Symmetry Counseling

What It Is

Symmetry Counseling is an in-person and online therapy practice founded and run by Dr. Anne Brennan Malec, a licensed clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist. The service operates physical offices in Chicago and Phoenix while offering licensed online therapy in five additional states: North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington DC. The company works with individuals, couples, and families on a broad range of mental health concerns, from anxiety and depression to relationship problems and trauma. The practice emphasizes matching each client with a therapist whose approach fits their needs rather than applying a single therapeutic method to everyone.

How Therapy Works

Symmetry Counseling offers both in-person and video sessions. Clients can meet at the Chicago or Phoenix offices, or connect remotely from any of the six states the practice serves online. Many people use both formats as their schedule changes, mixing in-person visits with video appointments. When starting, you have two options: browse the practice's therapist directory and choose your own counselor directly, or tell Symmetry what you're facing and let the practice suggest good matches based on your specific situation and needs.

The practice works with a range of conditions and life situations. Individual therapy addresses anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, bipolar disorder, OCD, stress, anger management, ADHD, alcohol and drug problems, eating disorders, body image issues, emotional maturity, and self-esteem. For relationship and family matters, the service covers couples counseling, premarital counseling, divorce counseling, family counseling, parenting and parent-child conflict, sibling conflict, infidelity counseling, sex therapy, and friendship counseling. Beyond the standard categories, Symmetry also offers life coaching, financial therapy, and discernment counseling (a structured approach for couples considering separation or divorce).

Therapists at Symmetry draw on several evidence-based methods depending on what works for each person. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), emotionally focused therapy (EFT), psychodynamic therapy, narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and attachment-based therapy. The company's site states that therapists "work in the way that fits the person in front of them rather than applying a single method to everyone," which means a client seeing an anxiety specialist might receive CBT, while another addressing trauma could work with EMDR.

The practice includes LGBTQ+ affirming counseling, with therapists specifically trained to work with that community. For psychiatry and medication management, Symmetry offers psychiatric medication management in Illinois. All therapists are licensed clinicians, meeting state licensing requirements for their jurisdiction. The service also mentions psychiatric medication management, though the primary focus is psychological therapy.

What the Site Proves

Symmetry Counseling accepts insurance from major national carriers, with coverage varying by location. In Illinois, the practice works with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Arizona clients can use Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. North Carolina's network includes Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. In Texas, Virginia, and Washington DC, Symmetry accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. The company states on its site: "We work with many major insurance providers so getting started is easier."

The practice was founded by Dr. Anne Brennan Malec, who is also a published author. Her book, "Marriage in Modern Life," draws on her clinical experience and offers couples practical tools for building lasting relationships. The site notes the book is available on Amazon and described as "a grounded and compassionate guide to the work that great marriages require."

Symmetry Counseling does not publish session fees or pricing tiers on its main page. The site does not specify whether it's an employee-based practice or a network of independent therapists, though the language "our therapists" and "our counselors" suggests it operates as an organized group.

The practice serves clients across a six-state region and two major metropolitan areas. Online coverage extends to North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, plus Arizona and Illinois. The site indicates therapists are available for virtual consultation and appointment scheduling is readily available by phone at +1-888-661-2742 or through the website.

What Isn't Clear

The site does not disclose pricing, session fees, or whether costs vary by therapist experience or specific treatment modality. There is no information about sliding-scale fees, payment plans, or how the practice handles out-of-pocket expenses for uninsured or underinsured clients.

The practice's site does not specify average wait times for new client appointments or how quickly someone can be matched with a therapist. It's unclear whether the practice accepts clients at any point in the year or if intake is seasonal.

Details about cancellation policy, session length, frequency of appointments, and whether the practice requires a commitment to a certain number of sessions are absent from the visible pages. The site also does not break down which specific therapists specialize in which modalities, so while CBT and EMDR are offered, you cannot see which therapist trained in which approach before your first consultation or initial intake call.

For medication management, the site limits this service to Illinois clients and does not detail which psychiatric conditions the practice prescribes for or which medications are available through that channel.

Who It Fits

Symmetry works well for people already located in or willing to travel to Chicago or Phoenix for in-person therapy, as well as remote clients in the five online-service states (North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, and Arizona). It's a good fit for people with employer or major insurance coverage, since Symmetry participates in the national carriers most employers use.

The practice suits individuals, couples, and families seeking evidence-based methods. Someone looking specifically for CBT, DBT, EMDR, or EFT will find trained therapists here. LGBTQ+ clients have explicit mention of affirming therapy. People in Illinois needing psychiatric medication management alongside therapy have that option as well.

Symmetry is less straightforward for uninsured or self-pay clients since the site does not publish rates. It may not be accessible for people outside the six-state service area or without internet access for video sessions. Those needing immediate crisis support or urgent same-week appointments should confirm availability before assuming the practice can accommodate rush requests.