Marriage Counseling Chicago Archives
While things with your partner may have started out quite steamy, it’s difficult to sustain passion over the years. As dedicated as you are to your spouse, it’s hard to maintain that same level of sexual satisfaction after a long time making love to the same person. This is an issue that often brings couples in for our marriage counseling services, and fortunately, years of experience in counseling, as well as the most recent empirical research, have…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We are told that “actively listening” to our significant others will help us connect and communicate with them more effectively. You may think you are a great listener, but the truth is most of us don’t listen as well as we could to those we care about. But what does it mean to “actively listen” to someone? Active listening is a model that includes building rapport and trust with another…
Read More
One of the most common reasons individuals and couples attend therapy is to heal from infidelity and decide if trust can be regained in the relationship. Statistics tell us that the majority of people will experience infidelity at some point in their relationships, and yet, it still remains a very taboo topic loaded with a whole lot of shame and secrecy. While every couple is different and infidelity can come in many different forms, there are some…
Read More
Maintaining a happy and healthy relationship requires work and can be a challenge in even the most successful couples. Over time, playfulness, love notes, and cuddling might become replaced with button-pushing, sarcasm, and a lack of appreciation. While every couple is unique in their strengths and challenges, there are things any couple can to do breathe new life into your relationship. Try to: Talk it out. It is easy to recognize when a relationship is having trouble,…
Read More
One of the most common reasons individuals and couples attend therapy is to heal from infidelity and decide if trust can be regained in the relationship. Statistics tell us that the majority of people will experience infidelity at some point in their relationships, and yet, it still remains a very taboo topic loaded with a whole lot of shame and secrecy. While every couple is different and infidelity can come in many different forms, there are some…
Read More
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling What does being single mean to you? It may be getting back to the gym to look your best, going out on the weekends with friends, grabbing drinks after work with co-workers, going on dates, or starting a new hobby. Often when we get into relationships, we tend to get consumed in our new partner and may even begin to lose sight of our single selves in the process. The…
Read More
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling According to marriage researcher and author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, Dr. John Gottman, contempt is found to be the most damaging element in a relationship and the number-one predictor of divorce. This finding can be jarring to read as many people have a difficult time understanding what contempt is and may be unaware that it is present in their relationship. Contempt is described by Dr. Gottman…
Read More
Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner You’re ready to participate in counseling, but you’re not sure which type of counseling would best meet your needs. When you’re experiencing both individual and relationship issues, it’s difficult to know whether to choose individual or couples counseling. Consider the following points when making your decision. Individual Counseling You may benefit from individual counseling if: You want to participate in counseling, but your partner does not. You need to be your counselor’s…
Read More
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We have all heard that happy and successful relationships take work, but often the daily distractions and demands of life get in the way of nurturing our relationships. While date nights are extremely frequent in the early stages of a relationship, they tend to significantly decline over time. Many couples think of date night as a luxury, but it is actually an essential component to maintaining a healthy relationship. A…
Read More
Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling We all respond to conflict differently, but it is common for small, petty disagreements to escalate into a nasty fight. You or your partner may begin to yell, say things you don’t mean, call each other names, get angry or aggressive, or bring up old wounds just to hurt the other person. It is easy to get pushed too far during disagreements sometimes, but it is important to recognize when…
Read MoreDo You Need Help?
Not what you were looking for?