WE’RE HIRING!
Come join our team of 2000+ clinicians
FEATURED ARTICLE
A comprehensive guide to starting therapy
Book my first session
96% of clients feel supported and understood by their therapist
Get expert medication support, tailored to you
Check my copay estimate
Sessions cost $24 on average with insurance
Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
5 therapists available in Raleigh
As a solution-focused therapist, I empower my clients to use their assets to compose and follow through on their plans to reach th...
About
As a solution-focused therapist, I empower my clients to use their assets to compose and follow through on their plans to reach their goals.
Matt Smith is a Nationally Certified Counselor and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who has worked in various counseling and education settings for over 15 years. He has counseled elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, college dormitory residents, adult college students, and adults in the workforce. Matt has also helped clients work through a variety of issues, such as relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, PTSD, homelessness, divorce, academic difficulties, attention deficit, anger management, assault survival, and inmate transition back into society.
Matt earned his undergraduate degree in Education and Psychology from Guilford College, and his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Matt has served in a university counseling center and public and private counseling agencies. He provided personal, career, and life skills counseling, and created and revised detailed accommodation plans for students with disabilities. Matt has served clients from disadvantaged backgrounds: low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities.
Matt’s counseling approach is a blend of Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Cognitive Therapy. During sessions, Matt will identify appropriate and applicable projects and expressive arts techniques for his clients to consider trying. Such projects and techniques may include therapeutic photography, journal writing, genograms, painting, clay, music, and additional tactile/kinesthetic arts.
During your initial visit, Matt will review your paperwork, your history, your current counseling goals (if any), and presenting strengths & next steps. Matt is excited to assist you to reach your goals!
Education and training
View more therapists in Raleigh
As someone who lost 100lbs, I understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle by having healthy hobbies in your life ...
As someone who lost 100lbs, I understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle by having healthy hobbies in your life and setting goals.
Jarrett Isler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) who has over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field. As a young man Jarrett began to live a healthy life by working out, eating healthy, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He found that he wanted to help others make positive choices to live a happy, content, fulfilling life.
Jarrett completed his Master of Social Work (MSW) at West Virginia University. He is a certified personal trainer and a certified yoga instructor. He is a very outgoing young man, able to converse with many people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles. He can carry on conversations in a way that makes people feel comfortable speaking to him about their wishes or needs. Jarrett’s strongest asset is his personality. He is always willing to lend a kind, listening ear to whatever clients would like to share. He tries to respond with genuine positive suggestions.
Jarrett can help you by demonstrating his own positive ways of making decisions. He is always available to talk through or listen to his clients’ suggestions. He lets his clients know that he understands and feels what they are going through. He also tries to convey that he is here whenever they need his help.
I'm so glad you found your way here! As someone who has attended therapy, I understand the importance of creating a safe space for...
I'm so glad you found your way here! As someone who has attended therapy, I understand the importance of creating a safe space for exploration and growth. I believe in meeting you exactly where you are and supporting you as we work together on your path toward growth and healing.
With 5 years of experience in the mental health field, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Taylor Gallaher has worked in various settings with individuals from diverse backgrounds. She began her career in a mental health hospital before transitioning to providing school-based therapy for children before moving into individual counseling. Currently, she focuses on supporting college-aged and adult populations dealing with anxiety, depression, decision-making fatigue, and everyday stress. Her ideal client may struggle with finding balance in their personal or professional life or feel overwhelmed by the demands placed on them.
Taylor holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered treatment, and solution-focused therapy to help clients challenge negative thought patterns, build self-awareness, and develop effective coping strategies.
Taylor understands that reaching out for help can be a big step, but she believes everyone deserves support. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, or the everyday stress that life brings, Taylor is here to listen without judgment and work alongside you to find practical solutions.
Simply seeking help is a huge step; let’s work on your concerns together....
Simply seeking help is a huge step; let’s work on your concerns together.
Kristyn Martinez is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 7 years of professional experience. She specializes in working with all adults looking to focus on identifying, healing, and learning to cope with anxiety, depression, OCD, stressors in life, work-life balancing, body image, or single motherhood. Kristyn also specializes in helping clients learn to be successful with bipolar, psychosis, dissociative, and mood disorders.
Kristyn completed her Master in Clinical Counseling at the University of Webster Myrtle Beach. She is a military spouse with first-hand knowledge of life's many stressors. Kristin uses various methods to help each client, including acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy (SFT), compassion-focused, motivation interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
Our minds are similar to plants, and our bodies are gardeners. Even gardeners need tools to grow their plants, let's come together, and we can find the tools that best work for your garden. Reach out and schedule an appointment with Kristin today!
Hi, my name is Kisha and I am proud of you for starting your counseling journey. As a woman of color and a proud LGBTQI+ ally, I r...
Hi, my name is Kisha and I am proud of you for starting your counseling journey. As a woman of color and a proud LGBTQI+ ally, I recognize how hard it can be to relate to some medical professionals. One of my reasons for joining the mental health profession is to be a reflection and a representation of underrepresented cultures. I look forward to working with you.
Nakisha Rodriguez is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with 13 years of experience in mental health. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, and military members. Nakisha is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families address their unique challenges and live more fulfilling lives. Nakisha earned her Master of Science in Human Services with a specialty in Mental Health Counseling at Capella University. She is an Air Force spouse and former military child. She has years of experience navigating the stressors and joys of military life.
Nakisha utilizes multiple treatment approaches, including dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused brief therapy. Nakisha believes in a holistic approach to mental health, with deep breathing and meditation practices. She is trained as a yoga and meditation facilitator.
The only thing guaranteed in life is change. Nakisha is confident that she would be able to support you on your journey to gain new perspectives and techniques that will allow you to cope with those changes. If you are ready to change your perspective, schedule an appointment with her today.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Not ready to book? Contact me
Look for a confirmation email in your inbox shortly. We'll help find you a provider and guide you through everything you should know about starting care at Thriveworks.
No membership fees or subscriptions
Evening and weekend sessions
Award-winning therapy & psychiatry
What support are you seeking?
You acknowledge that by submitting this form, you are providing what may be considered “sensitive data” and consent to Thriveworks Privacy Policy & Terms. By submitting this information, you consent to receive communication from Thriveworks about our services via automatic calls, artificial or pre-recorded messages, or texts at the phone number provided, or by email at the address provided. You have the option to opt out of communications.
We will contact you with availability updates based on the preferences you provided for up to six months.
Clinicians often work to develop treatment goals for the family. This can help them develop healthier communication and connection with the family because it can help with their family issues.
My go-to approach for helping people in family therapy is to first establish a rapport with all family members. Secondly, I assist the family with developing rules in the therapy session, such as no yelling, taking turns to speak, and no name-calling. I find these to be beneficial in the beginning in order to establish an open line of communication amongst the family members.
Common tools include CBT, motivational interviewing, strengths-based, and holistic therapy.
I teach the following in family therapy:
Clients are making progress when the family feels that progress has been made toward their treatment goals.
I know a family is making meaningful progress in therapy when they are able to manage crises appropriately and have a reduction of services.
Clients can supplement therapy with quality time with the family.
Clients can supplement their time in family therapy by completing homework assignments and spending quality time together.
Clients can help identify their strengths and weaknesses.
To prepare for their first family therapy session, each individual should make a list of the issues they are experiencing within the family.
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 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC 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.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Shown in ET
Call us to book
Our team is happy to help you schedule your first session.
Book online
Find the right provider for you. Book your session online yourself in just a few easy steps.