Helpful articles for overcoming life's challenges

Improving Your Attention in the Present Moment

Of all the things that can draw our attention, we pay relatively little attention to the now. Rather, our attention is directed towards the past or the future. As we are taking a shower in the morning, we rarely pay attention to showering itself and the sensations that it entails. Instead, we are focusing on …

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Waiting for Motivation to Show Up?

One of the themes that repeatedly comes up in therapy with adults and adolescents is a complaint about a general “lack of motivation” or “I’m just not motivated to do anything.” I see a lot of people who are feeling pretty stuck in their lives and even in a way, lost. Motivation is a pretty …

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Finding Strength and Purpose

My clients are some of the strongest and bravest people I know. Everyday in my office I have the privilege of witnessing people step up and move in the direction of what they care about most. And what is most inspiring is watching people do this in the presence of painful thoughts, feelings or memories. …

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What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is defined as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (Kabat-Zinn, 2003 p. 145). In other words, mindfulness involves directing attention to the experience in the present moment and a non-evaluative observation of that experience. Research has consistently …

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Treating ADHD with Medication

When to consider medication for ADHD? It is a frequent question asked by many parents, teachers and therapists; how do I help my child with ADHD? It is a legitimate question. The presentation can be the classic hyperactive, impulsive, inattentive child or just the inattentive child who gets lost in class and is disorganized. Parents …

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Mental Health First Aid

The Center for Collaborative Counseling and Psychiatry is honored to support this important cause.  Please join We Support Mental Health on Facebook to become involved in local efforts to raise awareness of mental health.  For more information on Mental Health First Aid or where to find a class near you, please visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/…/take-…/find-a-course/ The difference between …

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Mental Health Awareness Month

Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year? Of these 50 million people, over half do not seek treatment. The top reason these individuals refuse help, according to a World Health Organization survey, is because of “fear and shame.” This May serves as Mental …

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Suicide Training and Awareness

Suicide Prevention Services will be hosting an ASSIST training on June 10th and 11th in Elgin. It is open to anyone over the age of 16 who is interested in learning how to help when someone is at immediate risk for suicide.

ADHD – Helpful Tips for Parents

Helpful Tips for Parents of a Child with ADHD Parenting a child with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be a significant challenge. However, it doesn’t mean that family life has to be frustrating or unrewarding. There are many things you can do to decrease the impact of your child’s ADHD. …

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Does Your Mental State Affect Your Relationships?

Does Your Mental State Affect Your Relationships? Most, if not all, mental health professionals will tell you the answer is “absolutely!” It is generally believed that your mental state contributes immensely to your ability to form close bonds with others. Many people who struggle with chronic stress, depression or anxiety lack the skills needed to …

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Activities and Treatments to Alleviate Depression

Have you ever noticed yourself feeling hopeless and unhappy and unsure of how to move forward? Maybe you notice yourself feeling angry and irritable more days than not? Perhaps you sometimes feel as if you are being controlled by your fluctuating moods. Depression is one of the most common mental health problems today. While medications …

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