Grief

As a couple and family therapist, a common issue I experience is trust. I have heard about trust issues in couples that have only been together for a couple of months, and couples who have been together for several years. The issue of trust can range from not trusting your partner’s response to your hard day of work, to breaches of trust with infidelity. Although building trust may seem like a daunting task, it is definitely possible…

No relationship is perfect, and that is okay! While every couple is completely unique in their own relationships, I find that there are some overlapping relationship challenges and themes I notice when working with couples. Every challenging part of a couple’s relationship can be a learning opportunity and an authentic way to bring them closer together. The first step is simply to acknowledge that there are going to be challenges in any relationship. It would be quite…

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Our attachment style is something we carry with us throughout our upbringing and into our adult romantic relationships. Attachment is defined as the strong, intimate, and emotional bond typically formed between an infant and its caregiver in the early years of life. Attachment affects everything from selecting your partner, to how you behave in relationships, to how you leave them. According to Mary Ainsworth and other recent researchers, there are…

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.…

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…

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…