Nightmares are no fun, but an international study has found that nighttime fears may actually serve a greater purpose. Researchers from the United States and Switzerland have identified areas of the brain that are activated while participants experience fears in their dreams. After participants awoke, these same emotion-regulating areas responded to scary situations with much […]
Taking One Scary Step at a Time Wendi was casually relaxing, enjoying herself, cuddled in a blanket on the couch, peacefully reading a book. Suddenly, she heard gunshots and what she thought were bombs going off. She was no longer safe. Her adrenaline soared as she ran for cover. It was now or never […]
Could retiring early cause you to lose your mind? Researchers at Binghamton University, in New York, believe so. They found that early retirement could accelerate the usual rate of cognitive decline among the elderly in developing countries, including Asia and Latin America. Their results mirrored those that had focused on the impact of retirement on […]
Table of Contents If you’re having trouble finding the right therapist, don’t despair. It’s not easy. People usually go with who’s closest to where they live or work, or who takes their insurance, or both—without ever actually deciding what they need personally from therapy. It’s what they need from therapy that should lead them to […]
Marilee is not unlike most of the universe in that she genuinely does not enjoy job interviews. If asked to choose between interviewing and chewing glass, you can guess her answer. This makes sense because in the same way that most people dislike taking tests, a job interview is a test. Even those who feel […]
Anthony Bourdain. Kate Spade. Robin Williams. We know the tragic stories of their suicides. Countless other adults, mostly unknown, have succumbed to this tragedy, as well. Let’s not forget teens who take their own lives, either. As you’ve undoubtedly heard, the suicide rate for young adults is up—significantly. A study of pediatric hospitals released in […]
Seniors are giving rave reviews for medical marijuana. In a new survey, those who turned to it for treating chronic pain reported it reduced pain and decreased the need for opioid painkillers, said Serena Gordon, reporter for HealthDay News. According to Gordon, 9 out of 10 liked it so much they said they’d recommend medical […]
When John Ortberg’s oldest daughter, Laura, was in high school and thinking about choosing a college, she was anxious about the process.
When William Doherty began his therapy practice, he was strictly neutral about divorce. It was the clients’ decision, not his, and not much different from career choices and deciding whether to stay or leave a job. A senior therapist once told Doherty what he said to the couples he saw: “The main thing is what […]
Feeling stressed out? Experiencing headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, upset stomach, or irritability? If worrying or anxiety goes untreated, it can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts. There are things you can do, though, including lifestyle changes, to alter the way you respond to stress. You have some options to re-establish harmony of mind, body, and […]
Treating Self-Injury with CARESS: A New Way to Address the “Demons and Secrets Inside” CARESS—Communicate Alternatively. Release Endorphins. Self-Soothe CARESS teaches new behaviors so that self-injury clients feel less likely to follow through with destructive impulses. As a result, they can retain a sense of power and control—expanding their range of positive coping skills. […]
“I’m not going to give them any respect if they don’t give me respect,” and “It’s my life.” These are Tyler’s favorite phrases. A defiant teenager, he is particularly fond of using the disrespect card any time an adult asks him to do something. This includes his parents, teachers, and even the pastor at his […]
Five Ways to Help Elder Caregivers with an Alzheimer’s Spouse Be sensitive to how the Traditionalist Generation thinks. Help elderly caregivers let go of the person they knew. With the therapist’s help, identify the kinds of support elderly caregivers need. Forge a circle of support for caregivers, with friends, family, and groups. Remind elderly caregivers […]
Jane was blessed enough to have a mother and father who provided a strong emotional center of love and support. From an early age, she could count on them for hugs and kisses, for care and compassion, and when she needed to be disciplined, they administered it in an appropriate way. But not everyone has […]
Play is the natural way that young children discharge the tensions of their daily lives. When children are picked on at school, they may come home at the end of the day and enlist siblings, friends, or even stuffed animals to play out a drama in which the child, transformed into the school principal, gets […]
Sally knew she shouldn’t have done it. But against her better judgement, she decided to give it a try. Sadly, the relationship ended up causing her much more pain than it was worth. That’s what can happen when you date a narcissist. “It’s easy to fall in love with narcissists,” said Darlene Lancer, marriage and […]
A new report in the journal Emotion suggests that teens who spend less time in front of their screens are happier—up to a point. The report, “Decreases in Psychological Well-Being Among American Adolescents After 2012 and Links to Screen Time During the Rise of Smartphone Technology,” used a large national survey of eighth, 10th and […]
The following article is adapted from WebMD. It appears on the site’s Health & Balance section. Looking for those car keys, and you just can’t seem to find them? Meet someone at a party, and 5 minutes later you forget her name? You leave the grocery store and have no idea where your car is […]
When you think of depression, you may be inclined to picture someone who struggles to get out of bed every morning and is barely able to function. But unlike many medical conditions, depression is one that often goes unseen and undiagnosed. That’s because many sufferers actually experience concealed or smiling depression, in which they put […]
In the following article, WebMD explores the potentially deleterious effects of excessive worrying on physical and mental health—and also provides some suggestions about how to combat anxiety that threatens to negatively impact your life. The content is reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD, a medical reference expert at WebMD. Are you an excessive worrier? Perhaps you […]
Encompass Counseling Center LLC is a private psychotherapy practice serving the Bloomingdale and Naperville areas—and online. We combine our educational experience and professional expertise with our proprietary 5 CORE model of counseling to provide individuals, couples, and families with a “whole” health experience.
