Welcome to the Chicago Counseling Center Blog

What is Maladaptive Daydreaming?

– Carolyn Moriarty, LCPC   The human mind is always active. We have approximately seventy thousand unique thoughts every single day. This probably comes as no surprise to the overthinkers out there who may be asking themselves “do I have that many thoughts per day? Does this thought count? Am I going over my ‘normal person thought quota’ by thinking about ... Read More...
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What is Relationship OCD?

  – Carolyn Moriarty, LCPC   Relationship OCD (ROCD) is among the many subtypes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Before looking more closely at this particular subtype, let’s do a quick review of OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by the presence of disturbing thoughts or images (obsessions) that are intrusive and unwanted. The nature of these obsessions are distressing ... Read More...
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The Surprising Difference Between Intrusive vs. Impulsive Thoughts

– Carolyn Moriarty, LCPC   Every day, twelve-year-old Emily is consumed with the fear that she might accidentally hurt somebody or cause them harm. One day, she sees a knife on the kitchen counter and the thought “you could walk into the other room and stab your father with that knife” immediately pops into her head. For the rest of the ... Read More...
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How to Get Unstuck in Life

– Carolyn Moriarty, LCPC   Have you ever felt that you are “stuck” or falling behind in life? This feeling might convince you that maybe if you just tried harder, you could propel yourself into a life experience that will bring success and happiness. This feeling might prompt you to search Pinterest for motivation quotes, purchase self-help books and bullet journals, ... Read More...
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What is a Midlife Eating Disorder?

    – Carolyn Moriarty, LCPC   National Eating Disorder Awareness week (NEDAW) is observed each year during the last week in February. During my time in high school, this “awareness” typically looked like some well-intentioned student organization plastering triggering images of “textbook anorexic” models in the girls’ bathroom. Although perspectives on eating-disorders have become more progressive, there is still ... Read More...
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