Full Circle Counseling Blog:
Insights on Mental Health & Wellness

Welcome to the Full Circle Counseling blog, your go-to resource for valuable insights on mental health, wellness, and healing. Here, we share helpful tips, strategies, and in-depth articles to support you on your journey to emotional well-being. Whether you're seeking advice on therapy, self-care routines, trauma recovery, or building healthier relationships, our blog provides a variety of topics to empower you. Our mission is to create a space where you can explore ideas and strategies for mental and emotional health, helping you find clarity, healing, and balance in your life. Stay connected with us for new posts and expert advice that can support your growth and well-being.

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Music Mondays
Mental Help
PTSD
Couples Counselling
Family Therapy
Individual Counseling
Stress
Therapy
CBT Therapy
EMDR Therapy
Dealing With Anxiety
Mindfulness
Dealing With Depression
Dealing With Bipolar
Dealing With OCD
Dealing With ADD/ADHD
Resources
Trauma
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Hypnotherapy
Domestic Violence

Healing After Domestic Violence: Rebuilding Safety, Self-Worth, and Trust

Author: Full Circle Counseling & Wellness Featured Therapist: Alyson LoVerde, LSW Location: Frankfort & South Suburban Chicago, Illinois Leaving Isn’t the End — It’s the Beginning of Healing For those who’ve never experienced it, leaving an abusive relationship can seem simple: “Why didn’t you just walk away? ” But for survivors, that question can feel like another wound. Domestic violence is rarely “just” physical. It’s emotional manipulation, isolation, financial contro

PTSD

Jaina Jordan

Dec 2, 20255 min read

Chicago Stress Culture: Why Big-City Living Impacts Your Mental Health

Chicago is a vibrant, energetic, and resilient city — but it’s also a place where many people feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or constantly on edge. Between long commutes, crowded spaces, unpredictable weather, financial pressures, and a fast-paced work culture, it’s no surprise that Chicago residents experience higher levels of stress than many suburban or rural communities. At Full Circle Counseling & Wellness , we regularly support individuals from neighborhoods like Lincoln

Stress

Elizabeth Mabbott, LPC

Nov 30, 20254 min read

How Childhood Emotional Neglect Shapes Adult Relationships

Understanding Attachment, Intimacy, Conflict, and the Path to Healing Childhood emotional neglect doesn’t always look like what we think of as trauma. There may have been food on the table, a roof overhead, and parents who cared deeply. But emotional neglect isn’t about what happened — it’s about what didn’t happen : comfort when you were scared validation when you were upset encouragement when you tried something new warmth, empathy, or presence When emotional needs consist

Family Therapy

Asia Rios

Nov 29, 20254 min read

Emotional Exhaustion vs. Depression: Knowing the Difference

In today’s fast-moving world — especially in places like Chicago and Frankfort , where long commutes, demanding work schedules, and packed family routines are the norm — many people feel worn out. It’s common to feel drained, overwhelmed, or emotionally “checked out” at the end of a long week. But sometimes emotional exhaustion becomes something deeper. Sometimes what feels like burnout begins to look, sound, and feel like depression . Many clients at Full Circle Counseling &

Dealing With Depression

Kris Cain lcpc

Nov 26, 20254 min read

Living With Chronic Illness: Emotional Coping Strategies for the Hard Days

Author: Full Circle Counseling & Wellness Featured Therapist: Annemarie Nawrocki, LSW Location: Illinois (Telehealth) When “Getting Through the Day” Becomes an Act of Strength Living with a chronic illness often means carrying two kinds of pain — the physical symptoms everyone can see, and the invisible emotional weight they can’t. Maybe it’s the grief of losing your “old self” — the version of you who could run errands, make plans, or wake up without exhaustion. Maybe it

Individual Counseling

Annemarie Nawrocki

Nov 24, 20255 min read

Breaking Free from Anxiety-Driven Habits: How Hypnotherapy Supports Lasting Change

Author: Full Circle Counseling & Wellness Featured Therapist: Jaina Jordan, Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach Location: Frankfort, Illinois When Anxiety Becomes a Habit You promise yourself you’ll stop — biting your nails, scrolling late into the night, over-committing, or eating just to calm your nerves. But the harder you try to will the behavior away, the stronger it seems to pull you back. That’s because many “bad habits” aren’t about poor discipline — they’re abo

Dealing With Anxiety

Jaina Jordan

Nov 20, 20254 min read

Adults and Trauma: How EMDR Helps You Finally Feel Safe in Your Own Life

Understanding Trauma: More Than a Memory Everyone experiences stress, but trauma is different. Trauma occurs when something happens that overwhelms your ability to cope or feel safe. It can be a single event — like a car accident or assault — or a long-term experience, such as emotional neglect, criticism, or feeling unsafe at home or work. Professionals often describe two categories: Big “T” Trauma: Major life-threatening or deeply distressing events — abuse, violence, maj

EMDR Therapy

Kris Cain lcpc

Nov 13, 20254 min read

Depression vs. Burnout: How to Tell the Difference and When to Ask for Help

When Exhaustion Becomes Something More You wake up tired, even after a full night’s sleep. The things that once excited you now feel like chores. You’re showing up, doing what’s expected — but inside, you feel empty. In today’s fast-paced, overconnected world, many adults describe this experience and wonder: Am I burned out… or am I depressed? At Full Circle Counseling & Wellness in Frankfort , we hear this question often. The truth is that burnout and depression can look rem

Individual Counseling

Elizabeth Mabbott, LPC

Nov 11, 20254 min read

When Helping Hurts: Understanding Compassion Fatigue

You give everything you have — your time, patience, and heart — to care for others. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, healthcare worker, or counselor, you likely chose your role out of compassion and a deep desire to help. But when giving becomes constant, even the kindest hearts can grow tired. This exhaustion has a name: compassion fatigue . At Full Circle Counseling and Wellness , we see this pattern often in caregivers and professionals across Frankfort, Chicago, and surr

Individual Counseling

Asia Rios

Nov 10, 20255 min read

The Link Between Nutrition and Mental Health

The connection between what we eat and how we feel runs deeper than most people realize. Beyond fueling our bodies, nutrition plays a powerful role in shaping mood, focus, stress response, and overall mental well-being. In both Frankfort and Chicago , families, professionals, and students are recognizing how food choices can influence emotional balance and resilience. At Full Circle Counseling and Wellness , we encourage a holistic approach — integrating mental health support

Mental Help

Asia Rios

Oct 28, 20253 min read

Chicago Seniors and Loneliness: Building Connection in the City

Understanding the Hidden Epidemic of Senior Loneliness In the heart of a bustling city like Chicago, it’s easy to assume that connection comes naturally. With vibrant neighborhoods, community events, and endless opportunities for engagement, loneliness seems like a distant concern. Yet for many older adults, especially seniors living alone or with limited mobility, isolation has quietly become one of the most significant mental health challenges of aging. Research shows that

Individual Counseling

Annemarie Nawrocki

Oct 20, 20254 min read