Childhood is often depicted as a stress-free period in life, full of playfulness, fantasy, and exploration. In-between those times or maybe in the absence of those times, exposure to traumatic events can elicit feelings of fear, danger, or shame. Processing those emotions is difficult enough for an adult; processing these feelings as a child easily overwhelms our ability to cope. This is childhood trauma.
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It is with a heavy heart that we respond to yet another mass shooting event, this one at our front door. On July 4th 2022 our Highland Park, Illinois community experienced the unthinkable. We also recognize that many in our Chicago community are impacted by gun violence and mass shootings daily. It is important to understand how these events affect our mental and emotional wellbeing. As we continue to process mass shootings and gun violence, there are symptoms of trauma we want you to understand so you know when to get extra help.
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Do you ever find yourself thinking about a memory from childhood and go “wait a second.. that was really messed up!”? As adults we gain different perspectives on our childhood experiences. We wonder if certain events classify as childhood trauma. I know, I know, your parents are together, you never had reduced lunches, and your parents never abused you. Or even if you did have those experiences: “My childhood experiences do not classify as trauma!” Well, you might be surprised by how big of an impact your parents “bickering” relationship, your mom’s addiction issues, or your dad’s “suck it up and rub some dirt on it” mentality had on you.
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The Enneagram has generated worldwide interest in the last several years thanks to social media attention and popular podcast coverage. The Enneagram means nine pointed figure and is used to describe nine personality types. This personality inventory is comprehensive as it describes the interactions between each Enneagram type and each Enneagram types’ growth and stress arrows. Read this blog, Enneagram Overview, for a brief history of the Enneagram, description of terminology, and brief overview of each type with links to additional resource material.
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When someone we love and care for suffers a loss, it can be difficult to know what to say or how to respond. You might feel compelled to "fix it" somehow in order to reduce or remove his or her pain. The Wolfet Companionship Model of Bereavement offers great insight into your role as a supporter.
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Conflict is a normal part of any healthy relationship. It is the way we navigate these ups and downs that determines the quality and stability of our marriage, as well as the overall satisfaction we get out of our relationship. This post specifically lists 10 steps in managing conflict in your marriage.
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There are times in life where you just need to get back to the basics. So far you have examined the areas of faulty communication in your marriage and learned the most essential ingredients for communicating well with your partner. We will now cover three simple steps that create the skeleton, or framework for effective communication in your marriage. This has been echoed throughout history in effective communication courses, marriage enrichment seminars, and even parenting classes!
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Now that you have examined your current communication system and put it through the test, let’s talk about what factors are the most important in having good communication in your marriage. John Gottman’s research has found that a positive emotional climate is the single most important ingredient in relationship stability and happiness. This is applicable to every day interactions, not just big and infrequent gestures. It needs consistency and to be nurtured.
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As many of us know, good communication is the key to successful and well adjusted relationships. It involves sharing information, conveying ideas, and giving up some of our inner world. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, it would seem that truly effective communication can be as rare as the kids doing their homework without complaint! So how do we know that our communication is bad? How do we improve our communication?
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Welcome to the Chicago Counseling blog. Your home for help with family issues, relationship conflict, wellness, anxiety, depression and any other issue related to relational and emotional wellness.
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