Psychotherapy helps the person examine and change destructive premises and beliefs that lead to behaviors that are self-defeating and stand in the way of a personal goal. In individual therapy, the client will learn ways to restructure negative thoughts into more positive and successful ways of thinking. I also enjoy helping clients work through various life transitions and relationship issues. I focus on counseling the person to become aware of how his behavior affects others which in turn prevents him from developing closeness and stability in relationships. I will help you learn effective coping strategies, improve your relationships, make healthy decisions, and take positive actions to create a happy and satisfying life. Psychotherapy is a common and useful means of self-growth and self-actualization for many people. Therapy is tailored to meet your individual needs. We talk about where and who you've been but primarily focus on where you want to go and what you need to get there. It is common for me to assign homework to keep you working towards your goals outside our time together.
Individual Relationship Therapy
Is your relationship hurting, but your partner is unable or unwilling to attend therapy? Do you often find yourself feeling disconnected or misunderstood by the important people in your life? Are you experiencing difficulty in relationships with parents, family, or friends? Have you noticed that troubling experiences from childhood won’t stop interfering with your adult life?
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”— Viktor E. Frankl
Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy
In Atlanta, marriage counseling is generally provided by licensed therapists known as Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). These therapists provide the same mental health services as other Atlanta therapists, but with a specific focus on the couple’s relationship problems.
All couples go through periods of difficulty, whether due to life transitions, loss, infidelity, or simply feeling disconnected. Choosing to get help by seeing a therapist can be difficult, but it can be the first step towards creating a better relationship in couples therapy, one of the primary goals is to help couples develop healthy ways to resolve conflicts, improve communication, find compassion, nurture each other, and meet each other's needs. I provide an unbiased and supportive environment where couples can feel more comfortable sharing authentically and building emotional intimacy. I teach practical relationship skills targeted to your specific needs, and facilitate new ways of discussing problems in the relationship. which includes well-researched evaluation tools and structured sessions. During sessions, we may explore how the past influences the present which is a powerful way to gain a deeper understanding of how individuals contribute to problems in their relationships and what to do about it. Therapy can help illuminate the motivating forces behind the thinking and behaviors of loved ones so that partners can communicate with each other more effectively
Couples Therapy Approach
In doing work with couples, I employ Gottman Method Couples Therapy along with Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) and other theoretical orientations. The Gottman Method Couples Therapy is based on Dr. John Gottman’s research that began in the 1970s and continues to this day. The research has focused on what makes marriages succeed or fail. From this research, Drs. John and Julie Gottman have created a method of therapy that emphasizes a nuts-and-bolts approach to improving clients’ relationships. This method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy in your relationship and to learn to productively manage conflicts. Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples is an approach developed by Dr. Sue Johnson based on attachment theory, and it has been validated by empirical studies. This approach seeks to help couples understand the negative patterns or cycles at work in the relationship that foster distance and to work to create new communication and ways of relating to each other that deepen the connection.
Pre-Marital Counseling
I am trained and certified in PREPARE/ENRICH, an assessment, and counseling approach for couples preparing for marriage or seeking to improve their marriage. I generally recommend at least six counseling sessions for couples preparing for marriage (after the four-session assessment process described above). Note that many counties in Georgia offer a discount on the marriage license for couples who have received pre-marital counseling/education. Check with your county about requirements
"We are never so vulnerable as when we love." - Sigmund Freud
Terminal or Chronic Illness
My concern with clients diagnosed with a terminal illness is the psychological responses of patients at all stages of the disease and that of their families and caretakers. For family members of someone diagnosed with an illness, it can be very difficult to manage. They often struggle with knowing what the patient needs, how to give it to them, and how to take care of their own personal needs as well. I have found, in the past several years, that there is very little support for family members and caregivers of ill patients. I am here to give that support from a unique perspective.
"When someone has cancer, their whole family and everyone who loves them does too"
