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 […]
In the following article, Jennifer Clopton, health writer for WebMD, discusses the benefits (and drawbacks) in using LSD to increase work performance. The article was reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH, a senior medical director at WebMD and senior medical correspondent for Medscape. Paul Austin believes there is a responsible way to take LSD, and […]
Popular misconceptions reinforce the belief that therapy is about resting on a couch and talking about one’s problems, according to Jonathan Alpert, a New York psychotherapist and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days. “So that’s what patients often do,” Alpert said, adding that this just as often this leads to codependence. […]
In case you’re wondering, plenty of good reasons to be physically active exist. Big ones include reducing the odds of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Maybe you want to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, prevent depression, or just look better. Here’s another one, which especially applies to those of us experiencing the brain […]
In Part 1 of “What Causes OCD in Adolescents?” author Michael Angelo, MSJ, LCPC, examined the reasons behind obsessive compulsive disorder and also looked at the prevalence of OCD in children as young as 4 years old. In Part 2, he discusses the growing evidence that a specific form of childhood OCD might actually be […]
Obsessive compulsive disorder is the “drama” found on episodic television, where the antics of idiosyncratic characters like Adrian Monk display bizarre behavior that makes for good ratings. He adjusts crooked pictures on the wall; touches each parking meter twice as he walks down the street; brushes each tooth 32 times before going to bed; and […]
It has been said that if we repeatedly find ourselves in places where we don’t want to go, it’s our thinking that has led us there. Emily can relate. All she has done is mislaid a report she knows would be very helpful in a meeting scheduled for today. Yet her mind immediately goes to: I must […]
Imagine living for most of your adulthood with the thought that you are a piece of sh*@t because of something stupid you did in college. And more than 25 years later, having to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting as part of a graduate school assignment, only to be reminded of the incident again. But also […]
False beliefs about mental health can cause significant problems for those who need treatment the most. The last thing that someone with a mental illness needs is to be stigmatized because of it. Negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common. Some of the harmful effects of a […]
Writing about anxiety, St. Francis de Sales, in his Introduction to the Devout Life, said that anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall us except sin. Anxiety is a complex and powerful emotion that arises from many sources, including the loss of a person’s ability to trust or feel safe; intense worries; an excessive […]
Noah didn’t expect the rain, but the heavens opened and water surged from below, obliterating every living thing on the planet. However, the rainbow came afterward, proving that God would never destroy the earth again with a flood. More than a reminder for Noah’s time, the rainbow is also sign for us today that […]
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.
