs. Support Groups: What You Need to Know Before You Join One

September 12, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner Therapy groups and support groups are often spoken of as if they’re interchangeable, but they are not the same. It’s true that they are similar. Both types of groups can be sources of valuable treatment information as well as validation, acceptance, empathy, belonging, and mentorship. But therapy groups—sometimes called group therapy—and support groups have a few distinct differences. Here’s what you should know. Group Leadership. Perhaps the most significant distinction is that…

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Self-Sabotaging In Relationships

September 11, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Engaging in romantic relationships is one of the biggest risks you can take. While they may bring you so much joy and happiness, they can also encompass pain and betrayal. As you continue to open yourself up and become vulnerable physically and emotionally with another person, the risk of getting rejected, hurt, betrayed, or abandoned grows. Experiencing such hurt can lead anyone to engage in self-sabotaging behaviors moving forward. People…

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Attachment in Romantic Relationships: What Is Your Attachment Style?

September 10, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Our attachment style is something we carry with us throughout our upbringing and into our adult romantic relationships. Attachment is defined as the strong, intimate, and emotional bond typically formed between an infant and its caregiver in the early years of life. Attachment affects everything from selecting your partner, to how you behave in relationships, to how you leave them. According to Mary Ainsworth and other recent researchers, there are…

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New Dads with Depression: How Can We Help?

September 9, 2018

We live in a society where depression is slowly becoming more talked about in general, and an area which has specifically seen improvement is among postpartum mothers. However, rarely does society consider depression among the fathers. A recent New York Post article titled, “Dads are just as likely as moms to become depressed: study,” explored both the reasons behind fathers who experience depression and possible solutions. They stated that in depression screenings done during 9,500 visits to…

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The Power Of The Present

September 8, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling The idea of living in the present moment, also known as mindfulness, is a foreign concept to many. We all get so wrapped up in multi-tasking, worrying about the future, and ruminating on the past that we don’t get to appreciate what is happening right now, in this moment. Not only are you more productive when you are focusing on the present, but you are also more able to live…

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Benefitting From All 6 Types of Self-Care

September 7, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling When you think of “self-care” you most likely think of working out and eating healthy. While physical self-care is crucial, the other five forms of self-care are just as important in achieving the level of happiness and balance you deserve. A lot of people burn themselves out from all the stress in their daily lives or simply just put themselves last on their priority list. Unfortunately, it isn’t until they…

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7 Ways to Help a Friend or Family Member with Depression

September 6, 2018

Struggling with depression can be incredibly challenging for an individual, but it can also be very challenging for their friends or family members who can’t seem to help their loved one feel better. One of the first questions I ask a client who is struggling with depression is what kind of support system they have in place. The reason I ask is that a good support system is one way to move closer to the end goal…

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