Discover how starting couples/marriage therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
1 therapist available in Amarillo
My goal is to honor all of the life experience that you have, provide a place of understanding and safety, and create a space for ...
About
My goal is to honor all of the life experience that you have, provide a place of understanding and safety, and create a space for personal growth.
Vanessa Longoria-Carter is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who has 13 years of experience in the mental health field. Vanessa has provided therapeutic services in a variety of settings including outpatient, intensive outpatient, community-based, home-based, and school-based. She has worked as a clinical supervisor to graduate-level interns providing individual, group, and family counseling in adult and child-focused facilities. During Vanessa's training she worked almost exclusively with military families and their surrounding communities. She has specialized training and experience in the areas of child welfare, child abuse prevention and intervention, domestic violence prevention and intervention, divorce with dignity, foster care and adoptions, blended families, immigration, and couples struggling with infidelity.
Vanessa completed her bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and her master's degree in Counseling Psychology at Tarleton State University-Central Texas. She has received additional training through The Center for Anger Resolution to obtain the credentials of Certified Anger Resolution Therapist. Vanessa has received training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive processing therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), couples therapy, solution-focused therapy, and trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT). She is also certified in hypnotherapy.
Vanessa believes that every client is unique and it is important to ensure the client is utilizing the strengths they already have in order to empower growth and positive change. As a therapist she hopes to help clients build a strong foundation so that they can continue to make positive changes even after they are no longer receiving services.
Education and training
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My go-to approach for helping people in couples/marriage counseling is a combination of solution-focused therapy and principles from the Gottman method. I utilize the principles that focus on the strengths and growth of a relationship and explore how to move growth areas into glow areas.
One of the main tools I use to teach in couples/marriage counseling is a growth and strengths handout that covers topics from communication, finances, spiritual beliefs, and household roles.
I know a client is making meaningful progress in couples counseling when they are achieving their goals that we collectively agreed upon. This is demonstrated by their actions, demeanor, attitude, and personal assessments.
Clients can supplement their time in therapy with external practices such as journaling, joining group activities, attending helpful seminars, and/or listening to positive podcasts.
To prepare for your first online therapy session, you can write down your main concerns and what you have done in the past to try to alleviate them. Also, have a written list of medications you are taking and for what ailments.
Couples therapy and marriage counseling, also known as relationship counseling, helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. Some examples of common focuses within couples therapy and marriage counseling include:
The types of therapy used in couples and marriage counseling include:
At Thriveworks, Couples/marriage therapy is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples.
The Gottman Method of couples therapy is a research-supported approach designed to enhance relationships by bolstering the bond between partners, resolving conflicts, and fostering shared meaning in their relationship through comprehensive assessments and tailored interventions that improve communication, trust, and the overall health of the partnership.
If you’re facing persistent relationship problems, communication breakdowns, or unresolved conflicts that are impacting your emotional well-being and happiness, Couples/marriage therapy may be beneficial for you.
While marriage and couple’s counseling is typically recommended for couples who are experiencing persistent or severe relationship issues, any relationship can benefit from attending these sessions.
Marriage and couples counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.
On average, couples attend marriage and couples counseling for 12 weeks. However, couples & marriage counseling may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress.
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
Every couple has their own reasons for starting couples counseling. A licensed marriage and family therapist can address all sorts of issues, from trauma and abuse to lack of intimacy and conflict resolution. Whether you’re looking to solve a problem or simply gain tips on strengthening your relationship, a couples therapist can help you get there.
Call us at Thriveworks in Amarillo, TX when you’re ready to speak to a dedicated therapist or counselor about your relationship. We’d love to work with you and your partner.
Just as cars require the occasional checkup, so do relationships. And just like the problems that plague vehicles may range from minor air conditioner trouble to transmission repairs, the different challenges that relationships face can range in severity. But therapy can help couples address those problems no matter what they may be.
Some of the more common reasons couples pursue therapy include:
If you or your partner can relate to any of the above experiences, please consider scheduling an appointment with us at Thriveworks in Amarillo, TX. We’d love to help you work together to achieve your collective and individual goals.
A marriage or couples specialist can help you and your partner learn to:
Your therapist will use specific forms of therapy to address any concerns you may have. They may rely on the Gottman Method, Imago Relationship Therapy, or narrative therapy. Regardless of which method they choose, your provider will work with you and your partner to create a comprehensive plan to help you manage your challenges. Schedule an appointment with us at Thriveworks in Amarillo, TX to get started.
Many people schedule therapy sessions with a couples or marriage counselor to improve their relationship. The experience can provide clarity and structure. It can also be a time of self-reflection.
No matter your reason for pursuing relationship counseling, know that the team at Thriveworks is committed to helping you. That’s why we offer such services as online counseling by video and weekend and evening sessions. Plus, we accept different insurance plans and we are often able to get new clients in to meet with their provider within the same week as scheduling.
Meet with us at Thriveworks in Amarillo, TX to see how we can strengthen your relationship. We look forward to helping you.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Shown in CT
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