Thoughts & Notes

Fear, uncertainty, and the reality of the current landscape is causing a notable emotional and psychological impact on our city and our country. The anxiety of having to live in fear of "what will come next" is interrupting our ability to exist in peace within ourselves and our families. During this time we have to recognize that we are living through a very real traumatic time and how we can cope and navigate through this time. How do we understand trauma? Trauma is best und

Queer joy is radiant in Chicago. As the days grow longer and the lakefront hums with life, we see it bloom—in the vibrant foliage, the laughter in parks, the music floating from block parties, and the sheer freedom of being. With the city coming alive, so too does our community. And as we gather, I invite all of us to lean intentionally into gratitude. My therapist once told me, “As humans, we are wired for war.” It’s true—we’re built to scan for danger, to focus on what’s wr

One of the things that has stayed with me after reading Decolonizing Therapy —and after years of developing my own therapeutic model—is how much of what we were taught in psychology training is treated as unquestionable truth. Not evidence-based truth. Not ethically inevitable truth. Just… inherited wisdom. One of those ideas goes something like this: You should never conduct psychological testing with someone you’re already doing therapy with. That rule is usually presented

By Dr. Manizeh Raza For many of us, our work is a big part of our identity. When a layoff hits, the loss often impacts us deeply. It can...

By Anthony Guerrero Short, MPH MS Ok we’ve made it through 100 days. Look around and take a deep breath and try to find peace or solace...

by Dr. Louis V. Haynes and Anthony Guerrero Short, MPH MS Photo by Katie Rainbow 🏳️‍🌈: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-pride-flag-drawn-...

Spring is here, which means summer is just around the corner! When you think about summer, do you feel any pressure about your body...

by Dr. Louis V. Haynes and Dr. Diana Hinojosa Across the United States, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are under...

Hey all, Dr. Haynes here. For both therapists and clients, the current political climate feels dark, catastrophic, and foreboding. The...

Chances are that at some point in your life, in or out of therapy, you’ve had people suggest you take to keeping a journal. For many...

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I think it’s important to talk a little about one of the lesser-known LGBTQIA+ identities. Asexuality is...

by Paul Kang, LPC It feels like we spend a lot of our time scrolling on social media. I know I do. Some messages I often see while...

As we celebrate Pride month, I am alarmed, angry, and saddened with the surge of anti-LGBTQ legislation that has emerged across the...

by Anissa Garcia, LPC The month of February marks the beginning of Black history month. During this month we celebrate and acknowledge...

Dr. Diana Hinojosa I grew up in the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, a Mexican-American community full of life, struggle, and...