Vanessa Neuhaus, MS, LMFT, LIMHP   

Couples Therapy

Our therapists are specially trained in working with couples and treat the relationship, not two individuals, as their client.  Whether you are looking to enrich your marriage, learn how to better problem solve, increase communication with your partner, or regain connection after a breach of trust , couples therapy can be a benefit to your relationship.

Family Therapy

Effective family therapy requires the care of a skilled clinican trained specifically in this form of treatment.  Our therapists receive supervision and training in balancing the multitude of stressors, personal dynamics, and needs that various members of a family can bring to the table.  Family therapy is especially beneficial when parents are struggling to identify and connect with their children, or when younger children are experiencing behavioral or emotional struggles.

Individual Therapy

It's a misnomer that Marriage and Family Therapists ONLY work with married couples and families.  The training and clinical experience that help them to be effective with these groups help to inform their ability to be incredibly effective with individuals as well.  When seeing an MFT as an individual, you will find a clinician who takes into consideration your current and past environmental contexts; how your family-of-origin influences your current functioning; and the biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual contributors to your current presenting problems.

Pre-Marital Therapy

Pre-Marital therapy differs from couples counseling in that it focuses on a pre-married couple's areas of strengths as well as areas in which they have room for growth.  The therapist works with the couple to sytematically discover these specific areas, then works with the couple to address ways they can effectively work through issues such as disagreements, potential conflict, financial issues, parenting, and levels of commitment to the relationship.  Research shows that the divorce rate is lower among couples who par-take in pre-marital therapy with a trained, skilled clinican. Secular, Spiritual, and Religious approaches to Pre-Marital Therapy are available at The Couple and Family Clinic.

Discernment Counseling

Discernment counseling is a way for couples to look at their options before making a final decision about divorce. It is most appropriate for couples where one partner wants to preserve and repair the relationship and the other is leaning towards ending it.  Research shows that this kind of “mixed agenda” is common among couples approaching divorce, and there is a dearth of special services for them. It’s also a common (and difficult) presentation in couples counseling.  Discernment counseling differs from regular marriage counseling in three ways: a) the goal is not to solve problems in the relationship, but to figure out whether the problems can be solved; b) the process involves mainly individual conversations with each partner, since they each have different needs and agendas, and c) it is always short term.  You can find more information about the origins and specifics of discernment counseling here.