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4 therapists available in Manchester
I know how vulnerable it feels to share your story with a stranger, so I prioritize creating a space where you can unfold at your ...
About
I know how vulnerable it feels to share your story with a stranger, so I prioritize creating a space where you can unfold at your own pace, free of judgment.
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.
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I have been a caring and compassionate psychotherapist for many years, and love what I do....
I have been a caring and compassionate psychotherapist for many years, and love what I do.
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.
I am a firm believer in problem solving and finding solutions that can allow clients to reclaim their sense of self and lead a pur...
I am a firm believer in problem solving and finding solutions that can allow clients to reclaim their sense of self and lead a purposeful life.
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?
My 25+ years of experience dedicated to promoting well-being for individuals from backgrounds of all kinds has shown me that it is...
My 25+ years of experience dedicated to promoting well-being for individuals from backgrounds of all kinds has shown me that it is through having a connection with supportive others that we are able to overcome emotional challenges, take steps toward healing, and make positive changes in our lives.
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.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.
Thriveworks family therapists in Manchester, CT usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.
The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.
This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.
In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.
Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.
Thriveworks therapists in Manchester, CT offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.
Our family members are supposed to be those closest to us, right? For a lot of people, this is the case. For others, though, it isn’t. Who we are today can be greatly affected by our childhoods and how we grew up. For those who come from broken familial relationships, there can still be a lot of sore areas years down the road.
Family therapy can give families a safe and open space to talk about the issues in their past. Not only that, but family therapy can also provide closure and offer tips for moving forward. If this sounds like something that could benefit you and your family, consider reaching out to Thriveworks Counseling in Manchester, CT.
Family therapy is designed to help you and your loved ones tackle the obstacles in your relationships. At our office, we commonly see families seeking help for:
• Divorce or separation • Behavioral issues in children and teens • Interpersonal conflicts • Sibling rivalry • Major life transitions such as moving • Mental illness, such as anxiety and depression • Hormonal changes in adolescents • Parenting disagreements • Trauma and PTSD • Grief and loss • Stress and anger management • Communication issues
Family therapy is designed to help in all of these areas and more. If your specific issue wasn’t listed above, don’t worry. The family therapists at Thriveworks are fully capable of identifying the root causes of the problems you are having and providing you with guidance and support in your healing journey.
As we’ve touched on, family therapy at Thriveworks is comprehensive. Our goal is to provide you with a plan of care that will fit your needs and goals. To accomplish this, our family therapists will sit down with you and your loved ones on an individual level to understand the cracks in your relationships. With the information they gather, a customized treatment plan will be created to help you tackle the issues you’re having.
To do this, different therapeutic techniques and methods may be utilized, such as traditional talk therapy, structural therapy, child therapy, systemic therapy, strategic therapy, and more. The different types of techniques used during your sessions may vary depending upon the topics being discussed and the family members in attendance. Using these therapies, your therapist might aim to help you:
• Improve communication skills • Establish familial roles • Repair broken relationships • Learn effective problem-solving techniques • Regain trust
We believe that the cornerstone of quality client care is built on trust and understanding. We are client-focused here at Thriveworks Counseling, which means that we want to make each and every one of our clients feel safe, welcome, and supported. If you’re ready to start making meaningful changes in your relationships, consider working with us.
To get started, you can visit our online booking system or give our office a call. We have flexible scheduling options, no waitlist, and same-week appointments. The help you need is here. All you have to do is reach out.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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