Posts by Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago
Logic or Emotion? Which Mental Faculty is Superior?
Introduction Many people believe that rationality or logic is the supreme mental faculty and that it ought to be viewed as superordinate to emotion. This notion dates back to antiquity and was made most explicit in Plato’s famed dialogue, Timaeus. In this piece, Plato describes how humankind was first created by a supreme deity who crafted…
Read MoreAddiction and Isolation in the Time of COVID
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” ― Herman Melville A pandemic in the time of a pandemic, “COVID-19 and addiction are the two pandemics which are on the verge of collision causing a major public health threat.” (Dubey, 2020). During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been an…
Read MoreCornerstone’s Response to Racial Injustice
The Cornerstone Family is deeply saddened by the tragic events across our country. The protesters’ reactions to the murder of George Floyd and previous injustices, reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel. Although we do not agree with the destruction and acts of violence in our city or any city, the…
Read MoreBetter Than Before
We all want another chance to get something right, or to be granted a do-over. The one question that continues to be paramount is: How do we get through this time? A time that appears to have no set end. Every report, conference, appointment has been completely refocused to include the impact of COVID-19 on our society, bodies,…
Read MoreCOVID-19 – The Worry of Violence From An Economic Crisis: Just Another Day For The Poor
“The opposite of poverty is justice.” Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and social justice advocate “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” Nelson Mandela “He that oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor.”…
Read More5 Mental Health Tips for Coping with the Coronavirus
1) Remember emotions are not good or bad. Each emotion serves a purpose to alert us to something important. Anxiety, in particular, can be helpful to help us “prepare” for a situation or perform during a stressful task. Ask yourself and label what emotion(s) you might be feeling. Labeling emotions in and of itself can be regulating to distress.…
Read MoreResolving Marital Conflict: A Roadmap on How to Fight Fair with Your Spouse
Introduction Let’s face it, marriage can be hard! When two different personalities decide to intertwine their lives and establish an exclusive union that is expected to last into perpetuity, the potential for friction can be quite high. Case in point, studies have shown that on average, only 31% of marital disputes constitute solvable problems (Gottman,…
Read MoreEating Disorders 101
The term “eating disorders” refers to a group of disorders that are characterized by eating or eating-related behavior and significantly impairs someone’s physical health and/or psychosocial functioning. It is important to note that obesity is not considered to be an eating disorder, though it is associated with other mental disorders such as depression and binge-eating disorder.…
Read MoreCome As You Are: Examining Our Own Narratives Around Food, Health, and Body Image
Common assumptions around eating disorders often narrowly focus on an individual’s food intake and exercise. It’s time to examine how cultural norms directly impact all of us. A leading factor in the development of disordered eating is a cultural emphasis on being thin (Culbert, Racine, & Klump, 2015). When thinness is celebrated and equated with…
Read MoreMaking A Plan For A Happy Holiday
Think About It What is one thing that you’ve experienced on a past holiday that you do not want to repeat this year? Drinking too much / using drugs Spending the holiday alone at home and feeling lonely Conflict with family or friends Feeling guilty or sad that I had nothing to give Feeling depressed Wanting to…
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