Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Burnout
When Rob, a Chicago therapist, first met “Luis,” he didn’t say, “I have burnout.” He said, “I’m tired of trying.” He was sleeping, but not resting. He cared about his work, but felt nothing when he did it. He was snapping at his partner over dishes while answering Slack messages at 10:30 p.m. That mix…
Anxiety, Depression, or Stress? How to Tell the Difference
If you’ve ever found yourself Googling stress vs anxiety vs depression at 1:00 a.m., you’re not alone. Many people experience a messy mix of tension, worry, low mood, and exhaustion, and it can be hard to tell what’s “normal life stress” versus something that deserves real clinical attention. As an individual therapist who listens to…
Coping With Stress in a Chaotic World: Strategies That Actually Help
April is Stress Awareness Month, which makes it a useful time to talk honestly about something many people are carrying every day: not just stress, but the feeling of being stress-saturated. The pace is fast, the inputs are relentless, and even people who look “fine” on the outside are often moving through life with a…
Understanding and Navigating Transition Stress
Big changes don’t feel big because of the calendar date—they feel big because your brain suddenly has to do more with less certainty. That friction has a name: transition stress. Whether you’re moving cities, starting or ending a relationship, beginning college, switching careers, becoming a parent, coming out, or caring for an aging parent, the…
How to Manage Stress and Anxiety During Political Unrest
The U.S. political climate is on edge, and stress levels are rising. In Chicago, a city with tremendous diversity, political unrest hits hard. For LGBT people, immigrants, and those with fewer financial resources, the stakes aren’t just political—they’re personal. Executive orders and divisive rhetoric shape daily realities, fueling anxiety about rights, safety, and stability. If…