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Each week, we post the latest articles and new blog content across a variety of categories. Browse our latest.
Should I Start Individual, Couples, or Family Therapy?
Starting therapy can feel confusing when you are not sure where the problem “belongs.”Is this something you should work through on your own? Is it a marriage issue? Is the whole family stuck in a pattern? Should your child or teen be the one in counseling?These are common questions. The good news is that you do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out. Therapy can help you [...]
College Transition Anxiety: How Parents and Young Adults Can Prepare Before Move-In Day
College move-in day can feel exciting, emotional, and overwhelming all at once. For young adults, it may bring freedom, new friendships, harder classes, and a first real taste of independence. For parents, it may bring pride, worry, sadness, and the challenge of stepping back without disappearing. Even when college is a positive step, the transition can stir anxiety. Students may worry about roommates, grades, homesickness, social pressure, faith, identity, [...]
When Your Teen Is a People-Pleaser: Hidden Anxiety, Fawning, and Self-Worth
Some teens rebel loudly. Others cope by becoming “easy.” They say yes when they want to say no. They apologize when nothing is their fault. They hide opinions, keep the peace, and work hard to make sure nobody is disappointed. At first, people-pleasing can look like maturity. Your teen may seem responsible, polite, helpful, and low-maintenance. But underneath, they may be carrying anxiety, fear of rejection, low self-worth, or [...]
From Parental Control to Self-Consent
At the onset of adolescence (around ages 9–13), young people begin breaking the boundaries of childhood. Driven by a desire to no longer be treated as "just a child," they push for more room to grow. This "room" translates to freedom of action and interest, opening up a vast range of choices—some exploratory, others resistant. For instance, the early adolescent may actively or passively resist parental authority while directly or [...]
Interviewing Your Intentions
If you are a born procrastinator, you’ve likely spent a lifetime hunting for a surefire formula to start, stick to, and finish your biggest goals. You may also have noticed that your procrastinatory habits have an uncanny ability to morph, effortlessly transitioning from one anticipated goal to a totally different one. Take writing a blog as an example: we can truly enjoy the writing process. At some point after [...]
Why Couples Argue More When Life Slows Down
When schedules slow down, many couples expect life to feel easier, calmer, and more connected. Fewer obligations, less rushing, and more time at home are often seen as opportunities to reconnect. But for many relationships, the opposite happens. Arguments increase, tension becomes more noticeable, and small frustrations seem to grow faster than expected. At Stenzel Clinical, we often hear from couples in Wheaton, Naperville, Geneva, and surrounding communities who [...]