Couples Counseling Chicago
Hannah Hopper, LPC As we head into the summer months, there’s so much in our world that’s changing. Businesses are opening up, restaurants are allowing indoor dining again, and more people are beginning to feel comfortable getting together with family and friends. With things opening up and fuller schedules, many of our schedules are starting to change, and it could take some extra effort to stay connected with your partner. How you start and end each day…
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By: Danielle Bertini, LPC I love my family and friends. But I absolutely love spending time by myself. To me, there is no better feeling than being able to sit alone in silence and enjoy my own company, especially after spending a lot of time with others. As an introvert, I can only take so much “together time” before my energy is drained and I am craving a quieter, less stimulating place. If you aren’t…
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By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Since the beginning of the pandemic, one of the most common concerns I hear from my clients is that they feel bored. I think we have all felt bored at some point in our lives, but what is boredom exactly? In this post I will describe boredom and review the pros and cons. Generally, boredom sets in when three conditions are met: We feel a lack of stimulation;…
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By Eric Dean JD, MBA, MA, MA, LPC, CADC Many couples struggle to communicate assertively, directly, and honestly about their needs which leads to mind-reading and making inaccurate assumptions about their partner’s thoughts and feelings. When couples act upon inaccurate assumptions, it creates misunderstandings and confusion in the relationship. The good news is that this can be prevented or alleviated by assertive communication. When we do not ask for what we need from our partner, our needs…
Read MoreTurning Towards Love: A Simple Way to Improve Your Relationship “How was your day?” “Can I have a hug?” “I heard a song you might like today!” These all seem like pretty simple prompts or questions that probably happen within your relationship on a daily basis. What if I told you that these simple prompts actually provide a huge opportunity for growth and connection within your relationship? These “prompts” are what John and Julie Gottman have identified…
Read MoreSteven Losardo, AMFT You began your dating relationship before the Covid-19 restrictions started. Once the pandemic hit, you were able to adjust. There was careful planning for dates and spending time in each other’s homes that included testing and waiting for negative results. Further, before getting intimate, you were “quarantining for two weeks without symptoms — before close, mask-free proximity” (Sarmiento, 2020). You even ran an assessment of each other’s community transmission rates, preexisting conditions or health…
Read MoreSteven Losardo, AMFT The issues you have with your partner are the daily elephant in the room. You are both aware of them and realize you need some help as they are not going away. While you have heard about couple therapy or couples counseling, you have not taken it under consideration when there is an issue in your relationship. You have listened to the common reasons couples seek therapy, and they do not seem to line…
Read MoreKyle Lawell, Licensed Professional Counselor Your partner asks you to pick up some groceries on your way home from work: ice cream, paper towels, cereal, eggs, and flour. You go to the store, quickly breeze through the aisles and grab these groceries before making your way home. Upon putting the groceries away and settling down after a long day of work, your partner comes to you and expresses frustration about the groceries that you bought. While you…
Read MoreHannah Hopper, LPC, NCC In my last blog I described what the Four Horsemen are, and how they can show up in romantic relationships. To recap, the Four Horsemen are unhealthy patterns that couples can fall into with communication, and once these patterns are identified they can be replaced with productive and respectful ways of responding. The name comes from the end times described in the New Testament where there are Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse that…
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Matthew Cuddeback LCSW This is part II of a series about mental health in media. If you are so inclined, please be sure to read Part I- They Really Were on A Break: Couples Therapy with Ross and Rachel. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the perennial holiday classic by John Hughes is a classic for many reasons, the indomitable comedy everyman John Candy, and the absurdist humor embodied by Steve Martin to name a few. However, one aspect…
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