Couples Counseling or Marital Therapy

Pre-Marital Therapy

Jill believes that in order for a couple to have a good relationship, it takes two whole happy people coming together to share their happiness. Two halves coming together do not make a happy, content whole. Two halves coming together usually means two people depending too much on each other with overly high expectations. Two halves coming together often means one or both people think he or she is supposed to make the other person happy. However it is each individual’s responsibility to make himself or herself happy.

In couples counseling sessions you will:

1. Learn helpful ways to discuss sensitive issues.

2. Learn how to identify and reduce day to day tensions before they escalate into problems.

3. Learn how to say what you think, feel, and want without blaming or attacking.

4. Discover ways of expressing care and affection.

5. Gain new appreciation for your partner and your relationship.

If you would like to read more about how to improve your relationship, books by the following authors may interest you:

John Gray
Harville Hendrix
Gary Chapman
Deborah Tannen
Janet Woititz

Credentials

In 1990 Jill obtained her license in clinical social work and also her license in marital and family therapy. Jill also became a Clinical Member of the AAMFT in 1990. Jill is a Certified Imago Marital Therapist.
American Association for Marriage And Family Therapy (AAMFT)

To be a Clinical member of AAMFT means that the therapist met rigorous standards for education and training and is held to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Clinical membership first requires a qualifying graduate degree from an accredited educational institution and two years post-degree supervised clinical experience in marriage and family therapy. All post masters client contact hours must be supervised by an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. At least 200 hours of supervision completed concurrently with a minimum of 1,000 hours of marriage and family therapy conducted in face to face contact with individuals, couples and families are required. A minimum of 100 of the 200 hours of supervision must be individual supervision.

Individual supervision is face to face with one supervisor and one or two supervisees. This means the couple or family has agreed ahead of time to have the session in a room with a two way mirror with more therapists behind the mirror. The therapist sitting with the couple or family is wearing a receiver in her ear so she can receive live supervision that will not disrupt the session.

The remaining 100 hours of supervision may be group supervision. Group supervision may consist of no more than six supervisees, regardless of the number of supervisors. After the session the therapist and supervisor meet for one hour. This learning process is sustained and intense. Appointments are once or twice per week. Marital and family therapy supervision is normally completed over a period of one to three years. Usually the supervision experience includes at least two supervisors with diverse family therapy theoretical orientations.

For more information on AAMFT go to www.therapistlocator.net.

 

Call Jill for an appointment or for more information at
(704)-522-0291

Hours: Mon - Fri
Late mornings, afternoons,
and early evenings

Click here to go to Mapquest for a map or driving directions to the office.