Maryellen Dabal, MA, LMFT, Marriage Counselor in Southlake, 76092

Maryellen Dabal, MA, LMFT

Profession(s):
Marriage & Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Counseling
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
LMFT - 201342

My Approach to Helping

I assist couples through the many stages of the Marriage Life Cycle. I am certified in the Prepare/Enrich Pre-Marital Prep program. I am also trained as a Mental Health Communications Facilitator for the Collaborative Law Divorce Process.

My respect of your current situation and my life-long passion of helping others, together with your desire for change, will help us to uncover the strengths you need to be your best.

Life is not always easy. It doesn't come with a manual. But it usually does come with an instinct to seek help when it is needed and that instinct brought you here.

I welcome the opportunity to help you work through current issues and to look at your future with a sense of hope and purpose.

My goal is to allow you to grow and learn about yourself while also helping you tackle the issues that hold you back from being your best. I hope that I can assist you with compassion and understanding in reaching your goals through my solution-focused and positive-oriented approach to therapy.

I hold a Post-Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Masters degree in Applied Psychology, both received from Seton Hall University in 2005. My undergraduate degree is from Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ and is in the field of business. I have been married for over 20 years and I am the proud Mom of two teenage daughters.

Call today to begin the process of healing. 817-876-9958

Ask about my FREE 2 hr Marriage Check-Up session.

View my website homepage for a link to my newsletters..

More Info About My Practice

I have been counseling others for most of my teenage and adult life in many different ways. As a teenager, I was involved in my church youth program as a facilitator and motivational speaker for peer retreats. When I had children I began to help organize parent/child groups and roundtable discussions in my community to help parents get answers to many of the same questions that I had. After I had been married for several years, my husband and I volunteered, and still do, as a marriage preparatory counselor couple to help those just entering that wonderful journey. When my family lived in Indiana I decided it was about time I returned to college to follow my passion and learn how to help people in a more organized and professional manner. Three states later and with four years experience in various venues, I am happy to say that I am eager and ready to help those who seek my help through my office in Southlake.

I currently charge a fee of $110 per session which can be paid in the form of cash, check or VISA, MC or Discover Card.

My Role as a Therapist

My role as therapist is to assist you in making decisions which will help you move your life in a direction that is desirable to you. It is not my role to tell you what to do but rather to help you look at options in life, explore those options to the point where you can ultimately make the decision to choose what you feel is the best option for you.

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

Every therapist is different, just as each individual is different. When I have had clients who have been in therapy before, I ask them to educate me on what they liked and didn't like about that experience. That allows me to immediately approach them in a way that is different from that previous experience. If given a small amount of time, I can work with them to build the therapeutic relationship in a way that is comfortable for them.

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed

Someone who can reach out for support is not weak of flawed but is aware of their own feelings and limitations and seeks out support from someone who can offer them help. The younger generation is being taught in most schools that it is OK to reach out for help when it is needed. School counselors do an excellent job in letting kids know that they don't have to do everything on their own. Sometimes it is necessary to reach out to someone for support. If you are a parent, wouldn't you want your child to know they can come to you in time of need? That's what I do. I offer services to those who have a desire to reach out in time of need.

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

I have seen clients for as little as 2 or 3 sessions and as long as 2 years. It all depends on the individuals in the room. The client always determines when the counseling process is complete. I may ask clients to do another session just to wrap things up if needed but it is always their choice. I can only work with those that can be committed to the process. I make sure that clients know that in our first session. One disappointment I see is when couples especially get to a point where they are discussing some pretty tough topics and get scared about what is being experienced and they quit. I encourage them to continue through the process and know I am there to help them every step of the way and if the desire is there to work through the issue, it can be done if all parties involved are fully invested. Some clients just leave because I am not telling them what they want to hear. I take my responsibility very seriously and cannot just tell a client what they want to hear if it is not the truth.