Counseling for individuals, couples, adults and teens in Crystal Lake, Algonquin and McHenry County,
P.I.S.D.=Post Infidelity Stress Disorder. In doing marriage counseling, I see many couples who have gone through many kinds of infidelity (emotional, online, work, financial, sexual). Psychologist Dennis Ortman in “Transcending Infidelity” likens the psychological aftermath of sexual betrayal to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in its origin and symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, rage, emotional numbing, and […]
Now that marijuana is becoming legalized in many states, the dangers of marijuana are being glossed over. Although it has been decriminalized so there are no longer stiff penalties for users, it does not negate the scientific research of what it does to brain functioning and development. Of particular concern is the effects of marijuana […]
Video game addiction, aka “gaming addiction”, is now an official psychiatric disorder. If you have been concerned about your kids, partner or yourself being addicted-there is now research confirming that gaming (and also phone addiction) stimulates the brain comparable to other addictions. In a landmark 2019 decision, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that video […]
It is a common concern about cognitive decline, Alzheimers or other dementia as we age, especially if we have a family member who has had it. GOOD news is that it is only 20-30% genetics, and we ARE able to control a good measure of what happens to our brain, our future and our life. […]
New information is coming out about the Highly Sensitive Person-HSP . Based on the book by Elaine Aron, PhD called The Highly Sensitive Person,her book and the article below outline the traits that are often understood by people who carry these qualities. The Highly Sensitive Person (or HSP) has traits of deep processing, overstimulation, emotional […]
It is so important to evaluate and treat depression by a professional. The symptoms of a clinical depression can be severe and life altering. People say they are depressed, but following is a clinical description with symptoms of what is considered a “Major Depression” Sadness is a part of human existence that the majority […]
Gaslighting is a form of emotional and mental abuse in a relationship, used by someone, usually a narcissist, to manipulate you in order to get what they want. They are a master at turning things around so you feel bad and question your self, and they are right, all knowing and here to remind you […]
Being bullied at school isn’t new-but it is getting worse as more kids experience the damage it causes. In this comic-the characters are just asking-“don’t be mean, especially to those who are powerless to stop you.” Unfortunately, there has been a lot in the news (and in my office) of school bullies. There are kids […]
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), can cause people to be stuck and overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings that occur from trauma that has occurred in the past. It can either be a “Big T” (a huge trauma) but life can also bring many “small t’s” (smaller, accumulative traumas) that can similarly have a devastating […]
So many people who are considered shy or an introvert-suffer from some level of social anxiety. That doesn’t mean they don’t like people; they can feel insecure, overwhelmed, panicked and avoidant of social situations with many people, new people, big groups, and in front of people. Tapping has been found to be an effective […]
