Relationship & Dating Therapy in Chicago and across Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Florida
Relationship Counseling
Some indicators your relationship might need some work:
Lack of boundaries (i.e. saying “no” or difficulty asserting your needs)
Living in a state of resentment because you believe others should “just know” what you need
Disrespect
Emotional abuse
Manipulation or threats
Isolation from friends & family
Controlling behavior
Being overly needy or clingy
Values or morals that don't align
Difficulty being vulnerable or emotionally intimate
Attempting to change your partner
Being unable to communicate your needs
Jealousy
Gaslighting
Why relationship therapy?
Relationships are cornerstones of the human experience. We are social creatures who crave connectedness to others, and relationships provide value and meaning to our lives. Regardless of whether it's a relationship with a romantic partner, friend, family member, coworker, etc, some relationships enrich our lives and others are toxic and painful. This is when relationship therapy can be extremely useful.
Another common concern within this topic is the lack of relationships people experience. Maybe you're having difficulty maintaining friendships or it seems like everyone else is coupled up, and you're the only single one left. Maybe you keep others at arms length because you've been hurt in the past and are fearful of getting close to anyone. Whatever your concern, relationship therapy can help, as it focuses on enhancing communication skills and maintaining healthy boundaries.
How can relationship therapy help?
Clients who have engaged in relationship therapy report improved communication with others, an increase in connectedness, a decrease in conflict, greater awareness of their own needs within the context of a relationship, and the ability to get those needs met.
What is an anxious attachment style?
We all have an attachment style that originates in infancy/childhood and extends into adulthood. It begins with attachment to our parents and manifests into a healthy/unhealthy attachment style in our adult relationships. An anxious attachment style can lead to relationships that create a lot of anxiety and include:
A need for reassurance with external validation
Low self-worth and low self-esteem
Feeling criticism deeply and being reactive to comments
Acting impulsively and emotionally
A tendency to be unpredictable in your responses
Worry that your partner will cheat on you
Thinking you aren’t good enough for your partner and that they’ll meet someone better
Falling in love hard and fast (believing you’re a hopeless romantic)
Coming across as needy or in need of constant reassurance
Meet your relationship therapist
Kristen.