Laughter Can Be A Medicine!

Research scientists have spent considerable time investigating the effects of laughter. They have found that laughter can help patients recover from illnesses because it tends to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone levels, and recharges the bodys immune system. Laughter is also known to release a bodys natural painkilling substances to provide an overall feeling of well-being. This is a result of stimulating blood flow and aiding the heart. It has been said that laughter has about the same... Read more »

Pursuing A Masters In Psychology

The importance of psychology in life cannot be taken for granted. Psychology is the science that deals with human behavior as well as that of the non human. Though the course is only 125 years old, it is needed in almost in all spheres of life. Its study has its roots in biology to sociology, trying to seek a relationship between the brain functions and the behavior or the relationship between the environment and the behavior. Since the subject is so vast, there is therefore a need for specialization.... Read more »

Two Quick Ways To Sort Out Your Hassles: Transactional Analysis and WHEE

Transactional Analysis (TA) was developed by Eric Berne over 50 years ago. It still stands as one of the best maps for navigating the inner wellsprings and outer seas of the human condition. Berne simplified the language of psychoanalysis so that everyone can understand it. He noted that we all have inner ego states (regardless of our age) that serve important functions in life. - An inner Parent tells us what we should and shouldn’t do. This ego state was programmed by our own parents, school... Read more »

Teen Suicide: Warning Signs and How to Get the Right Treatment- From Dundee and Crystal Lake, IL

In recent years, suicides among adolescents have increased dramatically. Each year thousands of teenagers commit suicide in the U.S. In fact, it is the third leading cause of death for kids, aged 15-to-24-years old, and the sixth leading cause of death for those who are 5-to-14-years old. Think about your teen. After all, he or she is likely to experience the same strong feelings of anxiety, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, depression and other stresses that most adolescents suffer at... Read more »

How The Psychology of Competition Helps Athletes Excel

A relatively new area in psychological research is sport psychology. However, the principles involved are much older. Ever since the time of the ancient Greeks a connection between the body and the mind has been recognized. For any professionals in the field of psychology it is considered scientific fact that the emotions and psychological health of an individual has a very significant bearing on their physical condition. Therefore, it stands to reason that for physical competitors searching for... Read more »

Counseling for a Teen who is Deliberately Cutting or Injuring Herself-From McHenry and Elgin,IL

Self-injury, in the psychological sense, is the act of your adolescent deliberately destroying his or her bodily tissue in order to change the way he or she feels emotionally. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has become popular with some adolescents. The causes and severity of self-mutilation vary. Some forms of it include: Extreme scratching; branding; picking and pulling skin or hair; burning; scraping; cutting; biting; head banging; purposely bruising; the hitting of oneself; and excessive tattooing... Read more »

Counseling and Therapy: How to Find It! From Sleepy Hollow and Algonquin, IL

You may be looking for help to improve your marriage, reduce depression, stem your anger or eliminate your anxiety but dont know where to get it. The mental health system can be complicated and difficult to understand. Your emotional distress can cause disruption to your work and home life and you may have difficulty being objective. You may blame yourself, your parents, your family or others for your difficulties. It is probably hard for you to know objectively what is causing your difficulty and... Read more »

How to Cope with Emotional Abuse-From Hanover Park and Cary, IL

Emotional or physical abuse is an all too frequent occurrence for many children and women. Surveys indicate that as many as a fifth of all women are verbally abused at some time during their marriage, and at least 10% of them are abused on a regular basis. When raging, some men will use verbal or physical intimidation or threats. However, abuse by women is almost always verbal. Remember that verbal or emotional abuse can occur almost anywhere, even online and through e-mail. Victims of emotional... Read more »

From Algonquin and Huntley, IL: How Counseling Can Eliminate your Teenagers Behavior Problems

You may be finding that your teenager is getting into trouble. There are mountains of pressures for kids to cope with today. They include, school, peer problems, adhd, family discord, drugs, alcohol and sex. Also, many kids have problems dealing with past traumas, like abuse, expulsion from school or family alcoholism. You are probably struggling between granting the increased independence your teen wants and your need to provide appropriate parental guidance. The problems with your teen may involve... Read more »

How To Improve Your Retirement

Before you retired, remember how you dreamed about what your life would be like after you stopped working? All the places you would go? All the things you would do with all your new-found extra time? How wonderful life was going to be? How long ago was that? Now here you are, months or years later. Your life is not what you envisioned. You are not doing the things you thought you would do. The perpetual vacation got old. You are feeling aimless and depressed. Your life seems somewhat out... Read more »