Negative Automatic Thoughts: How to Reframe Them and Take Back Your Power

Source: Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash What are automatic thoughts? Automatic thoughts are something you may or may not be aware of when going about your daily life. These come up when your mind naturally takes in stimuli throughout your day and makes an attempt to interpret that information. There tend to be many…

Therapist Spotlight: Hillary Urban, PsyD, PMH-C

As a psychotherapist, Hillary believes therapy should be a collaborative process and considers her clients to be experts on themselves. Hillary is passionate about working with adolescents and adults with a variety of presentations, including anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, and trauma. Hillary obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Michigan State…

Therapist Spotlight: Elizabeth Aljets, MA, LCPC

Elizabeth is a psychotherapist and works with individuals and couples who are looking to make meaningful change in their life, whatever that means for them. Elizabeth has clinical experience in working with anxiety, depression, struggles surrounding prenatal and postpartum mental health issues, grief and loss, complex trauma, sexuality and relationship issues. Elizabeth obtained her Bachelor’s…

Therapist Spotlight: Reyna Schwartz, PsyD

Reyna is a psychotherapist and believes her role as a therapist is to act as a guide in helping individuals work toward living a meaningful life in accordance with their values. Her clinical work focuses on the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship concerns, and women’s health issues. Reyna obtained her…

Perfectionism and Postpartum Depression

I can still clearly remember sitting in the new moms group that I participated in when my daughter was first born, now nearly 15 years ago. I remember sharing my birth story and describing how my hopes of having an intervention-free birth were dashed when I developed HELLP syndrome (preeclampsia with its usual suspects of…

Letting Go and Finding Acceptance Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic

Living through a time of massive uncertainty and change can rattle the most steadfast of people. Now, compound those feelings with possible financial insecurities, the stressors of childcare, the loneliness and monotony we may experience within our homes, and the risk of real health exposure for ourselves and our loved ones, and you might feel…

Therapist Spotlight: Amanda Matousek, MSW, LCSW

Amanda is a psychotherapist at Wildflower. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her Master’s degree at Loyola University Chicago in Social Work. Amanda has extensive training in evidence-based modalities used in treatment of trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, relational conflict, and other challenges. She works with individuals, couples, and families.…

Virtual Mindful Coping Group Offered at Wildflower Starting April 2020

Dealing with distress alone and without support is rarely effective or healthy. At a time when our world is being turned upside down by the pandemic and physical distancing creates an intense potential for isolation, it is important to seek connection and support. We are excited to announce the launch of our virtual Mindful Coping…

Finding a Way out of Fight, Flight, and Freeze Response

Our bodies and minds are experiencing the current global crisis as a serious threat to survival and all that feels familiar and safe. Living in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze is exhausting. We must find ways to release this stress on a daily basis. Connect with friends and family, exercise, knit, scream…

Therapist Spotlight: Rosemary Kelley, MS, LCPC, CADC

Rosemary is a psychotherapist at Wildflower. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Mills College and Master’s degree from National-Louis University in Addictions Studies. Rosemary is also a certified alcohol/other drug counselor (CADC). She has extensive training in mood disorders and trauma, and draws from a variety of clinical approaches including Cognitive Behavioral…