Our therapists provide couples & marriage counseling in Manchester, CT

Stephanie Villegas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 5 years of experience specializing in anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She works best with adults, young adolescents, and young professionals struggling with overwhelm, self-doubt, or emotional exhaustion. Her clients often seek relief from persistent worry, low mood, or the weight of perfectionism while wanting to regain balance, set healthy boundaries, and reconnect with their sense of purpose. Together, Stephanie and her clients create a collaborative space to process challenges, develop coping tools, and cultivate a more fulfilling life.

Stephanie earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. Grounded in evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness, she helps clients build resilience while fostering self-compassion. Her background includes working with diverse populations, giving her a deep understanding of systemic barriers.

Stephanie understands how everyday life can feel overwhelming. She creates a warm, non-judgmental space to help you untangle difficult emotions, quiet self-doubt, and rediscover your strength. Whether you're facing life transitions or persistent worry, she'll work with you to build coping skills and meaningful change. Your healing journey starts here.

Becky Hafford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in treating concerns and conditions related to PTSD, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, and trauma. Her clients have all dealt with major tragedies and struggles. She is also fiercely devoted to her field and her clients.

Becky earned her Master's degree in Social Work from Alabama A&M University. In sessions, she utilizes methods including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), attachment-based therapy (ABT), emotionally-focused therapy (EFT), and reality therapy (RT).

Becky works with her clients at their pace. Becky is open, honest, and sincere. She is a seasoned clinician who has dealt with thousands of clients. She is pleasant and easy to talk to and she has a good sense of humor. If you're ready to begin, schedule an appointment with Becky today.

Betsy Ibsen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 40 years of working in both the mental health and addiction fields. She has treated adolescents and adults in outpatient, inpatient, and long-term residential settings. Betsy has studied how the effects of early childhood trauma have caused both physical and emotional effects on adults. What has impressed her the most over the years is that the human mind is creative, complex, and, above all, flexible. With appropriate treatment and life changes, people can heal, move forward, relearn old skills, develop new ones, rebuild support systems, or discover a network unique to their specific needs. Therapeutic tools and strategies will depend on where the client is on their life journey. She has two tenets of her philosophy that focus her work with clients: "Life is not fair," and "There is never enough time."

Betsy completed her master's degree in Social Work at Boston University and lived in Boston for 20 years before relocating to Connecticut and the greater Hartford area. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher in Italy for a year, spent two summers camping in the Soviet Union, and embraces multiculturalism as a way to connect with, recognize, and respect the strengths and needs of people with differing customs and beliefs. Treatment is only as good as the relationship developed with the client.

Life doesn’t much resemble a Hallmark movie with things falling into perfect place at the end of two hours. It’s messier and more random, and at times unpleasantly chaotic. Recognizing that you need some sense of order, safety, and calmness is the first step. Asking for help is the second. Betsy can offer you the space to start this personal journey, to process what is and isn't working for you and why, what belongs to someone else, and what needs to be given away. Who doesn’t want to feel better?

Marcia Hughes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Connecticut and holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies. She has 25+ years of experience dedicated to promoting well-being for individuals and families from backgrounds and lifestyles of all kinds. In providing therapeutic care, she seeks to understand how beliefs, motivations, and day-to-day functioning develop in particular contexts. 

Marcia has supported individuals seeking help with depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship or family issues, trauma, and parenting concerns. She is passionate about helping people feel empowered to solve problems and create change that is meaningful to them. She uses elements of narrative, intra-psychic, attachment/relational, intersectionality, ecological, solution-focused, mindfulness/spirituality, cognitive-behavioral, and trauma-informed approaches in her practice, as relevant for individual or couple interests and needs. 

Marcia sees the therapeutic-client relationship as a partnership, helping individuals and couples build on their strengths. She works to establish a warm and supportive collaboration with you by closely listening and taking an interest in your struggles, achievements, and goals, and helping you to explore and pursue new possibilities for yourself.