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Discover how starting couples/marriage therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Alexandria
I am a seasoned and experienced Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about wellness and providing a nonjudgmental and...
About
I am a seasoned and experienced Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about wellness and providing a nonjudgmental and safe space for all people.
Lisa Swann is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Virginia; has been a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Addiction Counselor II in the District of Columbia for the last 9 years. Lisa is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Her specialties include depression, suicide ideation, anxiety, complex trauma, PTSD, sexual trauma, substance abuse, support recovery, grief and loss, low self-esteem, chronic pain, and more.
Lisa holds a Bachelor’s in Human Development & Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling. She is a catalyst for change and helps people transform themselves by guiding them through their challenges and empowering them to reach their goals. Her role as a therapist is to ensure a safe, collaborative, and creative place to explore the complexities and challenges of life. She believes therapy is about guiding people to achieve goals they may not think were possible, and assisting clients to learn to recognize their strengths.
Lisa is committed to helping adults and takes a person-centered approach using a strength-based model in working with clients. She brings cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing to assist clients in their discovery, growth, and development.
Education and training
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My name’s Krista Hale, and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked in a variety of mental health settings for 45 ...
My name’s Krista Hale, and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked in a variety of mental health settings for 45 years. At the age of 54, I went back to school to earn my Master's degree & become a licensed clinician. I am currently offering counseling to individuals, families, & couples via telehealth. I enjoy working with clients with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, & major life transitions, and I have a particular interest in working with older women, couples of all ages & persuasions, those struggling due to our current political climate, and those in the LGBTQ community.
I obtained my Bachelor of Social Work in 1978, my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling in 2013, and I became a licensed counselor in Virginia in 2016. I use a person-centered approach, which involves being accepting, non-judgmental, and respectful of other worldviews.
As a warm, intuitive, and empathetic counselor with a sense of humor, I help my clients flourish despite life’s setbacks. Book your appointment today and start your journey to a better life.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Not ready to book? Contact me
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It's important to start by helping the couple understand that the focus of counseling is not on one person or the other, but on the interactions between them. I enjoy couples counseling because relations with loved ones are such important things in our lives. When this part of life goes well, many other things in life follow.
One starting point is teaching/learning how to describe and accurately express oneself without accusation. Treating couples as a partnership with shared goals rather than two individuals is a focus of the work.
EBP TP goals are established at the beginning of therapy, and when they are accomplished, the treatment is considered done. Common goals include less frequent arguing, identifying upcoming conflicts, using time-outs, enjoying each other's company, rekindling courtship and pursuit, and conflict resolution.
To supplement therapy, couples can practice being in each other's presence without discussing highly emotionally charged issues about themselves or their children.
To prepare, couples can record the things that initially drew them to each other.
Couples therapy and marriage counseling, also known as relationship counseling, helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. Some examples of common focuses within couples therapy and marriage counseling include:
The types of therapy used in couples and marriage counseling include:
At Thriveworks, Couples/marriage therapy is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples.
The Gottman Method of couples therapy is a research-supported approach designed to enhance relationships by bolstering the bond between partners, resolving conflicts, and fostering shared meaning in their relationship through comprehensive assessments and tailored interventions that improve communication, trust, and the overall health of the partnership.
If you’re facing persistent relationship problems, communication breakdowns, or unresolved conflicts that are impacting your emotional well-being and happiness, Couples/marriage therapy may be beneficial for you.
While marriage and couple’s counseling is typically recommended for couples who are experiencing persistent or severe relationship issues, any relationship can benefit from attending these sessions.
Marriage and couples counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.
On average, couples attend marriage and couples counseling for 12 weeks. However, couples & marriage counseling may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress.
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
Early in a new relationship, simply being together with your partner transforms the most mundane tasks into sweet, romantic events. Even going to the store to buy ice cream with your partner can feel fun and exciting, just because you are together. But as time wears on, instead of enjoying a scoop of rocky road, life might feel more like a rocky road. The fun and excitement wears off in every relationship.
How is your relationship with your partner? Is there a specific issue that causes tension? Or has your relationship deteriorated so much that you tolerate each other without truly being partners? Many couples facing difficulties have had the fun and excitement restored to their relationship by seeking professional help through couples or marriage counseling at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA. Reach out today for help.
Divorce rates are staggering, but behind those numbers are individuals who are hurting. Families are torn apart. Relational hurt and pain abound. Splitting up takes a high relational toll on you, your partner, and anyone in your family.
All relationships have problems, but not all problems have to end in a divorce or break-up. Yet, staying in an unhealthy relationship has its problems too. Maybe you and your partner are fighting over money, schedule, kids, or other life circumstance. Maybe the two of you ignore each other, living beside each other but not together as partners. Maybe lies or cheating have torn down the respect you have for each other. When these problems become normal, neither partner is healthy, safe, or happy.
All relationships have problems, and many of these problems have solutions. The counselors/therapists and psychologists at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA have extensive experience in helping couples face an array of difficulties. Many couples who walk through our doors to see a Thriveworks counselor walk out with the skills they need to live in a healthy, fulfilling relationship. This process, of course, takes time and work.
Communication is the key to any relationship. In our experience, communication breaks down in at least three ways.
Thriveworks Alexandria, VA counselors and psychologists are trained to address these problems inhibit communication.
Navigating relational strain is hard. Couples and marriage counselors at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) have the expertise to help. Mending your relationship takes work, but the sooner couples pursue professional help, the sooner they get off their relational rocky road and get on with their healthier relationship.
Sound good to you? The first step toward a more fulfilling relationship is scheduling an appointment with Alexandria, VA couples and marriage counseling. We have appointments that fit your schedule and our therapists are ready to help. Reach out today.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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