Conversations with Therapists: Exploring Connection

We’re coming out of summer and moving into fall, a time often associated with transition, grief, and evolution. As we begin to think about hibernation season, we find ourselves asking about our own sense of connection and disconnection. These are topics we discuss with clients every day, but also navigate them ourselves in our day...

Self-Compassion: What makes it worth it

This blog is part 4 of 4 and was written by Hina Wain, a therapist in training who interned at Centered Therapy Chicago this past year. Part 4: Why is self-compassion worth it? Research has found that practicing self-compassion has been associated with  decreased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress with increased life satisfaction...

Self-Compassion Across Cultures

This blog is part 3 of 4 and was written by Hina Wain, a therapist in training who interned at Centered Therapy Chicago this past year. What does self-compassion look like across cultures? Self-compassion may be in part informed by one’s culture, group norms, values, and practices. Generally speaking, Asian cultures are described as collectivist...

Self-Compassion & Bravery

This blog was written by Hina Wain, a therapist in training who interned at Centered Therapy Chicago this past year. Part 2: Self-Compassion and Radical Bravery There is a common misconception that self-compassion is simply “making excuses” for passivity, complacency, or avoidance of responsibility. There may be a tendency to reject the kindness directed at...

Self-Compassion: What Is Compassion?

This blog was written by Hina Wain, a therapist in training who interned at Centered Therapy Chicago this past year. As a South Asian in North America, I have always been curious about the meeting of Eastern ideas and Western inquiry. May, as you may know, has been named as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and...

Trauma and the Therapist’s Role in Healing 

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...

Q&A with Aliza Solomon

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...

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Mental Health a Priority

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)...

Gratitude to the Rescue

Everyday we are bombarded on social media, news channels, and television with stories of community violence, mass shootings, sexual assault and more. It’s hard not to feel distressed by these current events. Daily exposure to traumatic events can have a cumulative effect on us, even when we are not directly exposed to the event. This...

The Benefit of Somatic Therapy

CTC embraces somatic therapy as an important approach to healing because we know the mind and body are connected in very important ways.  A landmark study called the Adverse childhood experiences or ACES study linked early traumatic events with the development and prevalence of a wide range of serious health and mental health difficulties throughout...

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