Chicago suburbs such as Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Downers Grove (IL) are inspiring models of community growth and increasing standards of living through the years. Consider the following about Naperville as but one example:
In 1990, Naperville’s population was around 87,000; today it is nearing 150,000.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, for the period 2017 to 2021, the owner-occupied housing unit rate of Naperville was 74.6% – a full 10% higher than the U.S. rate of 64.6% – and the median value of an owner-occupied house was $433,400.
Concerning education, 97.5% of adults had a high school diploma or higher, and 70.7% had a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared with 33.7% in the greater U.S.).
Naperville also has appeared in lists of best places to live in the U.S. Whether in Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield or Downers Grove, achievement and prosperity on the surface can be viewed as reasons to celebrate.
At the same time, contrary to what might be anticipated, such success can bring with it rising pressure, competition and expectations that can complicate how people feel about their lives. Success also does not cancel the truth that we are all human with human imperfections and problems that may sometimes get the best of us.
Mental Health Doesn’t Always Know Where We Live
Our nation’s contention with stress and mental health can make even very different communities increasingly kindred. Consider these 2023 findings from Mental Health America:
In 2019-2020, 20.78% of adults were experiencing a mental illness – over 50 million Americans.
The percentage of U.S. adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide was 4.84% – over 12.1 million individuals.
Over 1 in 10 of young people in the U.S. were experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family or in their social life.
59.8% of youths with major depression do not receive mental health treatment. Asian youths with major depression were least likely to receive specialty mental health care, with 78% reporting they did not receive mental health services in the past year.
Our primitive fight, flight or freeze responses are built to respond to both real and perceived stressors. If intense stress sets off constant internal alarms, our neural defense system can steer us toward a downward slope such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse.
Therapy Helps – and It Matters
Regardless of a person’s age and circumstances, sometimes life can stack up to where they feel they are losing grip of peace and stability. During these times, personal therapy can help them regain their mental and emotional footing.
Therapy can help an individual resolve a condition or struggle such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- family conflict
- divorce
- sexual abuse
- addiction
- anger management
- panic disorder
- social skills
- grief or loss
- trauma
- work or school problems
- sexual issues
- impulse control
- stress response & management
Attentive, resourceful and focused therapy further can define what might be unresolved and establish a path for returning to balance and calm. With greater clarity and coping mechanisms, an individual can feel whole and empowered again.
Distinguishing Therapy & Counseling
You’ve likely used and heard the terms “therapy” and “counseling” interchangeably, but they have distinctions that may be helpful to recognize.
Counseling typically approaches a mental-health challenge as a defined issue for a particular period. For example, maybe someone has been under regular stress because of pressures at work or in a relationship.
Counseling offers problem-solving to help the individual gain control of thoughts for greater peace and stability. The counseling might last for a few weeks or a full year.
Therapy helps manage mental health as it might concern issues that are more complex and established. For instance, a person might be contending with sustained patterns or problems over a longer period, such as trauma anxiety, unrelenting sadness or recurring drug use.
Therapy will aim to identify, explain and address the root causes and to develop healthy coping mechanisms for them. Depending on the individual, therapy might last from months to years to a lifetime.
Seeking Individual Therapy
Meaningful personal therapy will offer support services for teens, adults, couples and families in Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Downers Grove
When you proactively engage therapy, the initial sessions should focus on establishing trust and rapport with your therapist as you share about life events, relationships and areas of difficulty, all in your time and according to your comfort level.
Your therapy should meet you where you are as you turn toward your life-changing steps. As you remain involved in your sessions, you can begin to feel achievements such as:
- increasing self-esteem and -awareness
- new insights into the past and the present
- ways to lower stress and anxiety
- command of unhealthy thought patterns
- recognizing and avoiding emotional triggers
- stronger, healthier relationships
- a fresh perspective on life
- improving physical health
Depending on each situation, a personal therapy session also might draw from research-based approaches such as DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), trauma-informed care and ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy). Reading, writing, worksheets and other exercises might contribute to skill-building as well.
Therapy for Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield & Downers Grove (IL): Contact Us Today
Eunoia Counseling helps individuals move beyond their barriers through dedicated personal therapy. If you or someone close to you needs private, caring support, we are here to help. To learn more about our professional therapy or schedule an appointment, contact us at (630) 340-8747 or info@eunoiacounselingnaperville.com.
