Counseling Center
By Hilary Hoye, MSW, LSW ‘Tis the most wonderful time of the year! As moms, the holiday season can be magical as we live vicariously through the joy experienced by our children. Still the pressure to have a perfectly curated social media worthy holiday season can be overwhelming and unrealistic. In the age where Instagram inundates us with highlight reels…
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I first learned about mindfulness under the willow tree at Gillson Beach in Wilmette 15 years ago. A former colleague and longtime friend of mine was studying yoga and offered classes to her friends and neighbors. I joined her because I love the outdoors and thought it might be a nice complement to my regular workouts. As a member of…
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We are all still in shock and horror about the shooting in Highland Park. All of our hearts are just on the beginning of a grieving process. Everyone’s grieving process is different. There is no right or wrong way to feel your feelings. Most importantly kids process trauma and feelings differently through their different ages and phases of life. It’s…
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To our friends in Highland Park and all who are heartbroken watching the horrible news about the shooting , I never thought we’d face a tragedy like this on a beautiful Fourth of July. We want you to know we are with you. We are here for you. We love you. Our hearts are breaking with yours. This is a tragedy…
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Erika Oller, MSW Summer is just around the corner. If that makes you pause and feel a little anxiety, you are not alone!! Maybe you are starting to hear some familiar (yet uncomfortable!) musings from friends, family and social media influencers. Does any of this sound familiar? “It’s almost May. I need to get my body bikini-ready.” “It was bulking…
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Clean up your Mind for New Growth, Dreams, JOY & POSITIVITY!! Spring it the perfect time to look around and clean up! We often look at our closets, garages, physical health — which are all great! But, in all that clean up, what we’re really searching for is that mental feeling of “ahhhhhhhhh…. that’s better!!” We all want to feel…
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![Did you catch my last post on how to make new friends as an adult woman?
I’ll be the first to admit, talking to new people can be nerve-wracking, so I came up with a few easy icebreakers to get the conversation started:
🧊"I noticed your [bag/shirt/shoes, etc.]. That's really cute! Where did you get it?"
🧊"My child is starting at this school/daycare next week. Where does your child go?"
🧊"I've been looking for something new to read. Do you have any recommendations?"
🧊"Have you tried any new restaurants or coffee shops in the area lately? I'm always looking for new places to check out."
🧊“I’m prioritizing staying healthy right now. What kind of exercise do you do?”
🧊“What shows are you loving right now? Mine are [tell them your favorite shows].”
🧊“Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favorite?”
🧊“Do you have any interesting hobbies?”
“Where are you vacationing this summer?”
🧊“I’m interested in volunteering, do you have any organizations you can recommend?”
Remember, icebreakers are meant to be light conversation starters - a good place to start is to simply introduce yourself, shake hands, and smile. For best results, always try to choose an icebreaker that has some context to the situations you’re in.
Finally, it’s 100% normal to feel awkward and you can rest assured that most people feel the same when they’re meeting someone new. Embrace whatever feelings you’re having and just be yourself.
#mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #therapist #relationshippodcast #icebreakers](https://inspirecounselingcenter.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)