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About
Let's work together to help you reach your goals so that you can begin living the life you desire.
Debbie Eshelman is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 18 years of clinical experience working with children, teens, and adults who are seeking help in coping with their depression, ADHD, anxiety, physical/sexual abuse, sexual assault, co-occurring disorders, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral issues.
Debbie completed her Master’s of Education in Counseling Education at the University of North Texas. Her underlying approach to counseling is based on client-centered therapy, working at the client’s comfort level and pace throughout the counseling process. She utilizes tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), as well. Debbie has a wide range of counseling experience in various settings, including typical outpatient offices, schools, shelters, and inpatient facilities.
Debbie is sure to keep in mind the specific needs and goals of each individual client, and works to provide a warm, caring, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment. Partner with her to uncover your inner strengths and address your personal obstacles. You will work together to help you reach your goals so that you can begin living the life you desire with Debbie's help.
Education and training
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As a therapist, I understand that it can be hard to open up to someone, but I want therapy to feel like getting a cup of coffee wi...
As a therapist, I understand that it can be hard to open up to someone, but I want therapy to feel like getting a cup of coffee with a friend.
Rachel Hill is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and adults to help them become the best version of themselves. She has experience working with a wide range of mental health issues and daily life stressors. These experiences include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anger, and ADHD. Rachel specializes in depression, anxiety, life transitions, ADHD, anger, grief, and stress.
Rachel completed her Master of Counseling at Geneva College. Rachel utilizes multiple treatment approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy. She also uses a client-centered approach and views the person as a whole rather than just many parts.
Rachel understands that life is stressful and brings a lot of complicated feelings. She is confident that therapy can help an individual cope with these stressors. Rachel knows that therapy can be a stressful event, but it doesn’t always have to feel like that. If you’re ready to be a better version of yourself, schedule an appointment with her today!
As a woman of color who was raised in an interracial home. I can bring a unique perspective to any situation of exploration and in...
As a woman of color who was raised in an interracial home. I can bring a unique perspective to any situation of exploration and intersectionality's.Monica
Monica Cwynar is a Licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about helping her patients reach their goals. She is interested in working with adults and children and helping them live fulfilled lives. Monica specializes in depression, end of life, grief, anxiety, relationship challenges, co-parenting, trauma, family, and major life transitions. She completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was the first minority to receive a Hartford Fellowship in the School of Social Work.
Monica utilizes multiple treatment approaches including mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, gestalt, exploration of patterns and emotions, psych education, role playing, structured problem solving, and cognitive reframing.
Monica is passionate about normalizing mental health treatment and removing the stigma while encouraging access for all. If you're ready to take the first steps in meeting your goals, then Monica is ready to get started.
It can be hard to find a safe place to open up and share your life. As one that has experience with a lot of different experiences...
It can be hard to find a safe place to open up and share your life. As one that has experience with a lot of different experiences in the counseling field, I will provide a safe, comfortable place for you to share.
Heather Hodges is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 6 years of experience working with kids as young as 4, elderly clients, and everyone in between. She is driven and passionate about helping kids, adolescents, and adults overcome the hardships that life brings. Heather has a vast amount of experience working with addiction, depression, anxiety, life adjustments, and much more. She will strive to help you reach your potential and wants to meet you where you are. Heather has a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Slippery Rock University.
Heather utilizes a solution-focused approach, focusing on creating and reaching goals in therapy to promote growth in areas the client would like to focus on. She also uses a reality approach along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and an eclectic approach, pending on the needs of her clients.
Heather wants to meet you where you are. She is ready and able to support your needs and help you begin the therapy process. If you are ready to start, schedule an appointment with her today.
As an advocate in the mental health field, my goal is to help those who are struggling with any form of obstacle and help them rea...
As an advocate in the mental health field, my goal is to help those who are struggling with any form of obstacle and help them reach their desired goal to reach their highest potential.
Justin Ellis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 5 years of experience in the mental health field. He is dedicated and compassionate about helping adolescents and adults address their unique life struggles. Justin has a history of working with individuals who present with anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, mood disorders, psychosis, substance use, trauma, academic, relationship, and life stress, as well as grief.
Justin completed his Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Wilkes University, a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Scranton and also obtained another Master's in Clinical Psychology. Justin utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and more.
Justin is confident and determined that he will help you on your own personal journey while providing you with individualized tools and skills to better yourself. If you are ready to get started, please schedule a virtual appointment with him today.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Victoria: My go to approach in Family therapy is to teach healthy communication skills and build empathy between family members.
Mark: When I engage families in family therapy, I access various modalities of care to address a family's specific needs. Some of the modalities of care that I access include structural family therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Attachment Focused Family Therapy, and others.
Victoria: The tools I teach in family therapy involve effective communication skills, such as “I” statements. In addition, I teach families how to understand each other's perspectives.
Mark: Some of the tools I introduce in family therapy include conflict resolution skills and communication skills.
Victoria: I know that a family is making progress in therapy when they begin to understand that they are on the same team. Also, I know that progress is being made when families practice empathy towards one another and use active listening skills.
Mark: I know a client is making progress when they are approaching their objectives.
Victoria: Clients can supplement their time in family therapy by spending quality time together at least once per week.
Mark: Family's can supplement family therapy with quality time spent with one another.
Victoria: To prepare for the first family therapy session, families can identify how they handle conflict with one another, and how much time they spend together. This information will help me determine the cohesiveness and communication styles within the family.
Mark: When starting therapy, client should familiarize themselves with their insurance plan to avoid surprise charges.
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 Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia, PA 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.
When family members are working against each other instead of for each other, they may need someone outside of the system to help them regain equilibrium and establish healthy connection. Family counseling can help families name the specific problems they face and find a way forward that helps each member.
Thriveworks Philadelphia, PA offers family therapy because we understand that all families need help along the way. Family dysfunction and challenges are a normal part of life, but overcoming these problems and growing closer together is worth the time and effort. Reach out today for help.
The most common forms of family therapy are family systems therapy and family structural therapy. The foundational concept for these is that people’s behaviors and identities are formed within their family. Some people may love their families and emulate everything they learned from their family. Others may want nothing to do with their families and react against them. In either case, to understand an individual, one must understand their family context.
Family therapists may explore how a family copes with stress, defines roles, offers comfort, and sets expectations. These concepts give insight into how a family functions. To further understanding, family therapy may also explore birth order, love languages, and/or personality types and how these contribute to the challenges a family may face.
When individual family members understand how they relate to each other, then appropriate adjustments can be made. The goal is for every family member to contribute to the family system in a meaningful way and to receive from the family unit in a meaningful way.
When families know and respect each other’s gifts and needs, they may experience more interdependence, improved communication, and a more harmonious family life. When families grow stronger together, each individual may experience benefits such as…
If your family faces any of these particular circumstances, family therapy may be able to help you grow closer as you face the challenge together:
Family therapy is not a quick-fix for these or similar challenges. However, it can be a safe place to acknowledge problems and find solutions in a healthy way and with the guidance of a skilled therapist. If your family is ready to put in the work, Thriveworks Philadelphia is ready to help.
If family therapy is the right next step for your family, know that appointments are available at Thriveworks Philadelphia, PA. We know that getting the family together is a challenge, so we offer evening and weekend sessions. New clients often can meet with their counselor within the same week as scheduling. We also work with many forms of insurance.
All families experience dysfunction as some point. Family therapy may allow your family to grow closer through the challenges instead of farther apart. Call Thriveworks Philadelphia to get started today.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Philadelphia Counseling and Life Coaching is located near the intersection of Walnut Street and S 15th Street, off I-676. It is right by Rittenhouse Square, 15/16th & Locust St subway station, and Philadelphia City Hall. The office is in a historic, high-rise stone building with a gold eagle over the front doors; enter through the main lobby to access Suite 202 or Suite 208.
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