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Date Night

February 20, 2018

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…

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5 Tips to De-Escalate Conflict

February 15, 2018

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…

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Saying “I’m Sorry” In Your Relationship

February 11, 2018

Madissyn 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…

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Making Assumptions in Your Relationship

February 7, 2018

Madissyn 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…

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Why You Shouldn’t Snoop

February 1, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling In the age of technology and social media, it is extremely easy to check up on your partner to see who they are texting, whose photos they are “liking” on Instagram, or what they are looking at online. These behaviors are easy to turn to when you are having a hard time trusting your partner or are feeling insecure in your relationship. You may see their phone sitting on the…

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Sexless Marriage: Can My Marriage Survive?

January 24, 2018

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling There are many married couples that think their marriage can withstand anything, but can it withstand a sexless marriage? A sexless marriage is defined as a marital union in which little to no sexual activity occurs between the two partners (fewer than 10 times per year) and Newsweek magazine estimates that around 15-20% of couples fall in this category. While there tends to be a sexual drop off within the…

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7 Signs of a Financially Abusive Relationship

January 18, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, EMDR Practitioner, Symmetry Counseling Chicago Financial abuse is often a well-kept secret. Lately, more people have been speaking up and speaking out against physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in intimate relationships, yet financial abuse is rarely mentioned. Nevertheless, it does happen. When couples decide to marry or cohabitate, many choose to combine their finances. This creates the possibility that one partner could experience financial abuse. How can you tell if you are experiencing financial…

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6 Ways to Enhance Your Relationships with Nonverbal Communication

January 3, 2018

Amanda Gregory, LCPC, Symmetry Counseling Chicago Have you ever said the right words, only to be completely misunderstood? The reason might be your nonverbal communication. Here is an example: You tell your partner, “I’m really sorry. My actions have caused you to feel hurt, disappointed, angry, and betrayed. I truly understand now, and I feel horrible.” Your words communicate self-accountability and empathy for your partner. These words could be the start of a productive conversation. But what…

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How to Deal with Sexual Rejection from Your Partner

December 12, 2017

You are in a great mood and feeling confident about your body. You decide that you would like to initiate sex with your partner. However, when you reach for them and suggest you go to the bedroom, they recoil and say they aren’t in the mood. Regardless of whether they do so because they are genuinely tired or they don’t desire you for other reasons, this can be quite painful to face. You don’t want to take…

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Relationship Boredom: Should We Break Up?

November 3, 2017

At Symmetry Counseling, we are now accepting reader-submitted questions for our blog! This week, a reader writes in to ask about relationship boredom. If you are feeling bored in your relationship, does that mean you should break up? In the video above, Dr. Anne Malec answers this question. It is typical for us to hear this concern in our practice, so if you are experiencing boredom in your relationship, you aren’t alone. After being with someone for…

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