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The Power of Group Therapy

January 5, 2022

By: Zana Van Der Smissen Firstly, I have to disclose that I have always been a fan of group therapy. It has always been so interesting to watch people from all kinds of backgrounds come together to share their story in the hopes that others can relate. Group therapy has been an effective tool for many whether that means bringing a sense of community or giving an individual a space to be heard. But how do you…

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What is Rumination and Why Do I Ruminate?

June 14, 2021

By Eric Dean JD MBA MA MA LPC CADC Negative rumination is when we chew over and obsess about negative thoughts. When we ruminate, we tend to focus on what we perceive to be the causes, consequences, and symptoms of our distress, rather than solutions to alleviate it. Those who ruminate are more prone to anxiety, stress, and depression. In this post, I am going to review some reasons for why we ruminate. In future posts, I…

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Why Am I So Stressed All of the Time?

June 13, 2021

By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC 3 Quick Tips for Achieving Peace of Mind In this time of great uncertainty, many of us find ourselves in an almost continuous state of stress. Here are some ways to alleviate stress:       Manage Expectations “Expectations are premeditated resentments” – Unknown. How we feel is not only based on what happens to us, but also how these experiences align with our expectations. For example, if…

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The Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back, Part II

June 9, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC No matter how long you have been married, newlyweds and old married couples have one thing in common – they should never get too comfortable. The Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back, Part II: What Are My Risks for Divorce?   If you read my previous blog post, this is a continuation of risks for divorce. Isolated studies give us a general picture and idea of how likely your marriage is…

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The Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back, Pt. I

June 8, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC No matter how long you have been married, newlyweds and old married couples have one thing in common – they should never get too comfortable. The Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back, Pt. I: What Are My Risks for Divorce?  In my practice, I see and work with many couples, and anyone who knows me or works with me knows my fascination with marriage, couples work, and relationships. Turns out that…

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10 Tips for Mental Health Spring Cleaning

May 26, 2021

Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Every year, we clean our homes in the spring to prepare and sharpen for the year ahead. Have you ever done the same thing with your mind, which is the body’s most important organ? Decluttering your brain is just as important and this blog will provide you with 10 easy tips for how to do so!  Start Journaling  Most therapists you meet will highly encourage journaling, and we don’t just say this…

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7 Helpful Ways to Ensure Restorative Sleep

May 25, 2021

In the midst of a global pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure we’re meeting our basic needs as humans. I break up these needs as food, shelter, sleep and movement. We all know sleep is important but it’s frequently something that eludes us, no matter how hard we try to get those 9 hours. With sleep being so difficult to come by prior to coronavirus, it has become even more difficult for many with…

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What Are the ABCs of Emotional and Behavioral Management?

May 24, 2021

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC It’s all fun and games until someone finds out the function of your behavior! Have you ever wondered why you do certain things or why you react or behave in specific ways? Perhaps learning about the ABCs of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) will help you break this down.  We create our emotions throughout our interpretations of events that take place in the world. The events themselves do not directly cause…

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How Can Boredom Be Beneficial?

April 3, 2021

By: Danielle Bertini, LPC I think we can all say a collective experience the world has shared this year (among other things) is that we are BORED. With the pandemic still around and most activities continuing to be shut down, there truly is not much to do to occupy our time. And here’s the thing—boredom is generally viewed as an unpleasant emotional state. When you feel bored and fatigued, 10 minutes can feel like an eternity. Because…

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Do I Have a Gambling Problem?

March 28, 2021

By Andrew McNaughton, LCSW, CADC Gambling has pretty much always been popular since money has existed. Today, it is as immediately accessible as it ever has been through online lottery purchases and mobile apps for casinos and sportsbooks, where players can win and lose real money really fast. In Illinois, online sports betting became legal in 2020, just in time for the professional football season to start. Advertisements for titillating promotions make the lure of trying sports…

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