Marriage Counseling Chicago Archives
It’s no secret that going through a breakup feels terrible no matter which side you’re on. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most universal experiences humans encounter throughout their lifespan. If going through a breakup seems inevitable at some point, it’s important to understand the healthiest ways to begin to move forward when this stressful time occurs. Transitioning from being in a relationship to being single can be an uncomfortable change as individuals in your life will…
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Hannah Hopper Often times when a couple comes in to see me for counseling, one of the biggest things they are trying to work through is how to communicate better with one another. This could be from not getting enough time together to talk throughout the week, not knowing how to express their needs without getting into an argument, or being unable to respectfully listen to their partner when they disagree and hold different opinions and values.…
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John Gottman is one of the country’s leading experts on what makes romantic relationships work. He and his wife, Julie Gottman, have conducted research at their Love Lab for decades and created the Gottman Institute. The following findings come from Gottman’s own research and are found in his bestseller The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert. This is the final part of a two-part blog series. In my…
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John Gottman is one of the country’s leading experts on what makes romantic relationships work. He and his wife, Julie Gottman, have conducted research at their Love Lab for decades and created the Gottman Institute. The following findings come from Gottman’s own research and are found in his bestseller The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert. This is part one of a two-part blog series. We don’t set…
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It’s no secret that going through a breakup sucks. No matter which end you’re on, feelings are hurt and dynamics are shifting. Change is hard, breakups are hard, and social media is making it even harder. Social media adds even more things to think about when going through a breakup such as changing your relationship status on Facebook or if you’ll have to see your ex on Instagram and Snapchat. Our minds lean towards negative viewpoints so…
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Hannah Hopper It may just seem like you have really good chemistry with someone from work. Or maybe it is a friendship where you can always be met with a listening ear and someone who gives you a lot of special attention. Going from casual friend to someone you’re having an emotional affair with is a blurry line, and sometimes this can happen so gradually that it’s difficult to even notice when it first began. Verywell Mind…
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Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC Screw the golden rule! That’s right, you read it correctly. The golden rule states that we should always treat others how we want to be treated. According to Dr. Gary Chapman, this isn’t how it works with love. In his book, The Five Love Languages, Dr. Gary Chapman “dissects the principles behind communicating love, which remains relevant and useful in many different types of relationships, from family and friends to romantic partners.”…
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Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC No matter how long you have been in the game – twenty years or just getting ready to tie the knot, there is always something that can be done to improve upon relationships within your life, especially the marital one. These strategies are backed by science and will likely re-kindle romance, generate happiness and satisfaction, while also making partners feel more connected. Life throws us curve balls, and we all know that…
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Danielle Bertini Conflicts are inevitable in all types of relationships. However, whether a fight brings down or builds up the relationship depends on how the couple behaves in the aftermath. There are couples that fight frequently and strongly, only to fall in love harder when things are done. And then there are couples that go cold—not necessarily fighting, but have large amounts of lingering resentment and no progress toward resolving the issues. So what is the best…
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From a young age, many of us are taught the normal life trajectory is growing up, going to school, getting a job, then getting married and having kids. While this is a normal and acceptable conversation to have, it’s also important to understand what constitutes a healthy relationship and what leans more towards unhealthy or even dangerous. Having an understanding of the warning signs of these relationships is extremely important in ensuring your safety and happiness throughout…
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