What is Marriage and Family Therapy?

A family's patterns of behavior influences the individual and therefore may need to be a part of the treatment plan. In marriage and family therapy, the unit of treatment isn't just the person - even if only a single person is interviewed - it is the set of relationships in which the person is embedded.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems.

Marriage and Family Therapists broaden the traditional emphasis on the individual to attend to the nature and role of individuals in primary relationship networks such as marriage and the family. MFTs take a holistic perspective to health care; they are concerned with the overall, long-term well-being of individuals and their families.

When one experiences trauma, it is possible that how they relate to others may change. I strongly believe that relationships; how we relate and interact with others, is the cornerstone of healthy living. What is left unresolved from one's history or childhood often finds its way into the relationships one has in the present. As a family therapist, I spend my time supporting individuals and families in exploring these past experiences that have made them into who they are now, allowing them to move forward and live a healthy lifestyle.

I have worked in Philadelphia with families who are underserved and have experienced a great deal of trauma. I have worked in different community settings. I specialize in trauma-informed care to support families with concerns such as grief, trauma, depression, abuse, anxiety, traumatic stress-related disorders, and relational/parenting issues.

I graduated from Drexel University's Couple and Family Therapy Master's Degree Program where I earned the Clinical Excellence Award. My passion is to help the family system see they have the internal resources to move beyond their basic coping level and live the life they hope to live.