Articles

There are several risk factors that have been identified which contribute to the development of a chronic pain condition including psychological trauma. Patients who experience psychological trauma and abuse during childhood have greater risks of developing chronic pain in adulthood. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other psychiatric disorders are co-morbid with chronic pain. Symptoms of PTSD are more commonly reported by patients with chronic pain when compared to patients who are experiencing episodic pain.

If your child has ADHD, and even if they don’t, here are a few things to remember while helping your child this school year. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized by the hallmark traits of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention. Children with ADHD often struggle with academic tasks such as time management, prioritization, starting tasks, sustaining attention, and being able to shift their attention appropriately.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is something that most people relate to personally. We all use the abbreviation “OCD” to refer to some aspect of symptoms related to this disorder, often in joking about our or someone’s behavior. And it is mostly always the case that the other person knows immediately what OCD means. Why is this?

Over the last twenty years, research has uncovered the crucial connection between adequate sleep and its effects on good health and emotional functioning.

When we become over-reliant on text messaging to communicate difficult issues to our friends, families, and romantic partners, we don’t develop the necessary skill sets to have tough conversations in person.  This may seem obvious but we don’t get to hear the other person’s tone of voice, understand the context in which they sent the message, and most importantly, there is very little ability to make immediate repair in the moment when we understand that we may have misunderstood or misread what the other person meant. 

50 million Americans, 20% of the population, live with chronic pain. Physicians may refer patients to psychologists that specialize in pain management as part of a multimodal treatment plan, following a standardized comprehensive evaluation. Considering the emotional, psychological, and social elements of chronic pain, cognitive-behavioral therapies enable those with chronic pain to develop coping mechanisms to help boost function, improve mood, manage pain and advocate for themselves.

Many of us believe in the adage that states that if you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything. However, unexpected health changes can happen to any of us. As our health status changes, our lives can continue to be rich and full while being different. 

Dr. Alford explains that neuropsychological assessments are a specialized form of psychological testing that provides more information on how certain neurological conditions affect mental health and functioning of the nervous system. These assessments are more comprehensive, offering insight into overall cognitive processes. They can also evaluate underlying neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders and allow for a more complete treatment plan.

In my twelve years of counseling at Fox Valley, I still hear clients say, “we were just friends” and “it just sort of happened.” I find many couples don’t recognize the warning signs. You can heal from an affair and create a marriage richer than before. I’ve seen this in countless relationships in my twelve years of practice. –Suzanne W. Keenon MA, LCPC

“Infidelity launches a series of complex and conflicting emotions. A world that was once thought of as safe and secure now has been ripped apart and is filled with panic and helplessness for the hurt spouse. These five actions can assist in the healing of your marriage.” –Suzanne Keenon, MA, LCPC

“You can heal from an affair, and create a marriage richer than before, I’ve seen this in countless relationships in my twelve years of practice” –Suzanne Keenon, MA, LCPC

We may not have a road map that navigates our relationships in life; however, we can develop healthy habits that sustain them. These habits are applicable for all marriages, at any stage, whether you are newlywed or your relationship is entering its twilight years.

Many experiences in our lives make us feel happy and sad. Our relationships have the ability to allow us to enjoy happiness and find fulfillment. With marriages being the most important relationship in our lives, we need to know more about how to design the relationships we desire and not solely rely on what we learned from our parents.