Services

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) works directly to reprogram the way in which distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so they no longer trigger strong emotional and physical reactions. This is accomplished through the use of rapid eye movements similar to eye movements that occur during dreaming. Although techniques similar to these are used in other types of therapies, this very specific and directive approach can achieve rapid recovery from symptoms and reactions that are recent or may have been present for many years. 

A.R.T. can be used to treat almost any distressing issue, but some of the most common are: trauma, shame, addiction, betrayal, anxiety, OCD, chronic pain, ADD/ADHD, fear, anger, dyslexia, and stroke.

Therapists:
Kim Buck, PhD, LPC
Laurie Raymond, LPC
Julie Young, LPC
Nick Miller, LPC
Lisette Li, LAC
DeAnne Holden-Hall, BHT
Ron Anderson, BHT
Allison Kerby, Intern

 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) helps in treating individuals who struggle with emotional pain, healthy relationships and boundaries in relationships, self-injury, eating disorders, substance abuse, and loss of control. The Dialectic part refers to the ability to hold two opposites at the same time, accepting the experience and changing the behavior attached to it. DBT works out of four categories to help manage these issues: 

• Emotional regulation- The ability to manage the highs and lows of emotions by finding a middle ground.
• Interpersonal effectiveness – The ability to ask for what is wanted respectfully and with integrity, while considering another’s feelings and preserving the relationship.
• Distress tolerance – The ability to experience and tolerate difficult emotions. 
• Mindfulness– The ability to focus at the moment on what is presently happening, without other thoughts intruding.

DBT uses these areas of focus to acknowledge painful experiences while promoting change in unhelpful or harmful behaviors. 

Therapists:
Heather Koutsogiannis, PsyD

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is considered one of the most empirically validated forms of couples therapy. It focuses on seeing love as the ultimate attachment bond and seeing the negative communication patterns as insight into each person’s lack of bonds with their partner. It focuses on fostering a healthy dependence and a secure bond, not by avoiding conflict but rather by understanding it and how to use it to create a long-lasting connection. EFT helps couples to come together to work through the problem instead of seeing each other as the problem. Couples can learn to choose to love and understand their partner and themselves and team up to the difficulties couples face.

Therapists:
Angie Hatch, LPC, CSAT
Eric Shultz, BHT, CSAT
Marie Ricks, LPC

Experiential Outings

Experiential Outings are a way to connect with nature and learn life skills that will produce a deeper more effective way to gain knowledge, connect with others, and create positive change. Throughout history, experiential outings have led the way in human growth and learning. From Christopher Columbus sailing to America, Lewis and Clark mapping out the West, or Marco Polo exploring the East, we have learned and advanced through the act of “doing”. The benefits are vast, helping us better understand the knowledge gained through the experience. Other beneficial qualities of an experiential outing are the use of all five senses, critical thinking skills, social interaction, physical exercise, sense of self, and a sense of place, meaning how one fits into their own environment.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. To date, EMDR therapy has helped millions of people of all ages relieve many types of psychological stress. EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as many other psychological disorders including anxiety and depression. The goal of EMDR is to reduce the intensity of distressing feelings by working with the circuitry in the brain.

Therapists:
Abbie Ashton, LMFT
Laurie Raymond, LPC
Eric Schultz, BHT, CSAT
Steph Faust-Morineau, LAC, CSAT-C

 

Family Counseling

Family therapy is usually provided by a psychologist, clinical social worker, or licensed therapist, and is a type of counseling that can help family members resolve conflicts and improve communication within the family unit. Family therapy may include all family members or just those who are willing or able to participate. Specific issues such as marital or financial problems, the conflict between parents and children, or the impact of substance abuse or a mental illness on the entire family can be addressed in a therapeutic environment. This type of therapy not only helps families learn skills to deepen family connections and cope with stressful times but also empowers each individual to continue to use these skills in their day-to-day lives after therapy is complete.

Free Educational Workshops and Seminars

At Family Strategies Counseling Center, expert therapists offer a variety of timely and informative workshops throughout the year. These workshops are free and curated with local community needs and interests in mind. 

An example of topics would be:

• Parenting
• Suicide prevention and awareness
• Talking with your kids about sex and other sensitive topics
• Emotional recovery and resilience
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Etc.

Spanish language workshops are also available. Check out our Free Workshops webpage today to find out more and register for one of these helpful presentations.

Gottman Method

The Gottman Method is an evidence-based couples therapy that strives to assist couples in achieving a deeper sense of understanding, awareness, empathy, and connectedness within their relationship that ultimately leads to heightened intimacy and interpersonal growth. By combining therapeutic interventions with exercises, this therapy helps couples identify and address the natural defenses that hinder effective intimacy and bonding. 

The goals of this method:

• Disarm conflicting verbal communication
• Increase intimacy, respect, and affection
• Remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy in conflicting situations 
• Create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding

Therapists:

Eric Schultz, BHT, CSAT
Lisette Li, LAC

Grief & Loss Counseling

Recovery from grief and loss trauma is as varied and individual as each person who suffers. Grief and loss counseling is designed to help individuals process and heal from the trauma of grief and loss so that they can move forward with peace. Psychoeducation about the cycle of grief is provided and the therapist helps to navigate emotional vulnerability, daily functionality, and the emotional impact of the loss they have experienced. Grief and loss counseling is for family members and individuals of all ages who have lost a family member or someone close to them including traumatic death, pregnancy loss, pediatric death, suicide, and many other types of loss.

Therapist: Marie Ricks, LPC

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a meaningful way for people to come together under the leadership of a trained group therapist to work on improving their lives in one way or another. Some of the benefits of group therapy are:

• Helping individuals realize they’re not alone. Research has shown that group therapy reduces isolation and alienation, increases the sense that “we’re all in this together,” and normalizes suffering.
• Facilitating the giving and receiving of support. Members are encouraged to turn to each other for support, feedback, and connection. As they share their own experiences, members can offer hope, inspiration, encouragement, and sometimes suggestions.
• Encouraging individuals to find their voice. Members become aware of their own feelings and needs and how they are expressing them. In groups, members are strongly encouraged to notice how they are feeling throughout the session and to talk about it.
• It helps individuals be able to relate to others (and themselves) in healthier ways. Often people don’t understand why their relationships aren’t working. In the safe atmosphere of group therapy, members can get honest feedback from others who care about them to one degree or another.
• Provides a safety net. Oftentimes, members struggle with being authentic and speaking up for themselves. They practice these skills in the group and, as they do, their confidence in practicing them outside of the group grows. 

Family Strategies offers a wide variety of groups, from educational to strengthening recovery skills, facilitating true connection, and navigating life’s transitions. We encourage you to explore our Groups page and find your community of healing.

Group Therapy for Teens

At Family Strategies we are excited to offer a variety of group therapy programs for youth. While individual therapy can be an amazing tool in helping teens overcome struggles, sometimes it might not be quite enough for their specific needs. Group therapy is a great opportunity to help teens who may be struggling with a wide variety of issues give and receive support from others. Youths can learn from each other and their group therapist by discussing and processing common struggles, learning to connect and build healthy relationships with their peers and adults, and establishing valuable and lifelong skills to help them navigate the difficult challenges they will face throughout the rest of their life. Some other benefits of teens participating in group therapy for youth are:

• Encouraging and positive peer influences
• Stress reduction
• Effective communication skills
• Identifying and cultivating healthy relationships
• Building confidence in social situations

Check out our Groups page for more information about programs for youth.

Individual Counseling

Individual therapy is when therapeutic services are administered on a one-on-one basis with a licensed mental health provider. This type of therapy can inspire change or improve the quality of life of the person seeking services. Individual therapy can also be called “psychotherapy” or “counseling”. Individuals may seek therapeutic help with issues that are difficult to face alone. 

Some benefits of individual therapy:

• Help to overcome obstacles to well-being
• Increase positive feelings such as self-compassion and self-worth
• Provide skill sets for handling difficult situations
• Assist in making healthy decisions
• Help an individual to reach important goals
• Facilitate personal growth and self-awareness 

All clinicians at Family Strategies Counseling Center provide individual counseling and are licensed in the State of Arizona or are under close supervision of senior staff who are licensed. At a minimum, all clinicians have also obtained a master’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or other related areas.

Intensive Therapeutic Sessions

We periodically arrange for intensive therapeutic sessions based on client needs. These often entail several hours of individual, family, or group counseling within the same day, sometimes for several days in a row. These intensive sessions are prepared in advance after consulting with the client about objectives and individual needs. Not everyone is a candidate for intensive therapy, but some situations make this ideal for a client (e.g., one who lives a long distance away, feels ’stuck’ in therapy, etc.). An intake assessment with one of our staff is the first step to an intensive therapy experience. All intensives must be approved by the Assistant Executive Director.

Marriage/Couples Counseling

Relationships can be difficult, and they change over time. A qualified therapist can help navigate the disconnection and hurt that occurs in a committed relationship. Couples counseling is an opportunity to grow together, heal hurts, and forgive, as well as become more understanding and more loving toward each other. Couples’ work may include focusing on improving communication, creating healthier boundaries, learning how to express emotional and relational needs, processing trauma or loss together, increasing or repairing sexual intimacy, and more. It takes both partners having the desire and willingness to participate to help create a relationship that lasts.

Therapists:
Kim Buck, PhD, LPC
Angie Hatch, LPC
Eric Schultz, BHT
Lisette Li, LAC
Ron Anderson, BHT
Tim Baugher, BHT

Parenting Workshops

Our parenting workshops provide a basic model of an approach implemented by Dr. Ross Green called collaborative problem solving (CPS).  This approach is highly effective and has been implemented in countless families, schools, inpatient psychiatric units, therapeutic group homes, and residential and juvenile detention facilities across the world. The goal of CPS is to foster a collaborative partnership between adults and kids (you are working together) and to engage kids in solving the problems that affect their lives. 

The Collaborative Problem-Solving Model: 

• Non-punitive
• Non-adversarial
• Decreases the likelihood of conflict
• Enhances relationships
• Improves communication
• Helps learn and display the skills on the more positive side of human nature
• Helps families better identify and model empathy
• Shows appreciation of how one’s behavior affects others
• Resolves disagreements in ways that do not involve conflict
• Encourages the taking of another perspective
• Inspires honesty

Play Therapy

Play Therapy uses the primary language of children … PLAY … to help them express what they are feeling. Most children are not able to verbally express and process their thoughts, feelings, and difficulties. By using toys, games, and artistic expression the therapist joins with the child to develop tools to help them navigate and manage difficult social and emotional situations. The therapist also teams with the parent to teach new ways of interacting and responding to negative behaviors at home.

Therapists:
Abbie Ashton, LMFT
Heather Koutsogiannis, PsyD
Kirra Crump, LMSW
Steph Faust-Morineau, BHT

Prodependence

Prodependence introduces a novel paradigm in healthcare treatment, conceived by Dr. Rob Weiss and Kim Buck. This model seeks to enhance the support given to individuals with family members battling addiction. Rather than attributing fault, its primary objective is to offer more respect to those grappling with these challenging circumstances. By prioritizing emotional bonds, the prodependence framework departs from the limitations of the codependency model, which frequently leaves the supporters of addicts feeling lost and confused. In contrast, this model offers validation and insight, while also honoring and acknowledging the dedication of caregiving loved ones who continue to stand by their addicted family members.

Therapists:
Kim Buck, PhD, LPC
John Hinson, LPC
Angie Hatch, LPC
John McLean, LPC, CSAT
Eric Schultz, BHT
Julie Young, LPC, CSAT
Ron Anderson, BHT
DeAnne Holden-Hall
Steph Faust-Morineau, BHT

Sex Therapy

Sex therapy is a form of counseling intended to help individuals resolve sexual difficulties. Individuals can attend therapy sessions alone or with a partner. Sex therapists are also referred to as “clinical sexologists” or “sexuality educators”. It is normal to feel anxious when seeing a sex therapist. Many people have trouble talking about sex at all, so discussing it with a stranger can feel awkward; however, most sex therapists recognize this and are skilled at helping their clients feel comfortable.

Sex Therapy Covers:

• Sexual dysfunctions (low/high libido, erectile dysfunction, painful sex, etc.)
• Performance anxiety
• Intimacy disorders
• Sexual development
• Relationship problems
• Sexual abuse 
• Etc.

Therapists:
Dr. Kim Buck, PhD, LPC, CSAT, CCS

Sexual Addiction Recovery Programs

The Sexual Addiction and Betrayal Recovery (SABR) program at Family Strategies is a comprehensive outpatient program for men recovering from problematic sexual behaviors and for their female partners. Problematic sexual behaviors can include excessive pornography use and/or other sexual acting-out behavior such as compulsive masturbation, affairs, strip clubs, prostitution, anonymous sex, etc.

SABR provides a comprehensive approach to recovery for both the struggling individual and their spouse or partner. Both will participate in parallel tracks which will give them each the support, knowledge, and tools necessary for long-term healthy living.  SABR utilizes the most current and reliable research and interventions for both the struggling individual and partner which makes it one of the premier treatment programs in the country. Our SABR clinicians are highly trained and most are Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSAT) with a broad knowledge base to facilitate processes that promote recovery and long-lasting sobriety and healing.

Therapists:
Kim Buck, PhD, LPC
John Hinson, LPC
Angie Hatch, LPC
John McLean, LPC
Nick Miller, LPC
Eric Shultz, BHT
Julie Young, LPC
Ron Anderson, BHT
DeAnne Holden-Hall, BHT
Steph Faust-Morineau, BHT
Tim Baugher, BHT

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is a difficult topic for many people. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. Often, suicide is the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues. Every year thousands of individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. Family Strategies provides workshops meant to raise awareness of common myths and provide an understanding of why people attempt or think about suicide.  It also delves into what to do if someone you know is feeling that they want to end their life. Our workshops will provide you with insight and tools to increase your confidence in supporting someone that may be dealing with these daunting and difficult feelings.

Telephone Consultations

Our therapists provide free, 10-15 minute phone consultations for potential new clients.  This means if you are not certain which of our therapists you’d like to see, or you know who you’d like to see but need reassurance that he or she is a good fit, call and speak to one of our client care specialists at the front desk prior to scheduling your first appointment. They will be happy to forward you to an appropriate therapist’s voicemail. This will allow you to provide the therapist with a brief background for the kind of counseling you are seeking and ask questions you might have.  From there an appointment can be scheduled or, if preferred, a referral to a different therapist here at Family Strategies can be provided, by the therapist to whom you spoke.  Our goal is to provide therapeutic care to promote your emotional growth, health, and healing and we understand that this is better accomplished with a therapist possessing expertise and experience in your areas of need.

The Daring Way Programs

The Daring Way™ is a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. The method was designed for work with individuals, couples, families, work teams, and organizational leaders. It can be facilitated in clinical, educational, and professional settings. During the process, facilitators explore topics such as vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness. Participants are invited to examine the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are holding them back and identify the new choices and practices that will move them toward more authentic and wholehearted living. The primary focus is on developing shame resilience skills and developing daily practices that transform the way we live, love, parent, and lead. Click on our Daring Way™ programs page. You can find further information about The Daring Way™ at www.brenebrown.com. 

Therapist: Angie Hatch, LPC, CSAT, CDWF