Articles and News

FeaturedEstimated: 3 minutes to read

The Art of Noticing: Exploring Shifts in Attention

Theoretically I am a strong believer in carving out creative time. I believe as a practice, it aids in self-reflection, cultivates connection and in turn, empathy. It has the power to remind us why we live. In the last several years though, I have struggled to make time for creative expression and prioritize it as […] Read more “The Art of Noticing: Exploring Shifts in Attention”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

Visual Art

This month Staff Favorites feature the visual art LifeWorks loves.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and many of us have found that sentiment to be true.  Often human experience surpasses language and we are left with visualization, tactile sensation, music, or other forms of art. This month we are sharing the […] Read more “Visual Art”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

Transformative Poems

Staff Favorites is a monthly installation for 2019 featuring the mental health and self care picks from our very own LifeWorks staff. 2019 will highlight books, self-soothing items, blogs/instagrams, places to move your body around Chicago, and more!. We look forward to sharing our favorites with you and welcome you to send us your thoughts […] Read more “Transformative Poems”

Estimated: 3 minutes to read

Self Soothing Items

Staff Favorites is a monthly installation for 2019 featuring the mental health and self care picks of our very own LifeWorkers. 2019 will highlight books, self-soothing items, blogs/instagrams, places to move your body around Chicago, and more personally endorsed by LifeWorks staff. We look forward to sharing our favorites with you! This month we are […] Read more “Self Soothing Items”

Estimated: 3 minutes to read

Welcome Avi Vodnoy Wolf, R-DMT, MFA, MA

We are very happy to introduce Avi Vodnoy Wolf.  Avi Joined the Green House in January of this year. We talked to Avi about their decision to join the Green House and what it means for them. How did you learn about the Green House? A mentor of mine, Rae McDaniel, told me about LifeWorks as […] Read more “Welcome Avi Vodnoy Wolf, R-DMT, MFA, MA”

Estimated: 4 minutes to read

Anchoring Rituals

Staff Favorites is a monthly installation for 2019 featuring the mental health and self care picks of our very own LifeWorks Staff.  We have been highlighting books, self-soothing items, blogs/instagrams, places to move your body around Chicago, and more — all personally endorsed by LifeWorks staff. This month we are talking about anchoring rituals. Anchoring […] Read more “Anchoring Rituals”

Estimated: 4 minutes to read

Welcome Andrew Zapke, LCSW

Andrew Zapke, LCSW joined the Green House Cohort 4 in January.  We are so pleased to have him on board. We recently interviewed him about GreenHouse and his interests. How did you learn about the Green House? I had been aware of Lifeworks for a while, first through the Poly Support Group, and later, with […] Read more “Welcome Andrew Zapke, LCSW”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

INSPIRATION : HOW TO RECEIVE AND CULTIVATE IDEAS

When inspired we feel filled with energy and motivated to do something. There’s an urgency to our actions. Our thoughts have a momentum and make the most amazing connections. When I believe in my idea enough, my confidence grows and the question ‘what if?’ catches alight. I am seized by a dream. I feel it’s […] Read more “INSPIRATION : HOW TO RECEIVE AND CULTIVATE IDEAS”

Estimated: 2 minutes to read

Fueling Up!

Staff Favorites is a monthly installation for 2019 featuring the mental health and self-care picks of our very own LifeWorkers. 2019 will highlight books, self-soothing items, blogs/instagrams, places to move your body around Chicago, and more personally endorsed by LifeWorks staff. We look forward to sharing our favorites with you! This month, LifeWorkers are sharing […] Read more “Fueling Up!”

Estimated: 3 minutes to read

Welcome Crystal Adams, LPC NCC

We are so excited about the great work that Cohort 4 of the Green House Training Program is doing this year.  They are an ensemble of remarkable individuals with richly varied skills and experiences.  Today we would like to introduce you to Crystal Adams, LPC, NCC. How did you learn about the Green House? I was […] Read more “Welcome Crystal Adams, LPC NCC”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

Self-Care Books

This month we are focusing on our favorite self-care books! As staff members at a therapy practice, we’re not exempt from struggle and darkness. These are the books that our staff members have personally found moving and meaningful footholds on their journeys. Please include your own favorites in the comments section! Greenlee Brown: The Collected […] Read more “Self-Care Books”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

Welcome Bridgid O’Connell, LSW

How did you learn about the Green House? I discovered the Green House program while researching internship opportunities for my last year of graduate school. I am a recent graduate of the Jane Addams College of Social Work program at the University of Illinois, at Chicago. I received my Masters of Social Work degree, with […] Read more “Welcome Bridgid O’Connell, LSW”

Estimated: 3 minutes to read

Welcome Dinah Hudson, MA, NCC

How did you learn about the Green House? A therapist from LifeWorks made quite an impression on me when she recommended the Green House program during a seminar given in my Couples and Families Counseling course. My graduate program did not offer a diverse selection of courses related to cultural competency, clinical skills, and psychotherapeutic […] Read more “Welcome Dinah Hudson, MA, NCC”

Estimated: 3 minutes to read

Places to Move Your Body

The darkness and cold of winter make exercise and being outside extra challenging, which can adversely impact our mental health.  So, this month LifeWorks staff is talking about places we like to move our bodies around Chicago during these chilly months! Although we recognize that not all of are favorites are accessible to every body, […] Read more “Places to Move Your Body”

Estimated: 6 minutes to read

Mental Health Apps

Staff Favorites is a monthly installation for 2019 featuring the mental health and self care picks of our very own LifeWorkers. Favorites in 2019 will highlight apps, books, self-soothing items, blogs/instagrams, places to move your body around Chicago, and more personally endorsed by LifeWorks staff. Our thanks to Elizabeth Duke for organizing this new installation! […] Read more “Mental Health Apps”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

8 Ways to Love Yourself thru the Holidays

This is your life and your holiday experience. You get to design it, enjoy savor it, and exercise the power of loving yourself, and the holidays are no different. Try out 8 embodied ways you can love and take good care yourself through the holidays: 1. Align Yourself to Your Desired State of Being What would you […] Read more “8 Ways to Love Yourself thru the Holidays”

Estimated: 2 minutes to read

Welcome Ariel Gaines, Psy.D.

Ariel Gaines, Psy.D joined LifeWorks Psychotherapy Center in August of this year as a Post-doctoral Fellow. We are very glad to have them on our team.  Ariel holds a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. They also earned a master’s degree in the social sciences at The University of Chicago, […] Read more “Welcome Ariel Gaines, Psy.D.”

Estimated: 1 minute to read

Becoming the Gateway

LifeWorks therapist, Brandon Haydon, submitted this quote from #virginiarosenberg for our reflection and yours. “Presence is a practice. At times, the work of presence is so deeply uncomfortable. And then there are these moments, these cellular sighs of relief, when we quit resistance. We exit fight/flight/freeze, and simply belong to the time we’re inhabiting. In […] Read more “Becoming the Gateway”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

Loving and Gentle Communication in Relationships

Even when I thought I was loving in communicating in my love relationships, I had often been challenged and told by my partners that I was not! I had learned all the tricks and words through my study of psychology and communication, but I was somehow still getting into hurtful arguments and repeated conflicts. It […] Read more “Loving and Gentle Communication in Relationships”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

Is Your Partner Guessing?

Have you ever noticed that rather than communicate directly, you make your partner guess about what you want? Certain conversations can be difficult to begin. Strong emotions can keep us from getting started. Fear of conflict escalating may hold us back. Unspoken signals can confuse us and make it less safe to proceed. Not trusting […] Read more “Is Your Partner Guessing?”