Open Book Therapy - Chicago

Looking for a furry friend to join you in therapy in person? Meet ’s newest intern. She’s still learning the ropes but she loves treats and a little hello! Welcome Coco Savagé as OBT’s new office dog!!

Got some new reading material for the new office! Thank you to for having some fun and functional mental health related comics!

Hello all, big announcement! We’ve added a new intern to our practice. Meet Coco! She will be under the watchful eye of Mr. Oreo who you may know from our page or from your Telehealth sessions. We look forward to getting started with Therapy Dog training!

January is Mental Wellness Month! Check out the next few slides to see how we can take care of our mental wellness during this month!

Take a listen to the Mind Over Matter: Podcast with Jalen Rose interviewing Charlamagne the God.
In this episode New York Times best seller Charlamagne talks all about his mental health journey and becoming a mental health advocate to the public. Let us know if you listen and what you thought about it!

Open Book Therapy is sending love to everyone during this winter holiday season. Remember to take time for yourself and be gentle during these times where often we feel great pressure to measure up to expectations we didn’t agree to. ❤️ Photos from:

Happy December Everybody! Here are a few updates for the month. We look forward to meeting with you all whether it is in person or through Telehealth.

Happy Giving Tuesday! We encourage everyone to get out today and do good!

Welcome to Open Book Therapy! We figured it was time for a reintroduction! 🥳

The month of November is Homeless Awareness Month, and this week is Hunger and Homelessness awareness week. To Find out more or how to get involved visit hhweek.org

Happy November Everybody! Here are a few updates for the month.

Happy November Everyone! Here are a few updates for the month.

Well it’s been a long time coming but our favorite furry wiggly intern got to have his first day at the office! He’s not ready for client one on ones yet but one step closer after a LONG delay!

If you should have the interest, listening to Tony H’s AA lead (available to stream online on Sober Cast) it is an amazing story. He manages to be just as dynamic and engaging in an AA lead as he is in any of his acclaimed lead roles.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/30/entertainment/anthony-hopkins-sobriety-video-scli-intl/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2sYijZMje_O_2CGm30UDD6_Rwv6M9s2ivnZaMfE2w1omVim6jgfQTFPqw

Keep coming back, it works if you work it.

I want to take a moment to send love to everyone. This time of year, especially in the year of absolutef**kingchaos that is 2020, can be especially emotionally taxing. Do what you need to take care of yourself over the next few days. We are almost done with 2020!!!

A beautiful share seen on a friend’s page. We shy away from support and care and we repackage it as Ultra-Independence. Don’t get me wrong, being able to take care of yourself isn’t a bad thing. But, sometimes we all need help. We all need to break down. We all need to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, and that is sometimes terrifying.

“People who wade into discomfort and vulnerability and tell the truth about their stories are the real badasses.” - Brene Brown

Sis, the inability to receive support from others is a trauma response.

Your “I don’t need anyone, I’ll just do it all myself” conditioning is a survival tactic. You needed it to shield your tender heart from abuse, neglect, betrayal, and disappointment from those who could not or would not be there for you.

From the parent who was absent by choice or by the circumstance of working three jobs to feed and house you.

From the lovers who offered sexual intimacy but no offered no safe haven that honored your heart.

From the friendships that always took more than they gave.

From all the situations when someone told you “we’re in this together” then abandoned you, leaving you to pick up the pieces when isht got real, leaving you to handle your part and their part, too.

From the lies. The betrayals.

You learned along the way that you just couldn’t really trust people. Or that you could trust people, but only up to a certain point.

Ultra-independence is a *trust issue.*

You learned: if I don’t put myself in a situation where I rely on someone, I won’t have to be disappointed when they don’t show up for me, or when they drop the ball... because they will always drop the ball sooner or later, right?

You may even have been intentionally taught this protection strategy by generations of hurt women who came before you.

Ultra-independence is a preemptive strike against heartbreak.

So, you don’t trust anyone.

And you don’t trust yourself, either, to choose people.

To trust is to hope, to trust is vulnerability.

“Never again,” you vowed.

But no matter how you dress it up and display it proudly to make it seem like this level of independence is what you always wanted to be, in truth it’s your wounded, scarred, broken heart behind a protective brick wall.

Impenetrable. Nothing gets in. No hurt gets in. But no love gets in either.

Fortresses and armor are for those in battle, or who believe the battle is coming.

It’s trauma response.

The good news is trauma that is acknowledged is trauma that can be healed.

You are worthy of having support.
You are worthy of having true partnership.
You are worthy of love.
You are worthy of having your heart held.
You are worthy to be adored.
You are worthy to be cherished.

You are worthy to have someone say, “You rest. I got this.” And actually deliver on that promise.

You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy.
Worthy, sis.
You are worthy.

You don’t have to earn it.
You don’t have to prove it.
You don’t have to bargain for it.
You don’t have to beg for it.

You are worthy.
Worthy.

Simply because you exist.

I love you. 🧡~J.

Credit: Written by Jamila White - Psychic, Life Coach, Author (FB: http://fb.me/inspiredjamila, IG: .jamila) Original image by Rising Woman, reposted from The Womb Sauna.

Permission to share/repost is gladly granted as long as:
1. It is kept in its original, unedited form; and
2. Full authorship credit is given with my name. A link/tag is appreciated.
Thank you!

Open Book Therapy - Chicago updated their information in their About section.

We are almost to the weekend, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t already in need of a break. What do you like to do for self care if you just need a short break from everything? I really enjoy some mindful coloring. Not pictured, my “Calm the F*&k Down” adult coloring book. 😂

Well after a lot of hard work and great assistance by my wonderful office staff (aka my wonderful family) the office is open and I have a space to hang my EMDR tappers. Please check out our website for appointments at http://www.openbooktherapychi.com @ North Center

Who is Open Book Therapy? Meet Kyla Dannelke, MA, LCPC. She has over 10 years of experience in mental health and is passionate about making therapy accessible to all. She also believes in making therapy engaging to the clients, but also fun and not an overwhelming or stuffy experience.

Hello! Allow us to introduce ourselves! We are Open Book Therapy located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Our founder Kyla R. Dannelke, MA, LCPC. () is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience working in mental health. Our goal? Help you write your story the way you’ve always imagined it. We understand life is so uncertain these days, we would love to be able to help you manage those uncertainties with care, compassion, and even a meme once and a while. Give us a visit over at http://www.openbooktherapychi.com