Counseling@Northwestern

Self-Care Solutions: Download Fitness & Nutrition Apps to Stay on Track While on the Go

Staying accountable to fitness goals and finding workouts to do is getting easier. While going for a run outside was once the best at-home option for cardio, and grocery shopping for healthy food was like a maze, now technology can help. You will have the gym and kitchen at your fingertips with the following popular fitness and nutrition apps.

Organizations Promoting Mental Health Awareness This May

Organizations dedicated to mental health awareness throughout the year come to the forefront each May. During this month, they focus their efforts on reducing the stigma related to mental health by educating communities about mental illness. For this year’s Mental Health Month, organizations have created many different campaigns to spread this awareness. Counseling@Northwestern is highlighting various campaigns from mental health organizations working to improve education and reduce stigma around mental illness.

Self-Care Solutions: Five Ways to Teach Yourself to Sleep Better

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine External link , approximately 30 percent of Americans have symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia is different than occasional sleeplessness in that it can cause anxiety, depression, and disruption from everyday life. Sleep is a key component to maintaining your mental health, so as part of Mental Health Awareness Month we wanted to share advice on how to sleep better. Whether you suffer from a few nights a week of cartoon-eyed, thumb-twiddling sleeplessness or you know the entire late-night TV lineup, here are a few ways to learn how to teach yourself to sleep better.

2016 Counseling Awareness Month: Better Together with Counseling

April is counseling awareness month and the American Counseling Association (ACA) is working with more than 56,000 counselors to break stigma related to seeking mental health services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention External link  reports that only 25 percent of adults with mental health issues believe that other people are sympathetic toward people who have mental illness, and that 57 percent of adults believe that people would be sympathetic toward people who have mental health issues. This is a clear indicator that we must educate the public about need for support and encouragement for people of all ages to seek assistance from counselors.

Why CACREP Accreditation Is Important

The Counseling@Northwestern program has received a full eight-year accreditation. This means that the program is fully CACREP accredited. It is rare for a program seeking accreditation for the first time to receive a full eight-year accreditation. This is a testament to the program’s training model and the strength of the faculty and staff. This accreditation is a clear endorsement of the quality of Counseling@Northwestern.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Counseling Psychology?

Choosing a specialty can be difficult, and oftentimes students are faced with the choice between clinical mental health counseling and counseling psychology. The line between the two professions appears to be blurred. If you’re undecided, this post will help you decipher the similarities and differences between the two graduate school paths.

Relationship Tips from the Family Institute

For couples who want actionable, practical advice, The Family Institute at Northwestern University publishes a “Tip of the Month” series on relationships. Based on research and clinical practices, these tips are short enough to absorb quickly and put into use immediately. Read more for a few recent tips featured in the series for maintaining a strong relationship.

Tips for Families from The Family Institute

Shot of a happy family holding hands on a morning walk together

Based on best clinical practices and research, these tips offer brief, actionable strategies that are applicable to everyday family challenges. Take a look at the following highlights from some of the “Tip of the Month” columns.