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• posted: Jan. 14, 2026
• mental health,  mental wellness,  counseling,  psychotherapy,  wellness,  journaling,  therapeutic writing,  creative writing,  resilience,  strengths

Part 3: Writing for Strength - How Positive Psychology Uses Writing to Build Well-Being Welcome to the final part in our series on therapeutic writing. Parts 1 and 2 explored how Read More

• posted: Jan. 14, 2026
• mental health,  mental wellness,  psychotherapy,  grief,  stages of grief,  guilt,  guilt in grief,  survivors guilt

Grief is a complicated and complex process that often shows up in subtle, unconscious emotions and, at other times, in more direct, noticeable ways. A feeling that can linger is Read More

• posted: Jan. 14, 2026
• mental health,  mental wellness,  journaling,  creativity,  therapeutic writing,  expressive writing,  life stories,  therapeutic journaling

Part 2: Different Ways to Write - From Emotional Expression to Life Stories Welcome to Part 2 of this series on the therapeutic benefits of writing. In Part 1, we explored Read More

• posted: Jan. 13, 2026
• mental health,  psychotherapy,  writing,  journaling,  couneling,  creativity,  expression,  processing,  therapeutic writing

Part 1: Writing Can Heal - Understanding the Therapeutic Power of Putting Words on Paper   In my recent blog, Handwriting Literally Rewires Your Brain, I explained how the process of handwriting Read More

• posted: Jan. 06, 2026
• gift giving,  holiday season,  sustainability,  eco friendly

The holiday season is a time to show love, appreciation, and gratitude through meaningful gifts. Shopping and gifting can be stressful and overwhelming, but opting for eco-friendly, sustainable choices can make Read More

• posted: Dec. 03, 2025
• mental health,  mental wellness,  connection,  altruism,  donation,  donate,  mindfulness,  purpose,  identity,  values

The holiday season often highlights the spirit of gift-giving to our loved ones. The holiday season is also a good time to tap into the benefits of donating, which extend Read More

• posted: Dec. 03, 2025
• mental health,  counseling,  psychotherapy,  budget,  holiday budget,  finances,  financial stress,  stress management,  executive functioning,  organization,  anxiety

The holidays are a time of excitement and festivities. There is so much to look forward to! Spending time with family, giving gifts, seasonal foods, and enjoying the decorations all Read More

• posted: Dec. 02, 2025
• communication,  relationships,  healthy relationships,  empathy,  connection,  quality time,  respect

Building and maintaining a healthy relationship is about the everyday choices that nurture trust, respect, and connection. Strong relationships thrive on open communication, empathy, and shared growth. With so much Read More

• posted: Dec. 02, 2025
• mental health,  counseling,  communication,  interpersonal effectiveness,  communication skills,  conflict resolution

Communication is at the heart of all relationships, whether personal or professional. However, not all communication is effective. Often, we unintentionally create conflict or misunderstandings by blaming or criticizing others, Read More

• posted: Nov. 21, 2025
• handwriting,  cognition,  brain science,  neuroscience,  cognitive,  health,  wellness,  education,  retention,  writing,  journaling

In an age where typing is faster, cleaner, and infinitely more convenient, handwriting seems like an old-fashioned practice. But what if handwriting wasn’t only a means of communication, but also Read More

• posted: Nov. 21, 2025
• october,  breast cancer awareness month,  survivors,  fighters,  power,  hope

Once more, as an office, we asked our clients to share their story and thoughts about the month's topic at hand. This month was about breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Read More

• posted: Nov. 18, 2025
• mental health,  mental wellness,  counseling,  teenagers in counseling,  adolescent therapy,  adolescent counseling,  benefits of therapy

The teenage years can be filled with confusion, big emotions, and the struggle to understand oneself. Teens often find it difficult to navigate these overwhelming feelings and may not always Read More

• posted: Nov. 11, 2025
• mental health,  mental wellness,  counseling,  tinley park,  illinois,  illinois counseling,  psychotherapy,  new beginnings,  pause,  reflect

Welcome to Counseling Matters and to our first post!  I am honored you are taking the time to visit and read on.  This blog will have many contributors on many Read More