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Deciding to Live Together

September 3, 2018
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Moving in together is a big step many adults take in their lives. While there are a lot of perks that come along with moving in with your significant other such as saving money, spending more time together, or getting a nicer place, it is not a step that should be taken lightly. Today’s literature shows that while some couples can grow from living together other relationships don’t make it.…

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Understanding Your Partner’s Love Languages

August 17, 2018
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Have you felt that you have tried everything possible for your relationship to feel “normal” again? Have you tried time and time again to connect with your partner by doing things for them, attempting to cuddle at night, or trying to spend alone time with them? While your efforts may be meaningful for you, you may be missing the mark, because you may not be speaking your partner’s Love Language. Gary Chapman, author of “The 5 Love…

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3 Myths About "Healthy" Relationships

August 10, 2018
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We are constantly being bombarded with messages about love and relationships in our culture. Whether it’s on TV, the radio, a magazine, or social media, we are always hearing about dating, relationships, and marriage and what is “normal” and “healthy”. It can be difficult to weed through what is not only helpful, but also what is appropriate and relevant for our own lives and relationships. Some input may be helpful for one couple but can be extremely…

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Recognizing Emotional Abuse

August 6, 2018
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Does your partner limit the people you can contact? Do they monitor your whereabouts, phone calls, texts, emails, or social media activity and become angry when you veer from their guidelines? Of the various forms of abuse that can take place within a relationship, emotional abuse can often be one of the most difficult to identify due to its often insidious onset and lack of physical injuries. It is not uncommon for a victim and their loved…

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Tips To Regaining Trust From Your Partner

July 28, 2018
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Trust, the feeling of safety within your relationship, is one of the most crucial components to a healthy relationship. Unfortunately, trust can easily be broken. Whether you were unfaithful, lied, or crossed a boundary in your romantic relationship, the trust your partner once had for you has been altered. Breaking the trust in your relationship leaves your partner feeling betrayed, insecure, hurt, and angry. While you may want everything to…

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Getting The Closure You Deserve After a Breakup

July 26, 2018
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Many of us have experienced breakups and know they can be messy and ugly. Often we are left with unanswered questions, resentment, anger, and fears that seem to stick with us for longer than we would like them to. So what do you do when you need closure and are not able to receive it from your ex? There are several ways to obtain the closure you deserve on your…

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4 Questions to Consider Before Getting Back With Your Ex

July 12, 2018
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We are all familiar with the emotional toll a breakup can take on us. Intense heartbreak can include a long period of many tears, sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and a wave of emotions ranging from anger to sadness and everything in between. While breakups usually result in a definite end of the relationship, many couples still want to give it another shot. After going through this difficult and emotionally…

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3 Factors That Can Impact Your Libido

June 12, 2018
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We all receive mixed and unhelpful messages about sex. Whether it’s a commercial on TV, an article in a magazine, or your friend who is especially prone to giving unsolicited advice, we all experience it. What is especially unhelpful and potentially harmful about these messages, is that it leaves many of us feeling broken, that there’s something wrong with us, or that having a sexless relationship is inevitable over time. I often hear from couples I work…

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The Invalidation of “But”

May 30, 2018

When discussing things with others, have you heard phrases such as “I know that you’re upset, but I told you to do this several times” or “I’m not trying to be rude, but that shirt does not look good on you,” or “I understand what you are saying, but I do not agree with you.” If you have heard these phrases, what kind of thoughts do you have? Do you feel that the other person is hearing…

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Pre-Wedding Stress In Your Relationship

May 11, 2018
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Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling For many people, their wedding day is a day they have imagined for their entire lives. The flowers, the cake, the dress, and the person they are going to share their life are things they have envisioned for years. While the wedding planning period may seem fun and exciting, it is also a time filled with immense stressors that can have a negative effect on your relationship. Some of these…

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