Great Couples Counseling in Prospect Heights, IL. Therapy to heal relationships.

There are many different types of couples with whom I work - Traditional, Re-Married After Being Widowed, Step-Families, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender. Each couple and each relationship is special and unique. Therefore, the strategies we use to improve, change or dissolve/uncouple the relationship will be distinct for each pair of partners and will be based on the partners' goals.

The greatest issue with couples therapy is that most couples wait too long to seek it out. So instead of reconnecting a cart and horse that were in the same location, time now has them in different counties - sometimes different states! The challenge with couples right out of the gate is identifying the depth of the disconnect. Next is boundary setting as I'm a firm believer, no couple can gain a thing from fighting with each other in my office! My job is not to referee. My job is to help them identify what's broken in their relationship and then teach them how to fix it. Quite simply, this journey is about trust, communication and the willingness to make compromise. I'm the tour guide.

I work with couples at every stage of their relationship—whether you're just beginning, feeling distant, or navigating complex seasons of change. Together, we’ll create a safe space to slow down, truly hear one another, and uncover the deeper patterns that keep you stuck. With care and curiosity, we’ll explore the roots of disconnection and gently build new ways of relating rooted in understanding, emotional safety, and trust.

I recognize that each couple is unique, in their approach to life and to each other. I would focus on their strengths, especially as work on their problematic areas began. I encourage open communication but discourage name calling; I also encourage the use of "I feel" statements. I would be interested in their individual life histories in that the baggage we bring to relationships cannot be removed, but responses to behavior can be altered. And sometimes awareness of why an individual acts and/or feels a certain way can be quite helpful.

Infidelity. Communication. Past emotional injury. Criticism and Defensiveness. These issues are by far the most common issues in couples across demographics and locations. Yet, no two couples are the same. Each relationship interacts, relates and communicates in different ways; and each couple will heal differently. In addition, couples from the LGBTQIA, poly/nonmonogamy & kink community often face additional societal or family-related challenges that often impact the relationship. By reconnecting you emotionally, we'll work as a team to improve your communication, heal past injuries, revitalize intimacy, rebuild trust and create new pathways of love & acceptance.

Communication barriers and conflict are present in all relationships and it is most important to work through these issues together and in a way that supports growth and fosters love in relationships. In therapy I can provide techniques and a space for you to practice utilizing more effective ways to communicate that allows both people to feel heard and understood. I am available to help you work through conflicts and relationships goals in a safe space together.

Our primary focus on couple counseling is addressing conflict resolution strategies and understanding the root of the conflict to get the best approach to resolve the conflict. Our strategy is improving communication skills and deepening the relationship and interactions between partners by exploring each other’s perspectives, needs and emotions. We provide tools for enhancing interaction and managing conflicts effectively.

Relationships take work, especially when life’s stressors get in the way. Whether you’re navigating conflict, rebuilding trust, or seeking deeper connection, I help couples strengthen communication, deepen emotional intimacy, and resolve challenges with compassion. Together, we’ll build a foundation of respect and teamwork so you can grow together rather than apart.

Some of my clients call it a gift. I know it is my passion. Couples counseling is a perfect fit for me. I get energized whenever a new couple comes to see me. As a communication, relational specialist, I get to know my couples individually and as a couple by taking time to carefully listen and understand them. This allows me the opportunity to help them understand each other and where they are likely stuck in their relationship. Once I identify the negative pattern, I assist the couple in shifting the pattern into one that is mutually respectful, caring, accommodating, and enriching. As a result of my extensive couples work I am currently writing a book on respectful relationships.

Suspecting an affair? Have you just learned that your spouse wants a divorce? These are the types of crises situations that Kari Hunter specializes in. A relationship counselor for 25 years, she has worked with all types of couples to help them navigate the many difficulties that go along with love and partnership. Whether your relationship can benefit from conflict-resolution skills, communication coaching, or intimacy enrichment, don't wait until small problems become a crisis. But if you have gotten to the point of contemplating a break-up, there is a new service for that too, it is called Discernment counseling and it helps couples come to a mutual confident decision about the future.

Is your relationship ready for a tune up? Being married and raising 4 children, I know it's hard to find time for "us" during the parent rearing years, let alone if the relationship is struggling. Change can happen even if it's just by one person! I promise! Give me a jingle to see if couples counseling is right for you. Sometimes the things we can easily see are not the root cause of relationship stress. I can help you identify where the stress is coming from, and live a more fulfilling life!

What are the barriers to your individual and shared experience of life? What are the factors that can best aid you in achieving your desire for a harmonious union in your relationship. Frequently communication is a starting point that reflects individual challenges in effectively addressing emotional needs, forms of co-dependency, and long-standing ineffective habits. Working from treatment methods informed by the treatment theories of John Gottman, I seek to help clients learn to speak and interact in ways that reflect their vision for the relationship and not the unexamined habits of the past.

Home Psych Services, P.C. offers couples counseling and specializes in providing couples counseling over telehealth. This brings the counseling into your home which is where the problems originated. We use an evidence based approach and take the time to help our clients work toward solutions. We promise to be non-judgmental, compassionate, and responsive to your needs.