Free Initial Phone Consultation

Johns Creek, Duluth, Alpharetta

Phone:   678-717-8848

Office Address:                                 6290 Abbotts Bridge Rd,  Suite 502,  Duluth, Georgia 30097

Introduction

This page is designed to introduce me as a marriage and family therapist.  My competence in the field is based on my extensive training and field experience, as well a personal commitment to help others.  Let me emphasis, whether or not you choose me as your therapist; I will be happy to help you find the resources you need for yourself and your family. 

 Marital Counseling Philosophy

As a marriage counselor I want to help people save their marriages.  My principal goal in marriage therapy is to give individuals tools that will help them to build a successful marriage.  The tools include personal insight into why they have unresolved marital conflicts and the interpersonal skills to resolve those conflicts.  The couple will learn to build a foundation of respect, trust and commitment that will support their mutual love for each other.

The first session consists of an assessment of the couple.  This assessment includes a standard evaluation of each person, covering mental health, medical problems, social stresses and, drug and alcohol use.  Specific marital issues are examined such as money, family, work, sex, affairs, religion, conflict management and play.  An early course of treatment will be discussed in this first session.

The next few sessions I take family histories. The histories provide a deeper understanding of each individual.  I also take an extended look at the marriage from when the couple met to the present.  This completes the assessment part of the therapy.

The next part of the therapy is working on the couples communication.  I use a basic communication model that enhances the individuals ability to listen to their partner and to speak more clearly to their needs.  The issues presented by the couple are resolved through the model.  The process stops the bickering and leads to better decision making.  The improved empathy skills increase intimacy.  When the couple has mastered the model they no longer need me.

The final part of therapy is to heip couples become more loving.  We will look at how each individual expresses love and how each person would like to be loved.  the goal is to bring the couple closer together.

Premarital Counseling

In premarital counseling I help the couple understand the stresses of early marriage.  Couples begin marriage with trust, respect and commitment.  The counseling will show the couple on how to build on this foundation through self understanding and good communication.   The out come is a deeper level of love and attachment.    

Family Therapy Philosophy

As a family therapist I want to help people take care of their families.  I work with parents to better understand their children whether 5 or 25.  The older the child the greater the need for personal responsibility in caring for themselves and other family members.  I have extensive experience with behavior problems, mood disorders (depression, anxiety and bipolar), and drug and alcohol problems.  I have worked with families where one member was schizophrenic.  As part of my practice I make it a point to coordinate with psychiatrists, general practitioners and other medical professionals to insure the best treatment.  I also work with schools and churches to support the family.  Again the goal is to help people to develop the tools to better care of themselves and their families. 

Work and Education Background

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Georgia and have had a private practice for 25 years.   Before starting my practice I taught college in the area of Child and Family Development in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia.  I have three degrees in the field of Child and Family Development; BS Penn State 1972, MS Indiana University 1975, and Ph.D. University of Georgia 1988. I also have worked as a trainer for several non-profits in the Atlanta area, also in the field of Child and Family Development.  Besides assisting in behavioral research while attending the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at UGA, I also taught two semesters of Human Sexuality.