My Approach to Helping
My specialty is working with intimate partners.
If we work together on your relationship, I promise reliable, compassionate collaboration where I ensure each individual feels equally valued. You can take comfort in the fact that the tools I use are research-proven to heal broken bonds and make them even stronger.
I also work with individuals from elementary age to seniors often using EMDR and short-term psychotherapy and attachment methods.
How do I help relationships?
There are many reasons people seek professional help for their relationship. You may be in the early stages and recognize a need for better communication. You may need a helpful guide fostering your intention with tools you practice with my help. If an affair brings you here, know that I come from a place of non-judgment and healing. I am open to all religions, beliefs and life-styles that do not intend harm. I believe an affair or other infidelity does not need to end a relationship and that seeking my help opens the door to a new and different relationship after healing happens. Let me help you through these hard times. I believe there is a future of connection and personal growth ahead for you.
If you entrust your relationship to my care and expertise, I promise to give you each support and direction during individual sessions and within the couple work. Sometimes one or both of you have traumas that get triggered in the relationship. I can help with EMDR. I am the only EMDR therapist in the area that does couples intensives. I have a plan and a structure crafted from research that will be individualized for you.
What can you expect?
I will be active during sessions with instructions, examples, and modeling of communication skills. I will often stop and guide you to a calmer communication style. I will help you find your words and sometimes speak for you to your partner. For example, I will help you practice how to approach gently and soothe instead of agitating your partner and how to reach them through their own love language. You can become a team to manage the stress of life and ongoing disagreements.
More specifically, I use Gottman methods, EMDR and attachment theory. An on-line Gottman assessment that you both would complete speeds the process as well. If you would like more information about the research based therapy I use, click on the Gottman badge – it is a link for more information about the on-line assessment. You will both have time to speak privately and if there is a secret, I will help you share it in a way that is as safe as possible.
What is a Couples Intensive?
An intensive is a large block of time for couple therapy. Due to the complexity of working within a relationship, research dictates longer blocks of time for couples therapy. Minimally, we will plan on two hours, on up to six hours in one or two days. Those who work with me, even with the six hour intensive are pleased with the progress they make and comment on how quickly the time goes by. If you have ever been to an all day convention – these intensives are nothing like that. If you have ever been to a retreat or workshop with a variety of activities, intensives are more like those structured days. The difference is that we will be focused on your individual plan based on a lengthy assessment that you complete before we meet, your individual short session embedded in the long session and the minute to minute on-going evaluation as I observe you talking to each other within structured activities. Very rarely will you be talking directly to me during the times we three meet. I will be directing you to talk to each other in structured ways. An exception is within EMDR therapy, when one of you may be an observer. I have found treating trauma with EMDR in the couple’s setting often fosters empathy and healing of the relationship. Choosing to seek therapy and coaching for your relationship is an investment of time and money but I can think of few things that compete with its worth. No vacation, spa, massage or retreat can beat a couples intensive for moving you into the next direction for your life. Intensives offer a high return on your investment and are more effective than drawn-out weekly sessions over many months. Though I can work with you in shorter blocks of time to fit your needs, the shortest time in session would be two hours for 280.
Currently, I am offering a first short Couples Orientation for 75 dollars. For one half hour we can meet at my office so that you can be assured with very little expense, that I can provide you with the assistance that you need. During this time, I will also offer you ideas and resources. I will usually encourage you to think about it and discuss with your partner for at least 24 hours before booking a time with me to start therapy. Reach me at 775-220-8817 today!
