By Marko Sipka, LCPC For many people, the first “shelter-in-place” order made the hustle and bustle of everyday life come to a grinding halt. Of course if you are an essential worker, medical professional, or simply have a house full of kids trying to navigate remote learning, life may have seemed more chaotic than ever …
The Gift of Time: How a Global Pandemic Reframed Our Daily Lives Read More »
by Amalia C. Pryor, LCSW Gosh, it’s been about 6 months since Covid-19 has been part of our daily routine and way of life in general. Time is blowing by extremely fast. If you are reading this, I want to say that I am extremely proud of you. This has been a mentally taxing journey …
by Amalia Pryor, LCSW In the time of Covid-19, our daily routine and lives abruptly changed in the matter of a day or two. We have had to adapt and adjust to new schedules, demands and various other stressors along the way with the transition to working from home or modified way of work. I …
The importance of taking a personal day in the time of Covid-19 Read More »
Jill Bajorek, LCSW and Monica Kathuria, PsyD spoke with Jordan Rosenberg of Beerman Law about relationships and counseling, and the impact of COVID during this unprecedented time. Spending a lot of time together can really test the limits of a relationship, but there are ways to manage these stresses when they became overwhelming. Check out …
Jill Bajorek, LCSW recently sat down with Michael Moody to talk with him about the impact the Coronavirus pandemic has impacted our lives in ways we never expected. Specifically, she examines the fears behind the hoarding of toilet paper, how we are handling our mental and emotional selves day-to-day, the effects of toxic positivity, and …
Sitting with Ourselves During the COVID-19 Crisis Read More »
By Amalia Pryor, LCSW Hello! If you’re reading this, you have either already embarked on the therapy journey/ process or are interested in starting therapy. Either way, it is brave to acknowledge that your mental health is just as important as our physical health and well being. They go hand in hand. It does take …
By Sarah Schwartz, LCSW It is at this point in the year that Chicagoans start to wonder whether the sun will return and whether the temperature will rise. We are together in this fight and undoubtedly, spring will arrive; it always does. In the meantime, many of us are looking for ways to recharge. Let’s …
By Amalia Pryor From the time we were born, we have had expectations instilled in us from the generations before such as college, engagements, weddings, kids, traveling, careers, the list goes on! It really can be anything. But what if what we want for ourselves doesn’t fit with what society or family expects from us? I …
The effects of societal pressure and our self esteem Read More »
By Monica Kathuria, PsyD It’s true, nothing beats summers in Chicago! Warm weather and festivals, mustard and the bleachers, patios and rooftops, summer dresses and flip flops, the river walk and the lake, craft beers and rosé all day…. And then in a blink of an eye, it happens. The air becomes brisk, the latest …
By Jill Bajorek, LCSW In the wake of recent mass shootings, it’s become increasingly clear that we don’t really know how to react when this type of tragedy occurs. We want to process what happened in order to understand it, and many of us want to act to influence changes in a positive way. Unfortunately, …
Being an Individual in a Society Where Mass Tragedies Occur Read More »
By Amalia Pryor, LCSW We often hear the word “boundaries” used when discussing mental health and self care. Boundaries are merely a way to self –preserve from the world around us whether it be our family, friends, romantic partners and career. If we let people over step into our lives, it can cause anxiety, stress, …
When people think of summer, they often think of sunshine and happiness. But just because the weather warms and the sun comes out doesn’t mean that everyone’s mood changes. Although summer can (literally) make our lives brighter, some common mental health challenges often arise. In fact, many of them are heightened or accentuated. The factors …
By Monica Kathuria, PsyD When we think about doing something for ourselves, we might hesitate because we might think of it in a negative way as being “selfish”. We have been given the message that we should give to others, think of others, and share with others. So, when we do something for ourselves, we …
By Jill Bajorek, LCSW Most of us can understand a general idea of what someone else is experiencing, but a lot of us can achieve a more intense level of understanding. Many people consider themselves “empaths”, which we use in a colloquial sense to describe someone who has the ability to deeply understand what someone …
Empathy—The Ability to Connect, for Better or Worse Read More »
By Amalia Pryor, LCSW “If you are depressed, you are living in the past, if you are anxious, you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” Lao Tzu Society has many demands and expectations of us. Whether it is career, relationships, finances, family or social life, …
It’s February! Is this cold weather making you feel unmotivated? Have your New Year’s resolutions gone out the window? It’s that time of year when no one wants to go outside and everything feels like it takes more effort. That resolution to drink less, exercise more, put in the extra hours at work, stay on …
How To Stay Motivated and Accomplish Your New Year’s Resolutions Read More »
It is inevitable – we are all drawn to the bright, shiny lights of social media. We can’t help ourselves, after all, everything around us is digital. Everything. Food is delivered to us at all hours of the day. Boarding passes are instantly at our fingertips. Friends lives are told to us through photographic stories, …
Encircle works with young adults throughout Illinois, and primarily in downtown Chicago in the fantastic West Loop area. Our office is steps from the pink and green line EL stop at Clinton, has ample street parking, borders River North and the Loop, and is next door to the Ogilvie Metra, the French Market, and the Fulton Market neighborhood. Currently, we are offering virtual sessions, as well as in-person sessions in the newly updated office in the amazing West Loop neighborhood.
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