How much have you lost and blamed anger? Have you been around others who tell you that you are not the same person when you are angry? You are not alone. A lot of individuals struggle with anger. Let’s begin by understanding what anger is. Anger is “an emotional state that varies in intensity from […]
Therapist Blog
Let’s Welcome our Next Guest…Suicide
Suicide. It is a seven-letter word that can bring an array of emotions depending on the person and context. For some it can be a familiar word, but for others it can be scary territory. There may be questions of confusion, “Why am I thinking this way? I have everything.” There may be questions of […]
Stitching the Pieces: Managing a Broken Heart
Heartbreaks are tough. There is no easy way to “get over them.” There is no amount of “time” that can pass that will make it easier. Heartbreaks are a form of grief, although someone did not necessarily pass away, you lost someone who at one point you thought would be in your life forever. I […]
What to do if Your Child Expresses Suicidal Thoughts
It’s okay to be scared. Hearing your child express that they want to die is tough and at the same time can be confusing for parents. Be mindful of how you react and what you say. Be direct. Ask straightforward questions. No this isn’t going to put ideas in their head. Be okay with feeling […]
My Kid Just Came Out as Transgender
It can be challenging for parents to know what to do after their child comes out as transgender. There can be a rollercoaster of emotions happening. Confusion about what this means, fear about their safety, disappointment that they might have “failed” as a parent, sadness about “losing” their child, or feeling bad that they should […]
Learning to Say No
Saying no can be one of the hardest things for people to do. People get accustomed to saying yes, because saying no feels impossible, because they do not want to make others feel bad, because they owe someone something, the list goes on. Other times you feel pressured into saying yes due to the person’s […]
The Comparison Trap: A Blog Post about Body Image
Our world today is full of comparisons. We look on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, or even just Google search and see thousands of images that are all different. This, unfortunately, opens up a door for a very negative cycle of comparing ourselves to each and every image that we see. We see the picture of a […]
Recognizing the Need for Self-Care Part II
How many times have you heard, “It’s not about how many times you fall, it’s about how many times you get back up”? But how did you learn to “get back up”? We are so supportive toward our loved ones when they are stressed but when it is time to support ourselves, rarely do we […]
The Stigma of Mental Illness in the Black/African American Community
Where can mental illness stem from as it relates to the Black/African American community? “My mom and dad ‘beat’ me whenever I did something wrong and I came out just fine!”. “I lost many of my childhood friends to some act of violence, that I witnessed, but I made it out and I’m just fine!”.“This […]
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
In recent news, the state of Illinois is under fire regarding the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) prolonging the stay of children, in their custody, in child psychiatric units past their stabilization period due to the lack of placement availability. The argument arising is, “how are these unnecessary extended stays in psychiatric units […]