Our Services

Intimate Relationship Counseling

Many problems within relationships are solvable. They typically start out small, and then are compounded over the years by ineffective patterns of interaction, along with distractions such as work or child-rearing.

My goal is to get you back on track or to develop a new track that works for each of you. This work generally involves peeling off the layers of defensiveness, building a more intimate connection that facilitates authentic interactions, and build or repair areas which have been disregarded in your relationship (e.g. sex, friendship). Maybe it’s as simple as making decisions together, while honoring your individual wants too. Or perhaps it’s a bit more complex, with lots of pieces to sort through and unpack.

I utilize several approaches for relationship work, 1) building perspective, empathy and problem solving through Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy, and 2) identifying ineffective patterns of communication and replacing them with tenets from the Gottman Method and Strategic Family Therapy. These strategies are accommodated to each relationship’s context, including important cultural factors, family of origin influences, and specifics of the current context (e.g. pre-marital, infidelity, intimacy).

Tweens and Teens

Teens are at a precarious time in their lifelong development where all of the changes are happening at once. You might start to notice increased moodiness and irritability, more risk taking behavior, enhanced curiosity and exploration with peer groups and intimate relationships, challenging rules and/or breaking them. Many parents may also notice an increased rigidity combined with emotional outbursts, intense worry about things that appear trivial to you, and a desire to be perfect.

The good news is that this is a normal part of their brain development. The bad news is that these behaviors can easily spiral out of control. Intervention at this point in their lives can help channel these behaviors into positive traits and point them in the right direction. Additionally, my goal is to ensure that they have a solid foundation with their primary caregivers so that they can feel safe to reach out as they seek their interdependence.

I use a hybrid of effective interventions and strategies to support youth and their families. These include my own evidence informed model (STAY) which focuses on family cohesion, emotion regulation, setting expectations for behavior, and enhanced communication. Additionally, I tailor more individual focused treatment using a combination of DBT and CBT that are targeted to their specific presenting concerns and challenges.

Individuals

In order to effectively engage in our relationships and with our environment, we need to be connected to our own self first. Individual therapy provides a safe space to explore from within to see what is getting in the way of your ability to make good decisions, form healthy relationships, be successful at work and home, or effectively problem solve and manage stress.

Anxiety and depression are common manifestations of feeling overwhelmed, unfulfilled, or unsuccessful. My treatment process focuses on helping you uncover latent strengths and problem solving strategies for dealing with stressors, big or small. The most important part of treatment is to learn about you and collaborate on what works best for you to move forward.

I pull from an integrative treatment approach which includes Solution-Focused strategies for setting and attaining realistic goals, using CBT to identify ineffective thought and behavior patterns that sideline you, Family of Origin work to explore unresolved traumas and conflicts that impact you now, and Mindfulness based strategies to help you slow down and manage stress and effectively problem solve. All treatment is tailored specifically to you and your unique circumstances.

One of my primary specialties is supporting parents through challenging circumstances. Often this includes common transitions such as returning to work after maternity leave or primarily child rearing, introducing new children into the family, navigating co-parenting roles, social media, or figuring out how to support your child through difficult developmental processes.

For those who are looking for more in depth parent coaching, I am trained in a number of Behavioral Parent Management Training modalities to offer support with managing more difficult and pervasive behavioral issues.

This work is only conducted with the parents/caregivers, although it is an option to bring your child(ren) with you to these sessions, despite their age.

As an AAMFT Approved Supervisor in Washington State, I provide ongoing supervision to C/MFT students seeking licensure. I have supervision experience in both community mental health and private practice settings. I am competent to support new MFT’s who are interested in theories such as CBT, Bowen, Solution Focused, Structural, Strategic, Gottman, and EFT.

My rate for supervision is $125 per hour, with a discount offered to Antioch graduating students. Please inquire about group rates and discounts.

If you are a masters level therapist and are interested in being trained in the STAY Model, we offer multiple training opportunities throughout the year.

Trainings are typically one day, 9am-5pm, and include optional follow up consultation calls for 3 months. For more details and registration info, please contact jessica@leithcounseling.com.