Gottman Method Therapists in Swain County, NC

Life can be full of obstacles and one wants to ensure that we do not stand in our own way of success. Are you tired of your own thoughts, moods, and behaviors stressing you out, making you depressed, increasing your anxiety, making you easily angered, and/or disturbing your sleep? If so, I would love to partner with you on your journey to overcoming these patterns that tend to be direct obstacles in feeling your best and reaching your absolute potential.

I am a Christian Counselor with a genuine belief that there is always hope. My approach is one of compassion and authenticity with a desire to meet people where they are, and walk alongside them through the challenges that they may be facing. My goal is to help one recognize the root of the struggle, develop a vision and plan for healing, and to support one through the journey of reaching one’s full potential. I work with kids, teenagers, parents adults, and couples.: specifically premarital/marital counseling, healing from a traumatic past, healthy boundaries, overcoming fear/anxiety, self confidence and lack of motivation.

I’m guided by my belief in the eternal worth and inherent wisdom of each person. Each individual is the expert of their own experience, and, within each of us, lies an immense power for self-healing. My therapeutic style can be described as warm, collaborative, and experiential. I view my role in this process as a facilitator, working alongside individuals as they reflect upon their experiences, broaden their awareness, and investigate ongoing behavioral patterns. Together, we may begin to freely explore prevailing paradigms and construct a more personalized path forward.

My work primarily focuses on anxiety related issues especially when going through a transition (break-up, career change, medical diagnosis). I work a lot with people as they adjust to life living on their own, navigating careers, and relationships. Much of the session will be focused on calming your flight or flight reaction so you can be in a better place to make decisions, set goals and respond to whatever life throws at you. I provide video and face to face sessions.

I use holistic therapy techniques to empower individuals who struggle with addiction, past trauma, and relationships to live a happy, courageous life by releasing the unhealthy or toxic patterns that keep them stuck and from discovering their true purpose.

We all come to therapy to improve our quality of life. I appreciate working with indivudals and couples that are motivated for change and insight. I have experience working with Veterans and really enjoy managing with the stressors of deployment. I also appreciate the struggle of transitioning back to civillian life and creating a new sense of balance. Being from a military family myself really helps me to understand the nuances of this process. There are so many challenges we face as humans, and I am ready to help those who show up with a desire to create a life worth living.

Happiness often feels as if it belongs to everyone else. The steps you've taken seem to only go backwards, no matter the intent. Difficult situations and regretful choices trap us in hopelessness. You feel lost even though you feel as if you've been down every path. You are ready for something to change. One thing all my clients hear me say is that “it’s easier for us to choose to be miserable and remain where we are now; however, if we choose to be uncomfortable for just a few moments, we may achieve something we thought not possible.”

I view clients as whole people in the context of their lives. You are more than a diagnosis. It's important to me to collaborate in setting goals, selecting an approach to therapy, and checking in along the way. I've worked with people from a broad range of backgrounds on anxiety, relationships, stress, depression, life transitions, and LGBTQ+ issues. I also specialize in couples counseling for smart, committed partners who want to improve communication, feel more loved, work as a team instead of against each other, or just get unstuck from an old issue or pattern.

I like to create a welcoming environment to promote healing and allow clients to process the issues that brought them to therapy. Life can be overwhelming or frustrating as we navigate the changes and challenges that come along. Therapy is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of our internal experiences, our relationships with other people and how we see ourselves in the world. Letting go of past events that still affect us can allow us the freedom to be more present to explore our values and live a rich, rewarding life. The client/therapist Relationship will be the foundation for the work that we do together.

I specialize in working with couples, individuals and parents of children of all ages, with certification in ages 0-5. I support individuals and partners preparing for and navigating pregnancy and managing the complex stress of parenting. I am highly effective at helping couples rebuild trust and heal from infidelity, affairs, addiction or other loss of trust. I believe you are the expert on yourself, your child, and your family. I will partner with you as a neutral, nonjudgmental support, lending my expertise as a holistic doctoral-level psychologist, to help find solutions, develop coping skills, and increase self awareness.

Offering Teletherapy in Most States: I primarily use IFS and behavioral treatments (ACT, DBT, CFT, RODBT) to emphasize acceptance of one's current experience, the development of skills (mindfulness, play, perspective, assertiveness, inquiry, and values), and use courage and experimentation to help promote change. I also help facilitate ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and I am strong advocate of developing the skill of compassion for oneself and others. Many of us struggle with finding a sense of being home with reality as it is, although that home is always available and may be easier to return to than assumed.

As a trained couples' and family therapist, I use a systemic approach with my clients which emphasizes the development and maintenance of healthy relationships and communication. Evidence-based practices such as cognitive-behavioral and solution focused therapies are examples of the theoretical orientations from which I work. I believe wholeheartedly that change comes from a blend of internal and external factors with a team approach between the therapist and client(s). My philosophy is not to "fix" people, but rather serve as a partner to support my clients toward defining and reaching their expressed personal values and goals.

Are you feeling alone, anxious or depressed? Unsatisfied with your career, have chronic pain or illness? Relationship stress, extended family issues? My clients tell me I'm warm, easy to talk to, and down to earth. I use a variety of treatment approaches: psychodynamic and relational, combined with CBT, EFT, and EMDR. EMDR can help almost any problem resolve more quickly because it allows the brain to make changes on a deeper level than just talking. We still talk plenty though, before, during and after EMDR. My clients find telehealth to be helpful and convenient. I see regular clients occasionally at my home office.

Max Ehrmann’s poem, Desiderata reads “you are a child of the universe and have a right to be here. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul”. The poem’s sentiment resonates with my counseling philosophy and approach. If you have been struggling with a new medical diagnosis, grieving the loss of a loved one or are overwhelmed in your role as a caretaker consider reaching out. I would be honored to assist you on your healing journey.

Parenting, Neurodiversity, Marriage and Partnership, Giftedness, ADHD, Autism and life are not always easy. Especially when those challenges combine. Regardless of your circumstances, you deserve support, confidentiality, and honesty coupled with compassion and gentle humor.

Do you take care of everyone but yourself? Do your intimate relationships, parenting, career goals, and life in general suck away your mojo? When life feels so demanding that you can't keep up, how do you find your way back to center? Maybe you're struggling not to fight with your partner or children. Maybe you're scared of "not letting anyone down." Maybe the thought of conflict makes you want to throw up. Maybe you have no idea who you are or what you want, but you're ready to explore how you got here. It's not too late to salvage your relationships— or your own sense of self and wellbeing.

I am dedicated to creating a safe space for healing and growth in your life. It is a brave thing to ask for help and work toward real change and I am willing to help you do that. I have five years of experience with group, individual, couples, and family therapy. At River of Hope Behavioral Health and Wellness Center I provide SAIOP group therapy (Matrix Model), mental health group therapy, individual, couples, and family therapy. Primary models of individual treatment are CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Brief Solution Focused therapy. Couples therapy models of treatment are Imago and Gottman Theory. Call today!

As a counseling psychologist by education, I have been blessed to provide individual, group, marital and family counseling for over 30 years in various settings including major medical centers, university counseling centers, and private practices. I prefer to work collaboratively with clients, ages 13 to adult, and assist in their development of life and relational skills to help moderate their anxiety, depression, grief, frustration or relationship distress. My clients are confronting various life transitions including job stress/dissatisfaction, mid-life confusion, betrayal, divorce, adjustment to change or loss of a loved one.

Life can be such a challenge especially if we find ourselves walking our path alone. On this journey, my hope is to help guide and provide skill training that will help you increase confidence, self-worth, and self-empowerment. I serve all ages and have specialized training to address disorders and challenges in ages 3 years old - 100+ My love and passion is supporting the health of our families. I passionately that by healing our families we heal the world.