by Bianka Hardin, Psy. D. Over a decade ago, I was at a trauma conference and noticed and bought two books that have impacted the course of my career. The books, “Healing Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship” by Dr. Lawrence Heller and Aline LaPierre and The...
Aliza Solomon just joined CTC in 2022, and we are glad to have her on board. As a professional, Aliza is a board-certified in Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She earned her M.A degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College Chicago in 2018 and prior to that attended the...
What may come to mind first is jazz hands, choreographed moves, flowery pink tutus, and ballet slippers. But dance/movement therapy is not that and is more than a simple dance class. Instead, it’s an integrative mind-body approach to therapy that has many applications and benefits regarding mental health. The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) defines dance/movement...
After a year and a half of living under lockdown and social restrictions, people are clamoring to leave their homes and interact. According to the CDC, as of June 18th of this year, 57.2% of all Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Many businesses are lifting their Covid restrictions, and with summer...
May is National Mental Health Awareness month. We all know the importance of healthy eating and exercise for a healthy body. Recently, some high-profile people have spoken out about their struggles with mental health issues. Carson Daly (anxiety disorder), Ariana Grande (depression and PTSD), Demi Lovato (bipolar disorder), Leonardo DiCaprio (OCD), and Michael Phelps (ADHD)...
Even though spring officially begins on March 20th, there’s no reason to wait to do some mental and emotional spring cleaning. The idea of spring cleaning has been around for thousands of years. Some research points to the Persian tradition of cleaning the entire house in preparation for Nowruz, the Persian New Year which falls...
What do we do when someone we trust or look up to betrays our trust? What do we do when an authority figure in an important area of life lets us down? It could be the failure of a political leader, but it could also be a mentor who makes a sexual pass at their...
Think ahead. The clock has reached midnight on December 31st and you were faced with the always-challenging task of declaring (and sticking to) a New Year’s resolution! What was yours? Was it the same as last year’s? Did you already know as the words came out of your mouth, that it wasn’t going to happen?...
Many of us won’t be unhappy to see the back of 2020. It’s been a dreadful year with Covid-19 still surging in most states, and plenty of cultural upheaval, economic woes, and the drama surrounding this year’s elections. This is an appalling time—one in which we should be pulling together as a nation. According to...
We know that positive thinkers tend to be happier. Our state of mind plays such an important role in our physical health as well as our mental well-being. It may be hard to believe, but thinking positive thoughts can have a profound effect on the quality of your life. Here are 5 ways in which...