Relationship Issues Therapists in Charleston, SC

As a therapist, I deeply enjoy walking alongside individuals and couples as they pursue healing and navigate the many challenges of life. I am passionate about holistic wellness and strive to create a safe and accepting place for my clients as they seek mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. I believe that every client is beautifully and uniquely diverse, and I value the opportunity to partner with them as they pursue healing in all areas of their lives.

I've been a mental health professional and graduate school counseling professor for 30+ years, an AAPC Fellow and AAMFT Approved Supervisor.I'm licensed to supervise LPC and LMFT Interns. I was previously director of a community mental health clinic, maintained a private counseling practice with a group of family physicians and most recently have pastored a church. I have specialized training and experience in relationship therapy and in working with men, including those with character disorders. My newly published book, "Balanced Living: Don't Let Your Strength Become Your Weakness," is available online from the publisher at www.wipfandstock.com

I work from a nonjudgmental model where all are welcome. I help people that are struggling find happiness. My job is to make my job obsolete. I offer the tools to help reach goals, to heal from trauma, deal with pain, beat depression and fix relationships. I don't sell the 50 minutes a week that most therapists give you, I'm selling a practice life. It's not just the time we spend in session, it's also about the time between sessions. I have found that working this way moves the process of therapy forward and catalyzes healing.

I have been working in the field since 2009 as a Mental Health and Substance Abuse therapist with experience in many diverse populations including college campuses, inpatient & outpatient treatment centers and support groups. My specialties include: Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Issues, Self-Esteem, Life Transitions, Stress, Health/Wellness, and Substance Abuse/Dependence.

You feel like you keep repeating the same patterns over and over again. From a bird's eye view, you can understand it. You can pinpoint how the past has affected your present, but you're wondering why you can't change your issues yourself. Anxious thoughts and a rollercoaster of emotions keep you feeling out of control. You feel secure in your relationship but your self-worth doesn't match your situation. On top of that, you're still dealing with all of the extra stressors coming from balancing work, family, and your social life. Everyone else sees you as thriving but you feel like your head is barely above water.

Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed or wondering why relationships tend to feel so difficult? Do you find that you beat yourself up with self-criticism? Life can be challenging, and we may feel that we have to just keep going and suck it up, which may lead us to feel lonelier and more overwhelmed. In my experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, and previous experience as a yoga instructor I have found that the combination of mindfulness, self-awareness, and processing trauma can be quite powerful in finding our authentic selves.

I am a counselor licensed in South Carolina and Florida with over 20 years of experience working as a therapist and health coach. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, trauma and more. I am culturally sensitive and able to recognize and respect the beliefs, perspectives, and values of clients from various races, ethnicities and regions. My treatment modality is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR.

Life is a journey that is often fraught with painful or trying times. Perhaps you are presently attempting to navigate through one of these periods and have found that despite your best efforts you remain stuck. I find meaning and purpose in my work as a therapist and strive to help my clients enliven their potential and live a life that they value. I aspire to create an environment that will allow my clients to gain greater understanding/clarity, acceptance, courage, hope, balance, and serenity.

Therapy is a mutual endeavor. I believe, after 20+ years of experience, that my primary responsibility as a psychotherapist is to help you to reconnect with your own intuitive wisdom, which can get clouded by life stressors and relationship influences. Our work together will be tailored to address your unique needs, whether it be issues associated with depression, anxiety, sexuality, substance abuse, or a traumatic history; anything that creates a barrier to your best self. I also work quite effectively with couples, always looking to improve communication, as well as discovering underlying issues that can create barriers.

I am committed to helping children, adolescents and adults clarify, and remove impediments to realizing, their dreams and desires. My goal is to help you feel heard and respected. I work with you to develop your unique, effective voice. We work together to agree upon, and implement, techniques aimed at achieving your goals. When necessary, we also create, and practice, concrete strategies to advocate for your own interests, within the context of family, relationship and/or work conflict.

The couple subsystem is the very foundation to which the family system is built upon. If this foundation is weak or unstable, the family will fall apart. I believe that in order for a family to thrive, the couple must have a strong and healthy relationship. Couples work has the ability to impact other areas of therapy such as family work and work with children. The function or dysfunction of the family system is directly related to the functionality of the couple. The couple's relationship and communication style, effects their resilience or ability to work through or withstand crisis.

As a Christian counselor, I believe a person's problems and concerns can encompass their physical, mental, and spiritual health. My goal is to provide therapy that addresses a client's deeper issues and wounds not just their symptoms. I consider it important to provide a safe and supportive therapeutic environment to promote development, healing and growth. I work with depression, anxiety, PTSD & trauma recovery, marriage/pre-marital therapy and parent education. If life feels overwhelming, stressful or lonely, I would consider it a privilege to set up a consultation to offer hope and courage for your current situation.

Ready for change? Tired of being stuck in the same cycle with your children or spouse? I have a diverse background working with children and families affected by divorce and also the foster care system. This includes trauma focused care with teens and adults. Working with families that have non-straight loved ones has given me the opportunity to see relationship restoration. I offer a career full of experience working with individuals, couples and families to adjust to life transitions.

Experienced licensed therapist. Individual, couples and pre-martial counseling. Why can life be so darn difficult? Do you need someone to help unravel this question? Are you in a difficult relationship, with yourself or someone else? Is anxiety, depression, trauma, or loss taking away your chance at living a full authentic life? Family and friends can offer support but may give unhelpful advice, especially if you are dealing with relationship betrayal. A counselor can provide a confidential and nonjudgmental place where you can figure out what's keeping you awake at night. A place to help you heal and strengthen your mental health.

You thought the relationship between you and your partner would be a place that was sacred and full of love. Instead, it’s become a source of pain. You’re afraid of being completely vulnerable with your partner because the sense of safety you once felt is no longer there. You imagined your lives would be harmonious and vibrant, but the relationship has grown heavy. You’re lifting it alone. You wish your partner could see how much you need them. After all, Sue Johnson said, “To be human is to need others, and this is no flaw or weakness.”

The exquisitely personal work we do in psychotherapy is one of the most challenging, and most richly rewarding efforts we can undertake. Seeking a deeper understanding of ourselves, healing pain from past relationships and pursuing a more energetic life are essential journeys to take. It is a privilege for me to accompany clients on this journey, holding the lantern that lights the way ahead and sharing in their struggle to find an invigorated life. This relationship is the foundation of healing and healthy change; a relationship with a therapist who is genuine, respectful, resourceful, compassionate, humorous and nonjudgmental.

Taking new clients! Saturday morning availability! I work with couples who are navigating tough communication issues and individuals who struggle with relationships. I understand the strain that misunderstandings and anxiety can place on relationships. You're seeking ways to communicate better, build trust, and handle anxiety together. Your goal is to create a stronger, more understanding connection. You want to feel validated, heard, and supported, aiming to revive the closeness and intimacy you once had. You want to stop repeating yourself and finally feel understood by the one you love most.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Charleston, SC, I offer the privacy and comfort of a private practice setting, along with years of experience in the profession. Evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions are utilized for the treatment of depression, anxiety, grief and loss, life adjustment, trauma, in addition to marital and family challenges. Working with adolescents and their families is a strength though I also enjoy my work with adults and couples. Taking the first step towards seeking professional help and knowing where to go is often confusing but finding the right fit is crucial.

Many of us are overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. Beyond the normal stressors, individuals and families deal with a myriad of problems. They can easily be paralyzed by the decisions that must be made and are weighed down by strained relationships and seemingly insurmountable circumstances. The good news is that there are solutions and each person has the ability to create and/or experience change within their own lives! I am privileged to assist clients as they identify changes needed to create positive life changes, make good, solid decisions, and sustain more productive, constructive behaviors and thought patterns.