Start a Calmer Life: Guided Meditation with a Mental Health Therapist in Chicago
Find Empowerment: Insights from a Mental Health Therapist in Chicago
Imagine this: It’s another night of the same type of behavior. You’re scrolling through YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, multiple streaming services, etc. You may think to yourself, 'I don’t want to deal with anything. I’m stressed. I’m tired. How am I going to pay for things?' Your mind feels out of control. As a mental health therapist in Chicago, I’ve experienced these challenges both personally and professionally, and I want to help you feel empowered.
You’re stressed out. Money is tight. Rent or other important life bills need to be paid, and you’re barely making it. Your credit card(s) are literally getting dangerously close (if not already) at the point where the debt is going to increase if it’s not paid again in full. You feel like EVERYTHING in your life is out of control. So, what do you do? You’re numb. Or you’re avoiding looking at your bank account. Or you obsessively look at your bank account to see if there’s been a “surprise” increase of money without you knowing. As a mental health therapist in Chicago, I understand these feelings and can help you regain control.
Let’s Take A Few Moments Together with a Mental Health Therapist in Chicago
So what would happen if you suddenly stopped all that you’re doing, lay down on the ground, closed your eyes, and placed your hands across your midsection or to your side? What if you took the advice from videos or articles on “mindfulness” and actually practiced them? Imagine taking deep breaths (deeper than any you’ve taken today) and really focusing on them. As a mental health therapist in Chicago, I guide clients through these mindfulness techniques to help reduce stress and improve well-being. Why not give it a try and see if you feel any different than a few minutes ago?
Inhale for four seconds through your nose. Hold your breath for seven seconds. Big exhale out through your mouth for eight seconds. One, two, three, four…until you get to sixty seconds. Continue counting your breaths for as long as you would like. Try it for one round. Maybe two. There is no rush.
Slowly open your eyes, and you will notice that some time has passed. Is your mind still foggy, or are your thoughts and feelings racing? You may still be stumbling over your thoughts, but you feel slightly inspired to make a change. That is okay. Take your time.
You may feel only 1% better than when you started. But what if you practiced this once a day for a week? Or a month? Or six months? I bet you would see these small improvements of 1% grew to 2%, then 4%, and so on. It’s interesting how our emotions can lead us to different outcomes when given the opportunity to be fully experienced. As a mental health therapist in Chicago, I often help clients understand that change is progressive. We move through it one second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year at a time. It's only when we step back that we recognize the progress we've made since we woke up this morning.
So now, if you are reading this, I hope it inspires you to take better care of yourself. Feel free to revisit this page as often as you need. Some may find it helpful to visualize the words, while others might prefer listening to a guided meditation—stay tuned for a recorded version. As a mental health therapist in Chicago, I encourage you to pay attention when your emotions, mind, and body signal that something isn't right and needs immediate attention. Begin practicing mindfulness by listening to these signals instead of reaching for your phone, turning on the TV, or logging onto your computer to disconnect or distract yourself. This is one of the many ways of tuning into how your emotions act as your body's notifications, you can foster a deeper connection with your well-being and make more informed choices for your mental health.
