Optimum Joy Clinical Counseling

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Optimum Joy Clinical Counseling

We help individuals and families in Chicago pursue mental and emotional health. Call today!

21/07/2025

The Butterfly Hug is a gentle, self-soothing technique designed to help manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions.

This technique involves crossing your arms over your chest, creating a ‘butterfly’ shape, and tapping your shoulders alternately in a rhythmic pattern.

The bilateral stimulation created by the tapping mimics the calming effects of certain therapeutic approaches, like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

When combined with slow, deep breathing, it can help regulate the nervous system, ground you in the present moment, and create a sense of safety and relaxation.

This practice is especially helpful during moments of heightened emotional distress or as a daily grounding exercise to foster emotional resilience!

18/06/2025

Optimum Joy is hiring! If you’re a compassionate, team-minded therapist looking to join a collaborative and values-driven practice, we’d love to connect.

Our community is rooted in professional excellence, whole-person care, and mutual support. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for your next clinical home, there’s a place for you here.

📍 Multiple locations (IL & CO, Hybrid Opportunities)
🤝 Individual & team support
📈 Ongoing training & development

🔗 Click the link in bio to apply, and swipe to learn more!

03/06/2025

Leave a review, and help others find the support they need!

If you’re received therapy at our clinic, and it has made a positive difference in your life, would you consider sharing your experience through a google review? Your words could be the encouragement someone else needs to take that important first step toward getting help.

When people search for therapy services, authentic review form real clients help them feel more confident about reaching out. Your review doesn’t need to be lengthy or share personal details — simply letting others know that you’ve had a positive experience can make all the difference for someone who might be hesitant to seek support.

You can leave a review by heading to the link in our bio. Thank you for considering this small act that would have a big impact on someone else’s journey toward healing!

29/05/2025

Stress is your body’s natural response to pressure, challenges, or demands. It can be triggered by external factors (work, relationships, major life changes) or internal factors (self-doubt, unrealistic expectations, past trauma).

It is important to make sure that you are managing your stress as it could lead to burnout. Managing your internal and external boundaries with yourself and other can significantly impact your stress levels and aid in preventing burnout.

There are a lot of reasons for burnout. More specifically for women it can occur when you’ve been ignoring self care, boundaries, and persistently giving out of a place of deficit. That deficit could be giving when you feel deeply insecure about yourself. Stress leads to burnout. Stress is the idea of having too many responsibilities. While burn out is the idea of having not enough. I’ve done so much for others and so much less for myself. This is why self care is important because it minimizes the amount of stress and keeps things in check or balance.

Seeking support from a therapist can provide both the accountability and encouragement to manage your stress, and create internal and external boundaries to figure out ways to minimize toxic stress.

If this feels like this may be something you relate to, please reach out. We are here to help!

21/05/2025

Codependency often hides behind the desire to care for others—but it can quietly erode your sense of self and emotional well-being.

This breaks down the cognitive and behavioral consequences of codependency and why it’s important to set healthy boundaries.

19/05/2025

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that love to live in secret.

Understanding and fighting against the myths that surround eating disorders is an essential part of paving the path to recovery.

12/05/2025

The zoom-out technique is a cognitive reframing strategy that helps individuals gain a broader perspective on stressful situations. This method involves mentally stepping back from an immediate stressor and viewing it as part of a larger context. By imagining the situation from a distant or external viewpoint, individuals can reduce emotional intensity, decrease reactivity, and assess challenges more objectively. This approach encourages problem-solving, emotional regulation, and a shift in focus from distress to potential solutions. Practicing the zoom-out technique fosters resilience by helping individuals recognize that current difficulties are temporary and manageable within the broader scope of their lives.

08/04/2025

With a focus on empowerment and emotional growth, therapist Connor Small helps clients work through fear, embrace change, and take meaningful steps toward a more fulfilling life.

If you’re ready to explore new possibilities, don’t hesitate to reach out!

25/03/2025

With a warm and practical approach, therapist Connor Small helps clients quiet their inner critic and build a kinder, more supportive relationship with themselves.

Through guided journaling and meaningful conversations, Connor provides tools to nurture self-compassion and emotional well-being.

If you’re interested in working with Connor, don’t hesitate to reach out!

28/02/2025

Hey parent, have you heard the terms “gentle parenting,” “therapeutic parenting,” “connected parenting,” and thought “Yeah, that’s not really for me because I believe in discipline”? Or maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Can I have both a connected, therapeutic approach to parenting AND create structure through discipline?” Yes, parent, you can.

The IDEAL Response (created by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross in TBRI©) provides a connecting and therapeutic framework for discipline.

⭐️ I - Immediate
⭐️ D - Direct
⭐️ E - Efficient
⭐️ A - Action-based
⭐️ L - Leveled at the behavior (not the child)

Our goal is connection, even in our discipline.

25/02/2025

Grief often surprises us by showing up in unexpected ways:

💠 Emotional: Beyond sadness, grief may bring anger, guilt, fear, or numbness.

💠 Brain Drain: Like apps running in the background, grief drains your energy, limiting your capacity even months later.

💠 Physical Symptoms: Digestive issues, fatigue, headaches, or disrupted sleep can reflect grief’s impact on the body.

💠 Spiritual Questions: Loss can shake beliefs and stir existential uncertainty, adding to the stress.

Grief is universal but uniquely experienced. Be patient and seek support when needed.

18/02/2025

With a focus on self-discovery and emotional resilience, therapist Connor Small is able to help clients navigate the pain of heartbreak, find clarity, and embrace the possibilities of a renewed future.

If you’re interested in meeting with Connor, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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