Online Therapy Palatine, IL

Online Therapy Palatine, IL

When you are unable to get out of the house and get help from a therapist, you may be looking for online therapy Palatine, IL residents trust from Lotus Wellness Center. We get it; therapy, in general, can feel awkward. Maybe you were just getting to the point where you were comfortable talking about your feelings or problems with someone in a therapy session but now you need to move those sessions online. Our therapists understand that and want you to know you are not alone. We take great care to help each and every one of our clients take that leap into Palatine, Illinois online therapy so that we can be there for you when you need us the most. If you would like to see what we can do for you, please give our office a call.

When you are unable to get out of the house and get help from a therapist, you may be looking for online therapy Palatine, IL residents trust from Lotus Wellness Center. We get it; therapy, in general, can feel awkward. Maybe you were just getting to the point where you were comfortable talking about your feelings or problems with someone in a therapy session but now you need to move those sessions online. Our therapists understand that and want you to know you are not alone. We take great care to help each and every one of our clients take that leap into Palatine, Illinois online therapy so that we can be there for you when you need us the most. If you would like to see what we can do for you, please give our office a call. 

Reasons for Needing Online Therapy

Everybody goes through emotionally- and mentally challenging times. Some experience these challenges rarely, while some experience frequent issues. Although friends and family members can be helpful, sometimes it’s best to seek a professional who can deal with specific problems. Whether you choose in-person sessions or online therapy in Palatine, IL, you can find help with:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This debilitating disorder can be compounded by challenges posed by family members who don’t understand. You, yourself, may be baffled as to why your thinking is rigidly structured, and why you must touch things in set patterns, or count objects everywhere you go. This disorder is caused by a serotonin imbalance, and can be remedied through cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.

Depression

Nothing brings you joy anymore. it’s called anhedonia, and it is a common experience for those with chronic depression. Sometimes, it’s your way of viewing the world and not the world itself which needs immediate changing. This is good, because that’s the only thing you can control. Seek help from therapists using online therapy in Palatine, IL.

Insomnia

You’ve heard it all before: “Stop drinking caffeine,” or “Exercise more,” but you know there’s more to sleeplessness than that. Sure, chamomile tea is helpful and exercise helps your body prepare for sleep, but sometimes it’s feelings like pain, regret, or disappointment that keep you awake at night. Lotus Wellness Center can help you figure out what feelings and thoughts are impeding your brain from shutting down at night so you can move into a state of being that falls into rest regularly.

Relative’s Addiction

Addiction is devastating not only to the person at the grip of the substance, but also to friends and family of the user. No matter how many times you’ve begged them to stop using or threatened to cut them out of your life, nothing seems to feel better. Your loved one’s situation is costing you sleep, causing you to overeat or lose your appetite entirely, and consuming your thoughts. Lotus Wellness Center can help you deal with these feelings and thoughts in a productive manner.

Trauma

A car accident, the end of a romantic relationship, a job loss – each of these things can be traumatizing. Trauma can then continue on in the mind and body, manifesting as nightmares, hypervigilance, constantly seeking exit routes, and pervasive unnamed fears. But the long-lasting effects of trauma can be addressed and remedied through cognitive behavioral therapy, talk therapy, and more. 

Get to Know Palatine, IL Online Therapy With Lotus Wellness Center! 

We understand that this may be a different experience, but we want you to make the most of it. Read below for our tips on how you can best utilize online therapy sessions. 

1. Embrace the Awkward. If you have seen a therapist in-person before, you know that even that can feel awkward for the first few sessions. So, even if you have been with us and are just now switching over to online therapy in Palatine, IL, that transition may still fill awkward. Technology does not always work, some are not as tech-savvy, and you may feel that physical distance at first. Remember, speak up when you feel uncomfortable or if you think one form of communication works better for you than others.
2. Find a Safe Space. Now is truly the time to make your therapy session yours. It can be helpful for some people to have access to their therapist at a moment’s notice. However, finding a safe place in your home at specific times to conduct your Palatine, IL online therapy can make you feel more comfortable to talk about what is and is not going well for you.
3. Learn to Express Emotions. This is not always easy. If you have worked with us in person before, you know that your therapist has years of training to read behavioral and physical cues during your sessions. That is not as easy to do online. This is a great time for you to learn to identify the emotions you are feeling and discuss them with your therapist. This kind of introspection can be helpful in and out of your online therapy in Palatine, IL.

If you would like to see how Palatine, IL online therapy can be helpful to you during this difficult time, please give Lotus Wellness Center a call now.

Schedule Your Appointments at the Right Times

With online therapy Palatine, IL residents trust, you have more flexibility for choosing appointment times. You should reserve a time when you feel the most calm and can comfortably talk about your emotions. For example, if you are quite frazzled after work,  you might not want to schedule your appointments at the end of the work day. It may be more ideal for you to schedule your sessions on weekends when you feel more calm and relaxed.

Find a Therapist Who Fits Your Needs

A major advantage of online therapy is that you can choose a therapist from anywhere in the country. You should look for a therapist who specializes in your unique needs and don’t settle for just anyone. It is also important to feel comfortable talking to your therapist. If you don’t feel comfortable being completely honest with a particular therapist, you should go with someone else. You will not get the most out of therapy if you can’t be fully honest with your counselor.

Know Your Goals

Before you start communicating with an online therapist, determine what you hope to achieve from therapy. Knowing exactly what your goals are can help you stay focused during your sessions and be on the track to success.

Make Therapy a Top Priority

Online therapy in Palatine, IL is easier to cancel because you can just send your therapist an email and avoid the appointment. However, you should not cancel your appointments unless it’s absolutely necessary. For example, you should not blow off your appointment because your friend invited you to go out to dinner. In order for online therapy to be successful, you must make it a top priority.

Test Technology in Advance

Online therapy sessions are timed just like in-person sessions. That is why you should make sure all of your technology, including your laptop and camera, are working properly before each session. You don’t want to waste time figuring out technology during the session.

Turn Off Your Front Camera View

One of the most difficult things to get used to with online therapy in Palatine, IL is seeing your face on the camera. This can actually become too distracting because you might constantly focus on what you look like. That is why you should turn off your front camera view. This way, you will be able to focus on your session instead of nitpicking your flaws.

Be Extra Prepared

Just because you are talking through a computer, does not mean you shouldn’t be prepared for your online therapy sessions. Write down the topics you would like to discuss with your therapist beforehand. That way, you won’t get off track and forget to tell your therapist something important.

When you are unable to get out of the house and get help from a therapist, you may be looking for online therapy Palatine, IL residents trust from Lotus Wellness Center. We get it; therapy, in general, can feel awkward. Maybe you were just getting to the point where you were comfortable talking about your feelings or problems with someone in a therapy session but now you need to move those sessions online. Our therapists understand that and want you to know you are not alone. We take great care to help each and every one of our clients take that leap into Palatine, Illinois online therapy so that we can be there for you when you need us the most. If you would like to see what we can do for you, please give our office a call.

Six Tips To Help You Live Better With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that affects your feelings, thoughts and behaviors. It is incurable, though there may be periods of remission.  Here are six tips for coping with schizophrenia.

Develop a Support System

Your closest friends and loved ones can support you by letting you know when your symptoms are flaring up, since you can’t always recognize them in yourself. When you’re in online therapy in Palatine, IL, at the Lotus Wellness Center, you can give your therapist a list of names and phone numbers of people they can speak with about your condition. 

Write in a Journal

You may find your emotions to be overwhelming at times. Journaling can help you sort out what you’re feeling. It’s also helpful if you don’t feel like you can turn to someone else for help. Journaling is also useful in monitoring your symptoms and behavioral patterns. When you’re in online therapy in Palatine, IL, your therapist may strongly urge you to keep a daily journal.

Practice Self-Care

Taking time for self-care is difficult for people who don’t have mental illness. For people with schizophrenia, it’s even more difficult. However, self-care can include simple things:

• Enjoying a cup of herbal tea

• Writing in your journal

• Exercising

• Spending time with friends

• Taking a long, hot shower

• Sitting outside

• Reading a good book

Educate Yourself

The more you know about schizophrenia, the better you’ll be able to recognize its symptoms when it flares up. Knowing what type of schizophrenia you have may also be helpful. Paranoid schizophrenia is the most common, but it’s not the only variation. Other forms of schizophrenia include:

• Catatonic

• Hebephrenic

• Unspecified

• Simple

• Residual

• cenesthopathic

Consider Medication

Medication can play a critical role in treating schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medication is often prescribed to control your hallucinations and delusions. Modern antipsychotics are good at decreasing the severity of your symptoms and the recurrence of symptoms. Your openness to medication may change the type of medication prescribed; for example, injections may be more appropriate than pills.

Go to Therapy

Therapy is crucial when treating schizophrenia. Medication can only go so far; it takes online therapy in Palatine, IL to get you the rest of the way. Individual therapy can help you identify stressors that trigger your symptoms, including stress. Family therapy can help your support system be able to help you better. Reach out to the Lotus Wellness Center to schedule your telehealth therapy appointment. 

3 Reasons to Choose Online Therapy

In recent years, online therapy and counseling have become the preferred option for many people. More and more people are switching from a regular in-person therapist to a telehealth visit and loving it. Looking at the benefits of online counseling may help you decide if it’s for you.

1. Eliminates In-Office Anxiety

One of the biggest benefits of going to online therapy in Palatine, IL, over in-person therapy is the lack of office anxiety. Many people who are already dealing with anxiety or depression find that it worsens when they’re sitting at their therapist’s office waiting to be seen. It can feel like everyone is looking at you, people know everything that’s going on in your life, or even that they’re judging you. These anxieties can keep people from wanting to go back to therapy, leading to a delay in your emotional healing. Switching to an online therapist may help you avoid undue stress.

2. Increases Accessibility

Another major benefit of virtual counseling is increased accessibility. Online therapy in Palatine, IL, makes therapy accessible for people who wouldn’t normally be able to get into an office. Things like disabilities, illness, and transportation can all prevent patients from being able to go to their therapy appointments. These inconveniences can cause healing to be pushed back and delayed, where it could be kept on track by choosing online counseling instead. Online therapy allows you to have a session no matter where you are; all you need is a Wi-Fi connection. Don’t let accessibility issues keep you from growing as a person. Let online therapy help you. 

3. Maximizes on Convenience

Finally, online therapy is incredibly convenient for each patient. Choosing online therapy in Palatine, IL, allows you to contact your therapist when you need them without having to wait for your next office visit. If you are having one particularly busy day, being able to just grab your computer or phone to join your therapist is a big advantage over having to drive and wait in an office. This convenience is the turning point for many patients and the major reason they choose to switch to online counseling. You’ll no longer need to put your life on hold in order to go to therapy, but rather can just incorporate it into your daily schedule. 

Overall, choosing online counseling over traditional could make all the difference in your mental health. It gives you the benefit of comfort, accessibility, and convenience, all leading to your increased healing.

Get to Know Palatine, IL Online Therapy With Lotus Wellness Center! 

We understand that this may be a different experience, but we want you to make the most of it. Read below for our tips on how you can best utilize online therapy sessions.

1. Embrace the Awkward. If you have seen a therapist in-person before, you know that even that can feel awkward for the first few sessions. So, even if you have been with us and are just now switching over to online therapy in Palatine, IL, that transition may still fill awkward. Technology does not always work, some are not as tech-savvy, and you may feel that physical distance at first. Remember, speak up when you feel uncomfortable or if you think one form of communication works better for you than others. 
2. Find a Safe Space. Now is truly the time to make your therapy session yours. It can be helpful for some people to have access to their therapist at a moment’s notice. However, finding a safe place in your home at specific times to conduct your Palatine, IL online therapy can make you feel more comfortable to talk about what is and is not going well for you. 
3. Learn to Express Emotions. This is not always easy. If you have worked with us in person before, you know that your therapist has years of training to read behavioral and physical cues during your sessions. That is not as easy to do online. This is a great time for you to learn to identify the emotions you are feeling and discuss them with your therapist. This kind of introspection can be helpful in and out of your online therapy in Palatine, IL. 

If you would like to see how Palatine, IL online therapy can be helpful to you during this difficult time, please give Lotus Wellness Center a call now.