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ABOUT ME – Constructive Strategies for Rational Living, LLC

About

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My Philosophy and Approach to Therapy

I believe the key to successful therapy is the therapeutic relationship and feeling comfortable with your therapist. I provide a safe environment for you to explore thoughts and emotions. I realize that starting therapy can feel intimidating and I place the highest priority on creating a caring, safe and confidential environment for you to discuss your thoughts and feelings. I view psychotherapy as a collaborative and interactive effort between myself and those I see in treatment.

Working together as a team, I help clients discover and challenge old patterns and beliefs that stand in the way of personal goals. It has been my experience that when individuals recognize that they are not alone in solving their concerns, they find the willingness to challenge themselves in new ways. I welcome the opportunity to guide others toward improving their emotional functioning and enhancing the quality of their lives. I enjoy watching people discover the power they have in their own lives to create meaningful change, and I am inspired by seeing my clients heal through the therapy process.

My style is supportive and caring, but also practical and action-oriented. My therapeutic approach is eclectic because there is more than one way to achieve your goals. This means that rather than focus on one therapeutic technique in which I use on all of my clientele, I am well versed in the best techniques from several different therapeutic modalities and apply them accordingly. I approach working with clients by helping them identify the specific problem areas they want to address and developing short and long term goals and strategies to cope with these difficulties. In order to achieve this endeavor, I draw from a number of therapeutic modalities including: cognitive behavioral, family systems, and insight oriented psychotherapy. Over many years of practice, I have developed a deep respect for my clients and the courage it takes them to make difficult, but rewarding, changes in their lives, I believe that one of the important outcomes of psychotherapy and personal growth is learning the skills of self-actualization and healthy communication in order to sustain honest and meaningful relationships.

Please explore my website to learn more about my practice and approach. I invite you to contact me for a confidential, free phone consultation to get a beginning sense of what I offer as a therapist.

We Must Be Willing to Let Go of the Life we have Planned so as to Have the Life that is Waiting for Us

Education and Experience

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Georgia. After moving to Georgia from California where I received my Master's Degree, I worked as an independent contractor at PACT Atlanta, LLC, a large psychiatric practice affiliated with Emory Decatur Hospital, for many years. While there I treated a wide range of behavioral health issues including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders, trauma and stress related disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, schizophrenia, chronic illness, pain and related issues, relationship issues, couples and marriage therapy, sexual dysfunctions and family relationship issues. I then worked with a group of knowledgeable psychologists in North Atlanta on Powers Ferry Road before I began my private practice in the Brookhaven-Buckhead area.

I am a Clinical Member of the Georgia Association of Marriage and Family Therapists as well as a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

My professional affiliations include The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Fellow; The Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (GAMFT) Clinical Member; The International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), and The Atlanta Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (ACEFT)

I attend professional workshops and education courses on a regular basis to stay informed on the most effective methods of therapy. I am trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Level 1 Gottman Method Couples Therapy and I extensively use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) as my main modality in couples therapy. I use an eclectic array of techniques in individual therapy with my primary focus being on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment Theory. Please visit my Practice Areas page for more information.

I have been practicing for 15 years in the Atlanta area. My focus and passion is working with couples and individuals on their relationships. I have had extensive experience for the past 11 years working with people diagnosed with terminal illness as well as their family members, other support systems.

I received my Master's Degree in Psychology from Chapman University in Orange, California in 1997.

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 1992.

Patti Lyons, LMFT

Address:

57 Executive Park South NE Atlanta, GA 30329 Suite 360