Marriage Therapy in Chicago
Feeling lonely in your marriage? Resentful of your spouse? Sara is a Chicago couples therapist and serves all marriages, including traditional and non-traditional unions.
Clients come to marriage therapy for current issues and/or prevention of future issues with their spouse. This can be done at any stage in the relationship, including at the beginning of a relationship to foster healthy communication, all the way to a 30+ year marriage in need of a complete restart!
What is Marriage Therapy?
Marriage therapy, sometimes referred to as marriage counseling, is a form of couples therapy for those who are married and are looking to improve the connection with their spouse! Much like couples therapy, marriage therapy can help with many presenting concerns such as communication issues, managing conflict, revitalizing the friendship, and more!
Sara provides a safe space in therapy for married couples to process past resentments, learn how to compromise, and address any other issues that have been a sticking point in the relationship. Her therapeutic environment fosters open communication, allowing both partners to share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. Not only will spouses be able to express themselves to their partners in this nurturing space, but they will also learn the skills necessary to take the process home with them and implement changes in their daily interactions. Throughout the sessions, which are carefully tailored and goal-oriented, the main objective is to equip both partners with effective strategies for enhancing their connection and understanding. By the end of the therapy, ideally both individuals will walk away with newfound insights and a commitment to changing the way they interact with each other, fostering a healthier and more fulfilling relationship moving forward.
Reach out to Sara to get started today!
New Parenthood
Recently started a family with your partner and experiencing relationship distress? Feel distant from your partner when it’s no longer just the two of you? Starting a family and becoming parents for the first time can provide many joys, ups and downs, and new presenting relationship dynamics that were not apparent before.
During this time your identity as a couple changes, as your love expands to more than your spouse or significant other. Roles and responsibilities at home and in the relationship change. During this time in your relationship past resentments or unresolved conflict can resurface, and due to the demands of a family, there can be less quality time as a couple to communicate about important matters. Relationship therapy can help with this changing dynamic and work to restore balance in your union!
Infidelity in Marriage
Struggling to work through infidelity and needing help with your marriage? Experiencing infidelity in a marriage can be an emotionally challenging time. However, seeking support is a crucial first step toward healing, if both partners are wanting to stay in the marriage. Marriage therapy or counseling for infidelity can be incredibly helpful with post-affair relationship recovery, providing a safe space for both partners to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs. Through guided conversations and tailored strategies, couples can learn how to rebuild trust, foster open communication, and re-establish a meaningful connection. Engaging in this process not only addresses the underlying issues that were present before infidelity, but also empowers both individuals to create a stronger, more resilient marriage moving forward. Although Sara does not engage in victim-blaming, this process requires couples to identify unhealthy patterns in the relationship that were present during the time of the infidelity.
Your marriage does not have to end with a betrayal! It is possible to work through infidelity in a marriage and come out on top as a united front. Research shows that couples can actually achieve a stronger bond after successfully working through infidelity than was ever there before. Therapy provides a step-by-step plan towards healing the marriage.
See Sara’s blog post below for more information on the steps for recovery!
In-Law Issues?
In any relationship, partners can feel isolated when it appears that their spouse is taking the opinions from the side of their own family, leading to a sense of disconnect that can be challenging to overcome. Sometimes it may seem like there are voices in the relationship that aren’t their own, creating confusion and tension between partners. As each individual navigates their family dynamics, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain a united front, especially when external opinions begin to seep into private matters. Relationship therapy can help partners navigate the in-law dynamics, providing a safe space to express feelings and concerns. This process encourages couples to build a solid foundation based on trust and mutual respect, enabling them to create healthier boundaries with family members and ultimately strengthen their partnership.
Note: You may refer to the term “in-law” to include members of your families “of choice”. This term has evolved to encompass those we consider family beyond mere blood relations, recognizing that the bonds we form through friendship, shared experiences, and mutual support can be just as significant, if not more so, than those of biological ties. Some may choose to use this term when they are not currently communicating or associating with their biological family. Thus, highlighting the importance of chosen relationships in providing emotional support and a sense of belonging in one’s life. In this way, the label of “in-law” can serve as a bridge connecting different facets of our lives, allowing us to affirm the value of our chosen connections.
Infertility
Experiencing the frustrating process of infertility? Infertility can lead to relationship difficulties and has an impact on the individual emotional wellbeing of all involved. It can involve financial strain, feelings of loneliness, and higher levels of conflict in the relationship, as couples often navigate the complexities of treatments, appointments, and expectations together. The emotional toll can be exacerbated by societal pressures and the well-meaning but sometimes insensitive questions from friends and family. The constant cycle of hope and disappointment can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and isolation. This shared experience, though challenging, can also be an opportunity for couples to deepen their connection and mutual support if they remain open and communicative amidst the pain.
Infertility as Reproductive Trauma
Infertility is a form of reproductive trauma that deeply affects the emotional and psychological well-being of partners. Couples and individuals can experience various triggers, flashbacks, and other symptoms associated, which lead to significant stress and anxiety. If partners are not coming together in solidarity during this time, it can lead to isolation and unintentional emotional abandonment.
Along with trauma, couples often navigate complex emotions of grief and loss associated with the process. Dealing with the loss of a miscarriage can bring on an extra set of emotions that a couple can never be fully prepared for. This often leaves partners alone to cope with grief and heartache all while trying to maintain their partnership. One of the biggest challenges is that each partner can be at different stages of grief or loss, which becomes difficult to know how to support one another in a diverse set of feelings. In addition, couples mourn not only the potential children that may never come, but also the dreams and plans they had envisioned for their future family. This journey is marked by a profound sense of longing, as partners may cope with their emotions differently. Therapy can be valuable in helping couples heal and find ways to move forward during this challenging time.
Sara is a Chicago marriage counselor that helps spouses going through infertility. Marriage therapy can help couples to better understand and support one another through this difficult time.
Couples Therapy or Divorce?
Are you contemplating if you and your spouse should start couples therapy vs breaking up? It’s not an easy decision, and many couples find themselves in similar spaces. Tip: Look at what your goals are for your relationship together. Are you striving for better communication, deeper connection, or a more fulfilling partnership? Understanding these objectives can help you evaluate the current state of your relationship. Does the relationship seem worth salvaging? If so, why not see what the couples therapy benefits are for your relationship! Taking the step towards therapy might just be the key to rediscovering the love and harmony you once shared.
Marriage Counseling Chicago
Looking for a marriage counselor in Chicago? Sara is a marriage specialist in Chicago that serves all relationship styles including married and traditional unions. Relationship conflict is difficult for the entire family system, so why not help your relationship today!
Not sure what to talk about with a marriage counselor? Reach out to Sara today to identify what you want to work on in your relationship with your spouse.
Check out Sara’s verified status on Psychology Today!
Confluent Relationship Therapy, PLLC
Relationship & Couples Therapy in Chicago
213 W Institute Place, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60610 | 312-620-9075 | info@confluentrelationshiptherapy.com
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