Therapy
Anne Brennan Malec, PsyD, LMFT, Financial Therapist, Owner, Symmetry Counseling As therapists, we frequently work with clients who engage in a lot of negative thinking patterns. Part of providing clients with cognitive behavioral therapy is to help them deconstruct these patterns and begin to look at events more realistically. Listed below are some negative thinking traps that can befall all of us from time to time. Are you guilty of engaging in any of the following negative…
Read MoreAmanda 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 MoreAs parents, loved ones, and caregivers, there is the natural desire to protect children. When difficult life events happen, such as the death of a family member, friend, pet, or peer finding the words to explain death to a child can be difficult. Of course, this is a difficult topic for adults, as well. So, what do you share with your children? First, you may wonder if your child is aware that someone important has died. The…
Read MoreMadissyn 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 MoreMadissyn 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 MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling In this day and age, it is incredibly easy to turn to social media for validation. You may have 6,000 followers on Instagram, 1,000 friends on Facebook, or you may get hundreds of views every day on your blog, but are you happy with your social support system? Do you feel you have friends that lift you up when you are feeling down or family who are there to listen…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Saying “I’m sorry” when we have hurt our partner is often extremely difficult and can feel like a sign of weakness, a confirmation of guilt, or can even wound our pride. However, recent studies have found that apologizing and asking for forgiveness are crucial components to a successful relationship and marriage. According to Fincham, Hall, and Beach (2006), apologizing to your partner will validate their feelings, foster forgiveness, and allow…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling When you are your partner decide to take that next step to move in together, there is usually an initial feeling of excitement. You can’t wait to spend more time together, wake up next to each other every morning, and get to know each other on a more intimate level. While this excitement lasts for a while, every couple eventually settles into their routine and gets comfortable with their partner.…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Sometimes it is easy to jump to negative conclusions. Thoughts or statements such as, “He didn’t call me after our date, so clearly he is not interested”, “She was quiet at dinner, therefore she is obviously mad at me”, and “He knows I hate it when he gets drinks after work” are all examples of assumptions that people make every day in their relationships. However, making assumptions about those you…
Read MoreMadissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Whether you are going through a breakup, loss of a job, experiencing depressive symptoms, anxiety, or stress at home, you usually turn to those you love and care about to help you through that difficult time. However, if the challenging time seems to be lingering and you are continuously leaning on these people, you may eventually feel like you are a burden to them. You may begin feel that you…
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