pneuma2020, Author at Pneuma Counseling

Why Does Your Therapist Keep Asking You to Read a Book?

Leave a Comment / Therapy, Uncategorized / pneuma2020

If your therapist has ever said, “There’s a book I think you might really connect with,” you might have wondered why reading keeps coming up in therapy. Isn’t therapy about talking? Absolutely—but books can be a powerful extension of the work you’re already doing. This practice, called bibliotherapy, simply means using stories, workbooks, poems, or other written materials to support your mental health, and it’s often more helpful than people expect.
Feeling Seen and Finding Words for Your Feelings
Books have a way of making us feel less alone. Sometimes you meet a character or read someone’s experience and suddenly think, Oh wow… that’s me. That moment of recognition softens shame, opens conversations, and helps you feel genuinely understood.

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How to Rebuild Trust with Loved Ones After Addiction

Leave a Comment / Addiction, Relationships / pneuma2020

Trust is fragile, and addiction can shatter it in ways that feel impossible to repair. Once close, people may now doubt your words and actions. However, rebuilding trust is achievable through consistency, honesty, and visible change. It will not happen overnight, but it is possible with patience and effort. For those living in Chicago, one of the most effective ways to regain trust is by seeking professional help. Individual counseling in Chicago provides a structured space to address past mistakes, understand personal triggers, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Chicago offers numerous recovery programs, counseling centers, and support groups to help you stay on track. These resources provide ongoing guidance, ensuring that progress remains steady. This guide will explore rebuilding trust, repairing connections,

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Why Couples Therapy Can Save More Than Just Relationships

Leave a Comment / Relationships, Therapy / pneuma2020

Healthy relationships depend on strong communication, shared goals, and emotional understanding. Couples therapy offers tools to rebuild connections and improve lives when challenges arise. But the benefits extend far beyond romantic bonds. Couples therapy can save more than relationships by nurturing personal growth and creating lasting change. To gain the most, approach this topic with curiosity. Reflect, question, and discover practical ways therapy reshapes lives, emphasizing helping people find meaning & vitality in life through professional support.

Couples therapy often begins by addressing personal struggles. Many individuals carry unresolved emotions, stress, or self-doubt that spill into relationships. Therapy helps each person uncover patterns contributing to conflict. This self-awareness leads to healing and a stronger sense of self.

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Key Signs It’s Time to Seek Professional Mental Health Support

Leave a Comment / Anxiety, Depression, Therapy / pneuma2020

Mental health struggles don’t always hit you like a freight train—all of a sudden. Sometimes, they creep in slowly, blending into the background of your life. One day, you’re fine. The next, you’re drowning in stress or constantly feeling on edge. It’s easy to dismiss these feelings, brushing them off as “I’m just tired; this will pass,” but sometimes they don’t. Sometimes, pushing through only makes things worse, and what you really need is professional support. That begs the question, how do you know when to ask for it? By looking for signs, it’s time to seek professional mental health support.
The thing is, these aren’t the easiest to spot, but ignoring them can lead to serious issues down the line—longer periods of distress, strained relationships, and even physical health problems.
So, when do you turn to professionals? Stick around to find out!

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What Questions are Not Helpful in the Disclosure Process after Betrayal

Leave a Comment / Relationships, Therapy, Trauma / pneuma2020

When doing a full disclosure after betrayal trauma, it’s natural for the betrayed partner to want detailed information to understand the full scope of what happened. However, some questions can be more harmful than helpful, as they might prolong emotional pain, derail the healing process, or distract from the core issues of trust and recovery. While the goal of full disclosure is transparency, it’s equally important to protect both partners’ emotional well-being. Here are some questions that are typically not helpful or appropriate for the betrayed partner to ask during full disclosure:

1. Questions about graphic or specific sexual details

• Examples: “What exactly did you do together sexually?” “How many times did you sleep together?” “Was it better with them than with me?”
• Why it’s not helpful: These kinds of questions often focus on intimate details that can fuel painful comparisons and cause more emotional damage. While it’s understandable to feel the urge to know, asking for explicit details may amplify feelings of inadequacy and hurt, hindering the healing process.

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Healing After Betrayal: Three Steps for Couples to Rebuild Trust

Leave a Comment / Depression, Relationships, Therapy, Trauma / pneuma2020

Betrayal in a relationship is one of the most painful experiences a couple can face. Whether it’s infidelity, sexual addiction, or some other breach of trust, healing can feel like a distant, unreachable goal. However, many couples are able to rebuild and even strengthen their relationships through intentional steps toward restoration. At Pneuma, we can support couples through this process by entering therapy. We would pair you both up with a therapist to help start your healing.
While the journey to healing is complex, three structured steps can offer a roadmap: Full Disclosure, the Emotional Impact Letter, and the Emotional Restitution Letter. These steps create a space for honest communication, emotional understanding, and commitment to healing, helping both partners move forward. Let’s break down each step.

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In-Patient Intensive Therapy vs. Weekly Sessions: Which is Right for You?

Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment Programs

Leave a Comment / Addiction, Therapy / pneuma2020

Addiction is a complex issue affecting individuals from all walks of life. While recovery is unique for each person, gender-specific addiction treatment programs can significantly improve outcomes. These programs are tailored to address the distinct needs of men and women, providing a more supportive and effective path to recovery. Explore group or individual counseling in Chicago and beyond.

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Christian Counseling vs. Biblical Counseling: Understanding the Differences

The Benefits of Receiving Christian Counseling

Leave a Comment / Therapy, Uncategorized / pneuma2020

In a world filled with constant challenges and uncertainties, finding a sense of peace, purpose, and direction is more crucial than ever. For many individuals, Christian counseling provides a unique and holistic approach to mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Rooted in biblical principles and infused with the teachings of Christ, Christian counseling offers a range of benefits that can help individuals navigate life’s complexities with faith and resilience.

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Author name: pneuma2020