Live Better. Love Better. Work Better.

Grief

Categories

How Practicing Mindfulness Can Improve Your Relationship

September 25, 2017

Therapists often use “mindfulness” as a technique to teach clients how to be more present-focused and ultimately learn to be more attuned to one’s thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. Mindfulness is not a new concept; in fact, it has been around for centuries and is commonly associated with Buddhism and meditation. Studies tell us that practicing mindfulness can decrease the negative effects of stress; reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety; and can improve sleep, mood,…

Read More

Are You Speaking Your Partner’s Love Language?

August 30, 2017

Madissyn Fredericks, Licensed Professional Counselor, Symmetry Counseling Every person wants to feel loved by their partner, and at the same time, wants their partner to feel loved by them. When this is not the case, one partner may feel unloved or misunderstood. We all express and feel love differently, and understanding those differences can help enhance your relationship. Dr. Gary Chapman discovered five ways to express or receive love in his book, The Five Love Languages: The…

Read More

Communication Strategies to Make Your Relationship Thrive

August 10, 2017

By: Anne Brennan Malec, PsyD, LMFT Couples within a relationship are always communicating, even with nonverbal interactions when one or the other may be engaging in the silent treatment. Communication is the oxygen in a relationship – without it, the relationship dies. A common complaint expressed during relationship or marriage counseling is that couples try to talk but have difficulty because the conversation escalates into forms of frustration and disrespect. There are multiple avenues to resolving this…

Read More

A Relationship for the 21st Century

July 4, 2017

By: Anne Brennan Malec, PsyD, LMFT Do you want to have a relationship style that meets the needs of the 21st-century family?  This is a style that is mutually beneficial and emotionally rewarding. This is a relationship in which responsibility, accountability, and decision-making are shared. Marriage counseling can help, if your relationship is not where you’d like it to be. In order to achieve this, with or without the help of a counselor, you should try to…

Read More

3 Ways to Keep the Spark Alive in a Relationship

July 1, 2017

It probably comes as no surprise that many couples have difficulty keeping their “spark” alive throughout their relationship.  As time goes on, the “infatuation stage” wears off anywhere from six months to two years in, and often, desire decreases and stressors increase as a couple has children, more financial stressors, and more professional stressors that may lead them to feel the need for marriage counseling.  However, some couples seem to maintain their intimacy and desire over time,…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More