Media Mentions

Small issues that can become big problems in marriage

In this Fatherly article, Emily Klear, director of Couple Services at The Family Institute, addresses eight seemingly small and insignificant problems that couples need to discuss before they become major issues. Sex, imbalances in household management and finances are three of the big ones. Read More

Navigating different values and beliefs within your family

Having different values and beliefs doesn’t mean you have to cut ties, though. Dr. Jacob Goldsmith, clinical director of the Psychotherapy Change Project at The Family Institute, has advice that can help you and your family navigate your potential political, religious, and lifestyle divides. Read More

4 Ways to Navigate Different Values and Beliefs Within Your Family

Religion and politics can be touchy subjects with family members. Jacob Goldsmith, Ph.D., LCP, director of the emerging adults program, clinical lecturer and psychologist, explains 4 tips for navigating tricky topics with family members to Brit + Co. Read Article Read More

How to set healthy boundaries in a relationship

In reality, well-defined — and respected — boundaries can lay the groundwork for a healthy relationship, says Erika Lawrence, Ph.D., director of translational science at The F Read More

Dr. Alexandra Solomon quoted in The New York Times

At some point most parents feel as if their teenager is acting in ways to intentionally make them angry. But experts say that the interaction is often more about the way the parent responds than about the teenager’s behavior. Read More

Dr. Anthony Chambers gives advice to retired couples

In this piece on Considerable, Anthony Chambers, Ph.D., chief academic officer at The Family Institute, discusses how couples can navigate their married life when both spouses transition into retirement.  Read More

Signs of a controlling partner

It’s not always easy to distinguish true love from a controlling relationship. In fact, “a lot of signs of a controlling partner can be highly romanticised in the beginning of the relationship,” says Heather Lofton, Ph.D., a therapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Read this article for warning signs to be aware of and what to do about them. Read More

What psychologists do to overcome their “crappiest” days

Everyone has bad days sometimes. That even includes people trained to help others manage their own bad days (and mental health in general). Read this article on Self.com for insights into how psychologists get through a crappy day, including tips from Nancy Burgoyne, Ph.D., chief clinical officer at The Family Institute. Read article Read More

Signs that you’re in a controlling relationship

"A lot of signs of a controlling partner can be highly romanticized in the beginning of the relationship," says Heather Lofton, Ph.D., therapist at The Family Institute, "one of my biggest concerns is how gray some of these things can be until you're a year into a relationship, which can be difficult to sort through and leave." Read More

Mental health tips for women from The Family Institute’s female therapists

“This year’s campaign theme for International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter and individuals are pulling together to promote a gender-balanced world, including the phenomenal female therapists at The Family Institute at Northwestern University who hope to spread awareness about the importance of women's mental health,” writes Women.com Community Writer Connie Liou.  Read More

How marriage impacts couples’ mental and physical health

“The marriage benefit describes the fact that married adults live longer, rate their health better and report fewer chronic conditions and functional limitations compared to their non-married counterparts. And, this is specific to marriage,” says Tamara Goldman Sher, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist and former core faculty member of the Marriage and Family Therapy program. Read More

When rumination is and is not healthy

According to Jacob Goldsmith, Ph.D., thinking about embarrassing moments in the past is a normal part of how we function. It actually helps us identify opportunities for self-improvement and change our behaviors.  But this habit becomes problematic when it's all-consuming and is “part of a pervasive pattern of negative thoughts about self, [and] anxiety about the past or future. Or, when it causes significant distress and interferes with day-to-day life,” says Dr. Goldsmith… Read More