Posts by Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago
Finding Light in the Dark: Practical Ways to Embrace Joy during Tough Times
Joy is one of life’s most valuable gifts, but it can feel difficult to find during challenging times or periods of mental health struggles. While it may seem like joy is out of reach, the truth is that it often hides in places we forget to look. This guide explores how to hold onto joy…
Read MoreProtecting Your Mental Health During the Holidays
The holiday season is often pictured as a joyous time, full of family bonding and festive cheer. But for many people, it can also bring a range of mental health challenges, including grief, depression, and anxiety. Let’s take a closer look at common mental health challenges during the holidays and some key strategies for protecting…
Read MoreUnderstanding Seasonal Affective Disorder: Recognizing Symptoms and Finding Solutions
Many people may be familiar with the term, ‘winter blues,’ a mild feeling of sadness or fatigue that occurs during the rise of the winter months. However, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is much more than just the ‘winter blues.’ It’s a clinical condition that significantly impacts many individuals, causing sadness and fatigue as the days…
Read MoreManaging Academic Burnout: Signs, Prevention, and Recovery for College Students
Academic burnout is a growing concern among college students, and it’s affecting their mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. Balancing the pressures of exams, assignments, social obligations, and often, part-time jobs can push students to the brink of exhaustion. When this happens, it’s crucial to recognize the signs of burnout and take steps to…
Read MoreHow to Cope With Grief
Grief is a profound, complex emotion that touches everyone at some point in their lives. Whether stemming from the loss of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or any other major life transition, grief can significantly impact our mental health and overall well-being. Understanding grief and exploring healthy ways to cope with…
Read MoreThe Bolting Horse of Life: An Encouragement to Rest and Restore
By: Keturah Platt, PhD I can remember vividly a phone conversation that I had with my mother during my first year in graduate school. It was a typical day where I was venting to her about the amount of stress that I was feeling being in a clinical psychology doctoral program. I expressed that I…
Read MoreStrategies for Overcoming Loneliness
With 8.2 billion people on our planet, billions of text messages sent each day, and a global average of 143 minutes on social media per day, we are connected in more ways than ever before. In fact, it can be hard to disconnect — on the surface, at least. In our interior lives, it’s a…
Read MoreTeen Depression: How to Support Your Child
In the journey of adolescence, teenagers navigate a tumultuous sea of emotional, physical, and social changes. The teenage years are a period marked by exploration, identity formation, and — unfortunately, for an increasing number — the challenging waves of depression. Teen depression is not just a phase or a mood swing; it’s a serious mental…
Read MoreImpacts of Social Media Use
By: Katrina Whitford Social media platforms have gained immense popularity since the early 2000s, and these platforms have become a major part of many individuals’ everyday lives. As a result, researchers have been studying the impact of social media on mental health. Various studies have suggested that social media usage has both negative and positive…
Read MoreBest Practices for Stress Relief
By Dr. Grace Ahn-Im, PsyD Stress is a ubiquitous part of modern life, whether it comes from work, society, relationships, or other sources. That’s why it’s important for us to understand how to deal with stress. However, this can be easier said than done. If you’re unsure about stress management, you’re not alone. The 2023…
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