Stress doesn't only affect your thoughts—it can also change how your nervous system responds to everyday occurrences. Even when you understand your experiences intellectually, your body may continue reacting as though it's still under threat. This can be the most harmful side effect of anxiety...
Many people wonder whether the anxiety they're experiencing is temporary or a sign that it's time to seek professional support. While occasional stress is a normal part of life, persistent anxiety that affects your relationships, work, or overall well-being may indicate that therapy could help....
Mindfulness is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for managing stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and disconnection in everyday life. Many people move through their days on autopilot, feeling mentally overstimulated, emotionally reactive, or disconnected from themselves and others. Practicing mindfulness can help create greater awareness, emotional...
Meditation is more than a relaxation technique—it is a research-backed practice that directly supports emotional well-being. The science behind meditation shows how consistent mindfulness practices can positively impact brain function, stress response, and overall mental health. For individuals looking to improve focus, reduce anxiety, and...
Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to mental health that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. While traditional counseling often emphasizes thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy works with physical sensations, nervous system responses, and stored patterns in the body. At Within Holistic...
Trauma is not just something that happened in the past. Trauma is what the nervous system learned to do in order to survive. Many people who experienced trauma look very "high functioning" on the outside. They work hard, achieve, take care of others, and push...
There are times in life when something changes - a career shift, a move, a divorce, a loss, children growing up, health issues, aging, or simply a feeling that the life you built no longer fits who you are becoming. These are life transitions, and...
Most relationship problems are not just communication problems - they are nervous system problems. When people feel hurt, criticized, rejected, or not seen, the nervous system goes into fight, flight, or shutdown. In those moments, people are not thinking clearly - they are reacting from...
Many people think ADHD is simply a problem with attention. But in our work, we often see that ADHD is also connected to the nervous system, emotional regulation, and stress patterns. Many individuals with ADHD are not incapable of focus - they are often capable...
This is a question many people are quietly asking but are often afraid to say out loud. Medication can be helpful and sometimes necessary, and we always support clients in making the best decision for their health with their medical providers. But medication is not...
Many people come to therapy and say, "I understand why I feel this way, but I still feel it." This is one of the most important moments in therapy, because it shows us something important: insight alone does not always heal trauma or anxiety. This...
ADHD symptoms often reflect more than distraction or impulsivity-they can also be connected to how the body and mind have learned to respond to stress and stimulation over time. Through somatic and mindfulness-based therapy, we help children and adults learn to work with their attention...
When exploring mental health support, many people aren’t sure whether they should pursue holistic therapy or traditional talk therapy. Both approaches aim to help individuals improve emotional well-being and work through challenges, but they take different paths toward healing. Understanding how these approaches differ can...
Why Sand Tray Therapy May Be Ideal For You: *Do you struggle to express certain feelings or thoughts verbally? Does the idea of purely talk therapy tire you out? Maybe your job requires constant written or vocal communication, and part of you is burned out,...
Sand Tray Therapy and Trauma “Trauma . . . is any experience of fear or pain that doesn’t have the support it needs to be digested and integrated into the flow of our developing brains.” -Bonnie Badenoch Sand tray therapy can be a blessing for...
“A symbol has the potential to link the known to the unknown, to unblock energy, and to reconcile what cannot be reconciled. A symbol leads us back to our original totality, healing our alienation from life.” -Dyane Sherwood Understanding and resolving anxiety or depression often...
Join us every week for a safe place where men can openly discuss their feelings, emotions, and life experiences. This group offers a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of male emotions in a supportive environment. Through guided discussions and shared personal stories, members...
A common expression in therapy is to feel your feelings. But what does that mean exactly? And how do you do it? Emotionality and thinking are two things that often hinder people from experiencing their true feelings and learning about them and what they need....
It’s common for people to fear being alone. Some people feel that all the time and some people just have moments in their life when they can reflect and feel that. Some people experience an ever-present loneliness, others experience loneliness at moments in their life....
It’s no surprise that teenage mental health is plummeting. The vast majority of mental health disorders in young teens and adolescents are undiagnosed and untreated. Often, young adults are hesitant to begin therapy due to the stigma and fear they will face if people know...
When: Tuesday August 23rd, 6:30 PM EST Details: Anchoring in the present moment and allowing a kind exploration to occur is a radically loving gift to offer oneself. This class will experientially explore the practice of mindfulness meditation and how it can increase self awareness,...
This weekly group therapy series will address issues around anxiety, depression, and the path to self-discovery and change through becoming aware of, and honoring, our real feelings. Guided meditation, introspection, and consciousness-raising group process are aimed at increasing a sense of connectedness, courage and love....
Dates/ Times: Tuesday 6/22/2021 at 7pm & Saturday 6/26 at 1pm CST. Join us for a free one-hour interactive discussion – two separate dates to choose from! Stress affects our bodies in a myriad of ways. We are often familiar with the physical effects of...
When: 1-20-2018 3:30-5pm Where: Blue Lotus Temple 221 Dean St, Woodstock Fee: $10 Sign up: Here Would you like your new year resolutions to stick this year? Would you like to learn how to find out what you really want through bypassing the worried mind?...
We all carry pain from our life. Learning to acknowledge the feelings from this pain can be a challenge. We often seek out ways to avoid the pain through our behaviors and life choices, not realizing we carry them with us wherever we go. This...
Have you been struggling with planning a wedding or any big planning venture lately? I just planned my own wedding for 100 people and realized how stressful it can be. While doing this I was also holding a job and taking care of business as...
What is online counseling? Online or Telehealth counseling is when a therapist or counselor provides counseling and support over the internet through video conferencing or a phone call. How does it work? We can conference with anyone anywhere in Illinois and soon in Wisconsin....
Within Holistic Counseling is offering a FREE 30 minute group every Monday at 1:00 PM. The group will be offered virtually through Zoom. It will give people the opportunity to connect to others amidst an uncertain time in the world. Members will not only participate...
We are happy to offer Telehealth counseling services to keep our community connected, so that we can help with the stresses that come in this difficult time. We also want to keep accessible help for those that don't want to lose momentum on their journey...
We are committed to keeping your help and support in this difficult time. We offer telehealth sessions for people want help with the impact of the changes happening or for those who want to continue the work they have been doing already. I know anxieties...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could be a fly on the wall watching your daily events? The highs and lows you go through emotionally, the good and the bad times, your behaviors? What if I told you that you...
When you think of relationships -what comes to mind? Typically, depending on the stage of the relationship and the people involved, there are many different types of relationships. I want to focus on the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships between two consenting adults. What...
If you’re reading this, you may be skeptical about what counseling entails-especially Holistic Counseling. Maybe you stumbled across this blog in hopes to just do some research about counseling, or maybe you have decided to get some extra support for yourself or your loved one...
This bi-weekly group therapy series will address issues around anxiety, depression, and the path to self-discovery and change through becoming aware of, and honoring, our real feelings. Guided meditation, introspection, and consciousness-raising group process are aimed at increasing a sense of connectedness, courage and love....
Please join relationship expert Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath. PhD in a discussion on love, relationships, and spirituality. Polly draws on 30 years of experience as a Dialogue Therapist and Jungian psychoanalyst, as well as 50 years of work as a Mindfulness teacher and practitioner of Zen...
TWO DAYS WITH NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR THOMAS MOORE TO BENEFIT THE C G JUNG INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 AND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 | 10AM–4PM Some have labeled our culture “disenchanted," meaning that the charm and magic have been taken way through...
Learn how Ayurveda addresses emotional balance. In this meeting you will identify causes of imbalanced emotions, mood disorders, and how Ayurveda can correct these imbalances. The meeting starts with a group meditation, a lecture, questions and answer sessions. Ayurveda lifestyle practices, herbal formulas, and floral...
People spend significant amounts of time avoiding their emotions. Instead of feeling the emotion and exploring it, people try to pretend it is not there. People typically use distraction and escape mechanisms to avoid their emotions. For example, some people indulge in self-pity; other people...
Who did you want to be as a child? Did you want to be a teacher, maybe a doctor, or perhaps a writer? What were your greatest fears as a child? Did you hate the dark, maybe scary movies, or perhaps getting yelled at? Try...
Grounding Objects Sat. June 8th 1:00-3:00 at Grounded Wellness Center, Hoffman Estates, IL Workshop is $40.00 Grounding objects are objects that are typically distinguished by their smell, shape, weight, sound, or texture. They are any object that comforts an individual and helps them to remember...
Typically, people respond with indulgence; I order that dessert (even though I am full) because I’ve had along week and deserve it. Or, I am buying that expensive outfit because no one else spoils me. Unfortunately, those means of self-compassion result in emptiness. Our egos...
Ready for a short exercise? I’m going to ask you a question and then take a minute and pay attention to how you responded to the question… notice your body and internal dialogue as you respond. Here goes the question…. Are you creative? Perhaps you...
Many of us have fears of socializing, being in groups, or learning to be close to others. Most of us either avoid this relating all together or we push through and miss a chance to be ourselves. This workshop will help you learn where this...
This will be an 8 week series that will combine mindfulness meditation, psychology, and a chance to be with people who are also doing this type of work. It is so often when we are working on ourselves deeply that we don't get a chance...
This class is a chance to come together with others to deepen the work that you have already been doing in healing. This class will help you to learn to go further into your feelings and will teach you how to take responsibility in caring...
Please come join us for this unique class! Many of us spend our lives making decisions based on old thoughts and patterns which leave us feeling stuck in a rut. How do you know what you really want? How do you know what is a...
Come and learn about yourself with Feng Shui and how to create the life you want. We will cover basics in understanding the energy in your home and how it is a direct reflection of how you approach life and make decisions. This introduction to...
Haven’t you had the experience of finding someone great and then getting stuck in the same old arguments that you can’t find your way out of? How many times have you found yourself thinking that all men/women are the same? Did you know that you...
This workshop will focus on the universal human dilemma of how to be alone and not lonely. We will look at why we feel alone when we are with people, where the loneliness is coming from, how to feel connected inside our selves, how to...
For the next 3 Saturdays ( the 6th, 13th, and 20th of Feb ) from 4-5:30pm, I will be offering a Mindful Meditation Series. You will learn techniques that are easy to incorporate into your daily life. I will cover mindful exercises, meditation techniques, obstacles...
Saturday, September 9th 4-5:30 pm Register here Love... most people spend most of their energy trying to understand and attain it, whether that is a conscious quest or not. Many are surrounded by people and still feel like they are looking for it. We have...
Many people study just psychology and many people study just spirituality , but when you combine both, you have a powerful tool to make lasting change. Understanding something cognitively is just the first step of growth, you have to feel how something is impacting you...
This class will teach you the foundations of how to deal with stress and anxiety through a holistic psychological approach that combines mindfulness and visualization. This is not a class on relaxation alone, but will go deeper into understanding what the root causes are that...
1. When you are mad, don't speak, take some space and hold yourself accountable for reacting. It is fine to feel, but anger is a reaction to a fear or hurt, go below the anger and be honest about what is really happening. 2. Don't...
Looking for a licensed or Masters level counselor to build a private practice in the evening and weekend hours to start. The position can expand to a full time practice with daytime hours available as well. The job will involve teaching and training via workshops,...
Where: Blue Lotus Temple 221 Dean St, Woodstock, IL 60098 When: May 12th 3-4:30 Fee: $20 Register here It has been proven that what happens in the mind and body are connected, yet many only treat one aspect of the problem. Come learn from two...
I have been helping couples for over 20 years and I feel moved to encourage people to wake up to the realities of their relationships before too much damage is done. Relationships are complex and require work to make them deep, loving, and lasting. There...
This workshop is for adult professionals who are looking to overcome internal blocks in attaining a personal or professional goal. Goals can be behavioral (quit smoking, spend more time with kids, be more focused at work, manage stress), they can be professional (get a promotion,...
How often do you check in with yourself and identify how you are feeling? When others ask, “How as are you doing today?” do you know how you are feeling? This workshop is for individuals who are interested in combining art and meditation to increase...
Come join us for an 8 week class that will give you a thorough tool belt to understand yourself better, ways to navigate difficult feelings, and positive steps to create a happier life. This class will be didactic and experiential so that you will have...