Pregnant During a Pandemic.  Definitely not a phrase any of us would have envisioned!  Fortunately, while this is an incredibly stressful time, there are ways you can cope. Follow your doctor’s advice.  Nothing, and I mean, NOTHING, is more important than the health of you and your baby (or babies!).  While your friends and family are (usually) well-intentioned when offering advice, the most important recommendations to follow are those from your own trusted doctor.  The recommendations your doctor will make will be based on your location, your individual life circumst ..read more

COVID-19 (A.K.A. coronavirus) has heightened feelings of panic, anxiety, depression, uncertainty, loneliness, and more in society. We are limited on what we can and cannot do, and we strive for some sense of normalcy and control. The question is…how do we do that? Below are steps to improve your mental health during this scary and chaotic time. Stay connected with friends.  There are many ways to stay connected, including video chats, text message, phone calls, social media, and more. Social distancing does not have to mean social disconnection! Set Boundaries. Because we are quarantined ..read more

This  post is brought to you by Rachel Casey, AMFT. Woo!  We all just made it through Thanksgiving, but more holidays are right around the corner. While the holiday season can be a wonderful and joyous time for some, it can also cause feelings of anxiety and/or distress for others. So, what are some symptoms of anxiety, and how do you manage it throughout the holidays? Do not worry, we are here to help! First, let’s have a quick recap on what anxiety feels like. *Common symptoms of anxiety:  Hyperventilation/shortness of breath Feeling on edge or uneasy Racing thoughts Irritability Fatigue or ..read more

This  post is brought to you by Rachel Casey, AMFT. Woo!  We all just made it through Thanksgiving, but more holidays are right around the corner. While the holiday season can be a wonderful and joyous time for some, it can also cause feelings of anxiety and/or distress for others. So, what are some symptoms of anxiety, and how do you manage it throughout the holidays? Do not worry, we are here to help! First, let’s have a quick recap on what anxiety feels like. *Common symptoms of anxiety:  Hyperventilation/shortness of breath Feeling on edge or uneasy Racing thoughts Irritability Fatigue or ..read more

Happy New Year everyone!  Do you feel you are surrounded with stories, suggestions, questions, and reminders about resolutions?  If your answer is “no”, I’ll admit, I am a bit jealous.  In the interest of full disclosure, I do not often set specific New Years Resolutions.  For me, January is about celebrating feeling refreshed (particularly after the holidays!), and the renewed sense of motivation and energy it often brings.  I love reflecting on the past year, the highs and lows, and then setting my hopes and intentions for the year ahead. A few days into the new year, we start seeing news st ..read more

  Before entering private practice, our founder, Katie Fleming, worked at a community mental health agency as a Crisis Therapist.  There, she provided emergency mental health assessment and intervention to Chicago youth experiencing a psychiatric emergency.  Recently, Katie was interviewed on the Masters in Counseling Podcast, and took quite the trip down memory lane as she shared all about her experience.  Click the link below to listen and enjoy!   Working in Community Mental Health with Katie Fleming   Masters in Counseling is a fantastic resource for any current or prospective students int ..read more

Beyond the Blues… Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression Giving birth to a newborn baby is one of life’s biggest changes and greatest joys. Welcoming a new addition to the family sparks great change in the lives of the family members. Most especially the mother, as her body is also going through some major changes both internally and externally. The first few weeks after giving birth can be quite challenging. New parents now have to get used to sacrifice and fatigue being the new normal. Of course, there are the expected feelings of ..read more

Have you ever heard anyone say “I could never cheat on my partner!”  Or, “If someone ever cheated on me, I’d leave them in a heartbeat.”  Have you ever thought or said those things?  If so, you are certainly not alone.  Like most hardships, you never truly know how you’ll react in a situation until you find yourself in that situation. Did you know that, when working through infidelity, the partners that choose to work through the infidelity and work to rebuild the trust actually create stronger relationships on the other side?  It’s true! Each partner plays a role in healing the relationship ..read more

One of the the most difficult parts of counseling is finding the right counselor to begin with.  In this post, I offered tips on when and how to find the right counselor.  Once you have your first appointment scheduled, there are several steps you can take to prepare for your appointment, and hopefully ease your anticipation anxiety. 1) Familiarize yourself with the route to the office.  The last thing you want is to get lost on your way to your appointment!  No matter how far the counselor’s office is from your starting point, you’ll want to visualize how you’ll get there, what you’ll need to ..read more

Happy November!  This is by far my favorite time of the year.  In fact, my husband and I love this time of year so much he actually proposed around this time!  The following months were filled with holiday parties and engagement celebrations.  At the time, I was absolutely thrilled to share our love, joy, and excitement with our family and friends!  What I was completely unprepared for was the overwhelming amount of advice, ideas, suggestions, and cautionary tales sent our way. For example, the very night he proposed, two people expressed their congratulations and then immediately shared engag ..read more