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Marriage Counseling Chicago

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Marriage in Modern Life: Putting in the Effort

June 24, 2017

By: Alexa Ehrlich If so many people crave a happy partnered relationship, why do so many struggle to maintain the relationship for a lifetime? According to Dr. Anne Brennan Malec in her book Marriage in Modern Life, “When infatuation inevitably diminishes and real life intrudes, your partner must remain a priority, or you will eventually run into trouble.” A relationship will not always be so effortless; this is often a false impression most partners make. Most relationship success…

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Keys to a Successful Marriage: 8 Tips

June 16, 2017

In the July issue of Chicago Woman magazine, Symmetry Counseling founder and author of Marriage in Modern Life, Dr. Anne Brennan Malec offers a concise list of “Keys to a Successful Marriage.”  This advice comes from her years of professional training and practice as a marriage and family therapist, as well as from her own personal observations and experiences.   What follows are some suggestions for how to implement her useful advice. By: Dr. Anne Brennan Malec KEYS…

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When is “Close” Too Close?

June 6, 2017

Over the years, our culture has placed more and more emphasis on romantic love.  Relationships and marriages used to occur out of convenience and obligation. As the times have changed for the better, marriages have become more about building a relationship with someone who you have chosen to be “your person.” Therefore, our society has placed more emphasis and meaning on romantic love, meaning romance and love are seen as the keys to a lasting relationship. We…

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Common Communication Issues Seen in Couples Therapy

May 20, 2017

As a marriage and family therapist, a question I often get asked is, “What is the most common issue you see in couples and marriage counseling sessions?” The answer, without a doubt, is communication issues. Couple after couple attend couples therapy and report that they have trouble communicating. Marriage and family therapists see common communication issues among couples that are the result of unhealthy and detrimental patterns and cycles, generally stemming from avoiding conflict or having trouble…

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The Case for Scheduling “Us Time”

April 25, 2017

By Maggie Reynolds, LCPC Many therapists recommend that couples schedule regular check-ins and time together to talk through issues in the relationship. Sometimes it is merely a suggestion, and sometimes it is assigned homework stemming from relationship or marriage counseling sessions. Either way, emphasis is put on scheduling concrete time, rather than leaving it as a vague, open-ended invitation. This time, referred to here as “us time,” differs from “quality time” in that there is an emphasis on addressing problems…

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Before You Tie The Knot: 5 Topics to Address Before Marriage

April 22, 2017

By Andrew McNaughton LCSW, CADC “What should we expect?” There is no simple or direct answer to that question. Marriage expectations are highly subjective and based on the needs and beliefs of the individuals comprising the couple. Marriage is almost never easy, but seeing the relationship as an evolving process can set reasonable expectations. Starting the process of communicating important issues now is far better than winging it down the line. Some of the most common topics…

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