man with intrusive thoughts calming himself in a Chicago Zen Garden

What Are Intrusive Thoughts? A CBT Therapist Explains

June 8, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

A thought flashes through your mind while you’re crossing a bridge: What if I jumped? You’re holding a kitchen knife and a dark image appears. You’re sitting in a meeting and suddenly wonder if you […]

cognitive distortions reflection woman in mirror

15 Common Types of Cognitive Distortions

June 6, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

Your mind is telling you something is wrong. But is it right? Cognitive distortions are patterns of thinking that feel completely true in the moment — and yet consistently lead us toward anxiety, self-doubt, and […]

Diagram illustrating the 5 stages of work burnout — from compulsive drive to habitual exhaustion — with CBT therapy approaches for each stage, Chicago

The 5 Stages of Work Burnout — And What CBT Does at Each One

June 1, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

You already know something is wrong. Maybe it’s the Sunday dread that arrives earlier every week. Maybe it’s the fact that the work you used to love now feels like a sentence. Maybe you’re functional […]

Meditating figure with seven colored light beams representing types of online therapy for anxiety — Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, Chicago

Types of Online Therapy for Anxiety: Which One Actually Works?

May 28, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

By Grace Heaney, LPC, CCATP — Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, Chicago Before I became a therapist, I worked in the business world. I know what it looks like to […]

budah concept representing burnout triangle of anxiety, depression and burnout calm anxiety clinic chicago

The Burnout-Anxiety-Depression Triangle: Why High Achievers Get Stuck

May 27, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

By Grace Heaney, LPC, CCATP — Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, Chicago Before I became a therapist, I worked in the business world. I know what it looks like to […]

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Can EMDR Help People in Boystown with Anxiety & Self-Esteem?

May 25, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

If you’re walking down Halsted Street in Boystown, passing the rainbow pylons and colorful storefronts, you might notice something interesting: this neighborhood has always been a place where people come to find themselves. But finding […]

What Kind of Therapy is Best for Anxiety and Panic In Chicago?

May 23, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

If you’ve experienced a panic attack, you already know it doesn’t feel like “just anxiety.” Your heart hammers. Your chest tightens. Your brain fires off worst-case scenarios at full volume. And somewhere in the middle […]

ACT Therapy Chicago at Calm Anxiety Clinic

What ‘Emotional Regulation’ Actually Means in the Therapy Room

May 23, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

By Dian Medrano, LCPC, CCATP — Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, Chicago “Emotional regulation” has become one of those phrases that shows up everywhere — in therapy contexts, wellness content, […]

A man and woman sitting at a modern bar in Chicago; the woman looks pensive and socially anxious while overthinking the interaction, representing high-functioning social anxiety in dating

How Social Anxiety Shows Up Differently at Work, in Dating, and in Friendships

May 18, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

Social anxiety has a way of following you. Into the Monday morning team standup. Into a first date at a Logan Square wine bar. Into the group chat where everyone else seems to respond effortlessly. […]

CBT Homework Assignments: Examples and How to Make Them Work

May 15, 2026 Calm Anxiety Staff

If you’ve started CBT therapy in Chicago, you’ve probably heard the phrase “homework assignments.” And if you’re like most people, that word might bring back memories of high school assignments you procrastinated on until 11 […]