Why Am I Attracted to Bad Boys? 7 Relationship Patterns to Notice

June 29, 2026

Attracted To Bad Boys? Have you ever found yourself drawn to someone who seemed exciting, mysterious, emotionally hard to reach, or just a little dangerous? Maybe he was charming in the beginning but inconsistent later. […]

couple on couch using fair fighting rules for an argument

Fair Fighting Rules for Couples: 12 Therapist Tips

June 28, 2026

Every couple argues. The question is not whether conflict happens — it always does. The real question is what happens to the relationship when it does. Some couples can disagree, get heated, and still walk […]

couple sitting together while feeling emotionally distant in their relationship

7 Symptoms of Abandonment Issues You Can’t Ignore!

June 28, 2026

Most articles about abandonment issues treat them like a private flaw to fix inside one person. We want to do something different here. A fear of abandonment rarely lives in isolation — it shows up […]

Using “I” Statements in Relationships: A Therapist’s Guide

June 28, 2026

The Benefits of Using “I” Statements in Relationships As a couples and marriage therapist on the North Side of Chicago, I often meet with partners who genuinely love one another but feel stuck in the […]

7 Ways Couples Therapy Helps Relationships

June 27, 2026

A lot of people assume couples therapy is something you only reach for when a relationship is falling apart. In reality, most couples who come in aren’t in crisis at all. They’re simply tired of […]

Decoding “I’m Fine”: The Art of Effective Emotional Transparency in Relationships

June 20, 2026

The word “fine” might be the most deceptive word in the English language, especially when uttered within a close relationship. When your partner asks, “What’s wrong?” and you respond with a curt, flat, and ultimately […]

Before You Say ‘I Do’: Essential Premarital Counseling Topics for Couples

June 1, 2026

Getting engaged is one of life’s most exciting milestones. Between choosing venues, sampling cakes, and finalizing guest lists, it’s easy to focus entirely on planning the wedding day. But what about planning for the marriage […]

woman looking out window after breaking up in Chicago and thinking about therapy with couples counseling chicago

7 Stages of a Breakup: A Guide To Healing

May 27, 2026

Breakups don’t follow a straight line. One morning you wake up and feel completely fine — almost suspiciously fine — and by that evening you’re crying into leftovers you can’t even taste. The next week […]

triangulation in relationships calm anxiety clinic

Triangulation in Relationships: A Couples Therapy Guide

May 21, 2026

What Is Triangulation in Relationships — and Is It Destroying Your Couple? There’s a pattern that quietly shows up in struggling relationships, and most couples don’t even have a name for it. They just know […]

CBT Couples therapy at Couples Counseling Chicago, IL

What is CBT Marriage Therapy?

May 2, 2026

What Is CBT Marriage Therapy? When couples face challenges in their relationship, finding the right therapeutic approach can make all the difference. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for couples has emerged as one of the most […]

chronic lying relationships couples therapy

My Partner Won’t Stop Lying: Chronic Lying and Emotional Trauma

April 13, 2026

You’ve caught them in another lie. Maybe it was small — a story that didn’t add up, a detail that changed in the retelling. Or maybe it was big: a secret that unraveled weeks or […]

The Mind Reader’s Trap: Why Assumptions Damage Relationships

April 10, 2026

By: Alexandra DeWoskin, LCSW The Role of Assumptions in Relationships In my work with individuals and couples as a counselor in Chicago, the issue of assumptions surfaces frequently. I define assumptions as nothing more than […]

Relationship Resources for Couples