Main Street Counseling Solutions

Main Street Counseling Solutions Let's develop skills, build resilience, and create change together. Begin your path of empowerment t

Anxiety clings to certainty. It has us mistakenly believe that we are at risk unless we have control. But relying on ext...
11/21/2024

Anxiety clings to certainty. It has us mistakenly believe that we are at risk unless we have control. But relying on external factors to cope leaves us even more anxious and exhausted. Trying to control everything is a losing battle that will cost you energy, time and peace.

Self trust, however, recognizes a more empowering truth: safety doesn’t come from controlling everything but from believing we can navigate whatever comes our way. By shifting the focus to our internal strength, we lose the need for control.

Knowing that we can mange hard situations and emotions is key to building trust with ourselves. And sitting with the discomfort of uncertainty teaches us that we can handle it.

💜

FEAR feeds ANXIETY. Too much of it can keep you stuck and hinder your growth. It asks: what if something goes wrong, wha...
11/12/2024

FEAR feeds ANXIETY. Too much of it can keep you stuck and hinder your growth.
It asks: what if something goes wrong, what if I make a mistake, what if I get hurt?

HOPE fuels ACTION. It asks: What if something great happens, what if I succeed or learn, what if I have an amazing experience?

Anxiety can take away your hope and cause you to make decisions based on fear. Be mindful of what is motivating you.

Claim today and let your hope be greater than your fear. 💜

Worry drains our precious energy and is rarely helpful. It takes us down a negative path and one worry leads to another,...
10/31/2024

Worry drains our precious energy and is rarely helpful. It takes us down a negative path and one worry leads to another, which leads to the next. Protect your peace by noticing when worry is taking over. Stay in the present moment and think of all the better ways to use your energy.

Where do you want to invest your energy today?


Stress affects us all. It is a natural feeling of not being able to cope with certain demands or events. And much like a...
06/07/2024

Stress affects us all. It is a natural feeling of not being able to cope with certain demands or events. And much like anxiety, a little stress is ok, even motivating. Too much however can wear us down and wreak havoc on our body and mind.

We can’t totally eliminate stress from our lives but we can develop tools to manage it in a healthier way.

Explore the questions on this flow-chart to help de-escalate your stress response: Identify the SOURCE of the stressor. Once you recognize the cause of your stress you can better manage your stressors. Relationships, life transitions, finances and unrealistic expectations are a few major causes of stress.

Get to know your stress SYMPTOMS. Muscle tension, headaches, poor sleep, being easily irritated and constant worry are some common signs of stress.

Take note of the things that you can CONTROL. Change your behavior or reaction when appropriate. Try to let go of things that are out of your control. Use a coping skill to manage things you can’t change.

Ask yourself if setting a BOUNDARY would be helpful. Over scheduling yourself or saying yes to things that you don’t want to do can lead to pressure and overwhelm. Setting healthy boundaries with friends or relatives can also be beneficial. Know your limits and stick to them.

Do things to DE-STRESS. We are better able to reverse the stress response with a calm nervous system. Breathing exercises, meditation, imagery and aromatherapy can help. Going for a walk, journaling your feelings, taking a warm bath, doing yoga or connecting with a friend or pet can also decrease stress.


Everyone responds to stress differently. Experiment with a variety of coping strategies to see what works best for you.


It is estimated that we have more than 6,000 thoughts a day. These thoughts are so important because they drive our emot...
05/20/2024

It is estimated that we have more than 6,000 thoughts a day. These thoughts are so important because they drive our emotions and behaviors.⁠
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When having a negative unhelpful thought remind yourself that NOT EVERYTHING YOU THINK IS TRUE!⁠
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Challenging your thoughts is a crucial step in breaking negative thinking patterns. Often distorted thinking is the cause of anxiety, depression and low self esteem. ⁠
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These thoughts are usually automatic and therefore hard to identify. Pay close attention to your thought patterns and remember to challenge them.⁠
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Is there another way of looking at the situation? What is the likelihood that your thought will become a reality? Are you looking at a worst case scenario? ⁠
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How can you reframe your thoughts in a more realistic rational way?⁠
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Idea by: ⁠

When I feel stressed and can’t stop thinking about something, one question I ask is “Is this thought about something tha...
05/13/2024

When I feel stressed and can’t stop thinking about something, one question I ask is “Is this thought about something that is IN MY CONTROL?” We can get really stuck and use our energy trying to control things that we just can’t.

One thing that helps is to get clear on what we actually do have control over. This visual has some general examples but if you are struggling with a thought or issue you can make a more specific circle of control. Or even just start to think about things in terms of what is in or out of your control.

Identifying things you can control may help you deal better with those you can’t.

IN my control 👇
How I speak to others
My attitude
Boundaries I set
The thoughts I focus on
My effort
My values
How I prioritize my time
The way I speak to myself
What I view online
My goals

OUT of my control 👇
Other people’s opinions of me
How others react to me
What other people say about me
How others feel
Family of origin
My past


Parenting a child with anxiety can be challenging, but there are several strategies parents can try to help support thei...
05/03/2024

Parenting a child with anxiety can be challenging, but there are several strategies parents can try to help support their child. If you have a strategy of your own, not listed here, I’d love to hear about it in the comment section 👇

SPACE, or Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, is a specialized program designed to address the needs of...
04/25/2024

SPACE, or Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, is a specialized program designed to address the needs of children and adolescents struggling with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There are two primary changes that parents learn to implement during SPACE treatment: responding more supportively to their anxious child and reducing the accommodations they have been making to their child’s symptoms. By fostering a supportive environment and gradually reducing enabling behaviors, parents play a crucial role in promoting their child’s emotional well-being and resilience.

Being a SPACE provider means embracing a holistic approach to childhood anxiety and OCD treatment, one that acknowledges the central role of parents in the therapeutic process. I’m immensely proud to be part of this community as it serces as a beacon of hope for parents seeking effective solutions for their children’s anxiety-related challenges.

Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine can help manage anxiety’s symptoms effectively. These techni...
04/18/2024

Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine can help manage anxiety’s symptoms effectively. These techniques aim to calm both the mind and body and get you grounded away from negative thoughts and feelings.

Have you tried any of these?

How much time do you spend worrying about being judged by others?If you have an intense persistent fear of being watched...
04/11/2024

How much time do you spend worrying about being judged by others?
If you have an intense persistent fear of being watched and judged you may have Social Anxiety Disorder. People with this disorder experience extreme stress when they believe there is any possibility of being embarrassed, rejected or scrutinized. In order to be diagnosed you must feel this way for at least 6 months.
Social anxiety can be experienced in different ways. Some situations that may cause difficulty include: talking to strangers, speaking in public, making eye contact, entering rooms, starting conversations, using public restrooms, eating in front of others, dating, going to parties, school or work.
Overthinking past social interactions and fear of offending others is common.
Those struggling with social anxiety often go to great lengths to avoid social activities and may cancel plans due to extreme nervousness. They feel “on edge” in social situations and can’t let go or show their true selves.
Is there anything that social anxiety is stopping you from doing?

Prioritize self-care, seek support when needed, and remember, you’re 💪 than you think.
04/08/2024

Prioritize self-care, seek support when needed, and remember, you’re 💪 than you think.

Anxiety and depression can convince you to isolate yourself at times when 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 is so important.Depression may tell...
04/01/2024

Anxiety and depression can convince you to isolate yourself at times when 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 is so important.
Depression may tell you shouldn’t be a burden while anxiety may keep you alone because you fear judgement.
If you are struggling, try to find one person that feels safe and reach out to them. Being open and vulnerable can feel scary but I have found that sharing my struggles with friends has opened the door for them to come to me when they need help.
Connection is healing so take a minute to reach out to someone today.

Address

444 N. Northwest Highway, #320
Park Ridge, IL
60068

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18472207298

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Welcome to Main Street Counseling Solutions

We provide individual therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. And understand the constant stress and pressure of daily life. You don't have to shoulder the burden alone.

​We CAN help.

Bad thoughts and feelings can weigh you down.

They can affect your performance and relationships.