At Konick and Associates, our therapists are dedicated to helping you build strong, healthy relationships. Our couples therapists use a compassionate and evidence-based method to help you and your partner overcome challenges and connect more deeply.

  • Naperville Relationship Counseling
  • Naperville Couples Therapy
  • Naperville Couples Counseling

Our Approach

We know every relationship is unique and aim to create a safe space where each partner feels valued. Our therapists provide a non-judgmental setting where you can openly discuss your concerns. We teach couples effective communication, conflict-resolution skills, and ways to enhance emotional closeness. Our therapists don’t take sides or blame anyone; instead, we help couples explore their issues, identify underlying concerns, and find positive solutions.

Starting therapy can be intimidating, but we aim to help you build the relationship you want.

We also understand that not all relationships can be fixed through counseling. In these cases, our therapists offer support and guidance as couples go through separation and divorce. We help families communicate in healthy ways to reduce conflict and aim to create a positive partnership during this transition.

Our Services

  • Couples Counseling: Our experienced therapists offer individualized counseling sessions for couples seeking support with issues such as communication breakdown, trust issues, infidelity, intimacy issues, and more.
  • Pre-marital Counseling: Prepare for a strong and resilient marriage with our pre-marital counseling program. We help couples navigate important topics such as finances, family dynamics, and conflict resolution before tying the knot.
  • Relationship Enrichment: Strengthen your relationship and foster deeper connection with our relationship enrichment strategies. Learn practical skills to enhance communication, rebuild trust, and reignite passion.
  • LGBTQ+ Relationship Support: We understand the nuances of minority stress that impact the LGBTQ+ population. Relationships can often be more challenging when individuals have been through various forms of oppression and may not have family support. Our therapists are here to provide systemic care to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ population. 
  • Consensually Non-Monogamous (CNM) Counseling: There are many options for relationship styles, and we strive to support every individual’s needs for their preferred relationship style. We offer support with open communication, setting boundaries, exploring your type of CNM relationship, implementing consensual practices, and developing secure attachments.
  • Coparenting Support: Parenthood brings immense joy and fulfillment, but it can also introduce new challenges to a relationship. We understand the importance of effective coparenting in maintaining a healthy family dynamic, even in the face of separation or divorce. Our therapists offer specialized support for coparenting couples, helping them navigate this new chapter with compassion, communication, and collaboration.

Common Reasons Couples Seek Treatment

  • Communication Issues: Misunderstandings, lack of effective communication, and frequent arguments.
  • Infidelity: Rebuilding connection and navigating the aftermath of a breach in trust.
  • Intimacy Issues: Difficulty connecting emotionally or physically, loss of passion, or mismatched libido.
  • Parenting Challenges: Differences in parenting styles, conflicts over discipline, or managing blended families.
  • Life Transitions: Adjusting to major life changes such as relocation, career changes, or becoming empty nesters.
  • Contemplating Divorce or Separation: Contemplating divorce or separation can evoke a whirlwind of emotions, including confusion, guilt, anger, and sadness.

What to Expect in Couples Therapy

  1. Initial Assessment: Your journey with us begins with an initial assessment session, where each partner will meet with one of our therapists to discuss their concerns, goals, and expectations for therapy. This session allows us to gather important information about your relationship and tailor our approach to meet your specific needs.
  2. Exploration of Issues: In subsequent sessions, we will explore the issues affecting your relationship in depth. This may involve examining communication patterns, addressing conflicts, exploring underlying emotions, and identifying areas for growth and change.
  3. Skill Building: Throughout therapy, we will teach each partner practical skills and techniques to improve communication, manage conflicts, and strengthen your bond. These skills are designed to empower you to navigate challenges both during and after therapy.
  4. Homework Assignments: Outside of therapy sessions, you may be asked to complete homework assignments to reinforce learning and practice new skills. These assignments are tailored to your specific goals and may include exercises, journaling, or other activities to promote reflection and growth.
  5. Progress Monitoring: As therapy progresses, we will regularly assess your progress and adjust our approach as needed. Our goal is to ensure that you feel supported and empowered to make positive changes in your relationship.
  6. Resolution and Closure: Ultimately, our aim is to help you achieve resolution and closure on the issues that brought you to therapy. Whether you’re seeking to overcome specific challenges, strengthen your connection, or simply improve communication, we are here to support you every step of the way.

Research-Based Techniques

Our therapists are trained in evidence-based approaches to couples therapy, including:

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): EFT is a leading approach to couples therapy that draws heavily on attachment theory. By helping couples identify and reshape negative interaction patterns, EFT fosters greater emotional engagement and intimacy, leading to more secure attachment bonds.
  • Gottman Method: Based on over 40 years of research, the Gottman Method helps couples strengthen their relationship by enhancing friendship, managing conflict constructively, and creating shared meaning.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT techniques can help couples identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, improve communication, and develop healthier coping strategies.
  • Experiential Couples Therapy (ECT): ECT focuses on the emotions and experiences of each partner within the relationship. It emphasizes creating a safe environment where couples can explore their feelings, vulnerabilities, and relational patterns. In ECT, the therapist acts as a facilitator, guiding the couple through interactive exercises designed to promote empathy, understanding, and effective communication.

In addition to our general approach to couples therapy, we may incorporate specialized techniques, such as:

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT techniques can help couples learn mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills to navigate intense emotions and conflicts more effectively.
  • Assertiveness Training: Learning assertive communication skills can empower couples to express their needs, set boundaries, and resolve conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner.
  • Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices: Mindfulness and self-compassion practices can help couples cultivate greater awareness of their own emotions and attachment needs, as well as develop empathy and compassion for their partner’s experiences.

Our Commitment to You

The therapists at Konick and Associates are dedicated to helping couples overcome obstacles and build stronger, more fulfilling relationships. Our therapists approach each couple with compassion, empathy, and a commitment to helping them achieve their goals. Whether you’re seeking to overcome challenges, strengthen your bond, or simply enrich your relationship, our therapists are here to support you every step of the way.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a happier, healthier relationship.