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The Unique Effects the Pandemic is having on our Adolescents

October 9, 2020

Written By: Amanda Summers, M.Ed., LPC

The changes, stress, and fear associated with COVID-19 can be difficult for anyone to manage, but research shows that it can have a particularly difficult effect on teens. As teens are adjusting to limited time spent with friends, adapting to school changes, and decreased extracurricular activities, they may also be experiencing increased feelings of depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness.

A study conducted by Harris Poll with the National 4-H council  surveyed 1,500 teens ages 13-19 and found that 7 out of 10 teens reported struggling with mental health. 61% of the teens reported increased feelings of loneliness due to COVID-19, 55% reported increased feelings of anxiety, 45% felt excess stress, and 43% felt feelings of depression.

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Google Vs Gottman Method

June 9, 2020

Habits can often be hard to break, especially the habits that we don’t even know that we’ve developed. In this era of fingertip solutions our society has become accustomed to solving a problem with the 6-letter search engine that seems to have all the answers or asking their nearest electronic device. This fact is why the 40 years of research that Dr. John Gottman put into researching what makes marriages succeed or fail is more important now than ever.  

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5 Habits to Lasting Change

May 29, 2020

Nancy Kuhn, M.A., LMFT

Wow it’s February already!  How are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions??  January flew by for me, as I’m sure it did for many of you.  All those goals to get healthier – weight loss, work out, get more sleep, cut back on the alcohol use, get together with friends more often, use technology less, read a book, be kinder to your wife/husband/kids….how are you doing with accomplishing what you intended this year?  I know for me, it’s not happening nearly fast enough and certainly it is not as EASY as I wish it would be.

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How to Find a Good Therapist in Illinois

November 28, 2018

How to Choose the Best Professional Counselor for You and Your Family

In 2016, there were 8 million divorces in the U.S. Often divorce can be far from amicable or silent. Some divorces are filled with anger between the spouses and are extremely upsetting, even traumatic, for the children.

Sometimes, the families that go through divorce may have been dysfunctional for an extended period. However, even relatively healthy families can go through difficult times too, even if divorce isn’t the likely outcome. If you’re struggling with marital problems or your family has experienced some prolonged difficulties you’ve been unable to resolve on their own, it may be worthwhile to consider individual, marital or family therapy. Pro-actively addressing issues thru therapy early only increases the likelihood of success. Counseling can be a powerful tool for change and healing in people’s lives.

Therapists can help you uncover the underlying cause of the issues, offer a fresh, unbiased perspective and provide the tools to solve or cope with them more effectively. Read on to learn 5 tips on how to select the best professional counselor for you, your marriage or your family.

Continue reading “How to Find a Good Therapist in Illinois”

A Brief Guide to Seeking Counseling Services: 5 Tips for Choosing a Professional Counselor for Your Family

November 28, 2018

How to Choose the Best Professional Counselor for You and Your Family

In 2016, there were 8 million divorces in the U.S. Often divorce can be far from amicable or silent. Some divorces are filled with anger between the spouses and are extremely upsetting, even traumatic, for the children.

Sometimes, the families that go through divorce may have been dysfunctional for an extended period. However, even relatively healthy families can go through difficult times too, even if divorce isn’t the likely outcome. If you’re struggling with marital problems or your family has experienced some prolonged difficulties you’ve been unable to resolve on their own, it may be worthwhile to consider individual, marital or family therapy. Pro-actively addressing issues thru therapy early only increases the likelihood of success. Counseling can be a powerful tool for change and healing in people’s lives.

Therapists can help you uncover the underlying cause of the issues, offer a fresh, unbiased perspective and provide the tools to solve or cope with them more effectively. Read on to learn 5 tips on how to select the best professional counselor for you, your marriage or your family.

Continue reading “A Brief Guide to Seeking Counseling Services: 5 Tips for Choosing a Professional Counselor for Your Family”

5 Reasons to See a Therapist for Help

October 15, 2018

We all have our preconceived notions of therapy.  My 15-year-old son says “Who needs to talk about their problems…blah, blah, blah…why don’t they just do something about it and fix their own problems!”  He cannot YET understand in his innocence how we as human beings sometimes find ourselves in a slump, and as Dr. Seuss says in Oh, the Places You’ll Go, “And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.  Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”

Therapists help people find their way out of the slump they are into a healthier, happier life.  If you find your self-struggling with the following issues, it’s time to ask for help.

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