Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Chattanooga
If one has courage, nothing can dim the light that shines from within....
About
If one has courage, nothing can dim the light that shines from within.
Caitlin Merritt is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 6 years of experience working with clients of all ages. Caitlin is also passionate about working with children and adolescents, though her scope of practice has included working with individuals across all life stages. She specializes in treating a variety of mood disorders, trauma, stress-related disorders, ADHD, behavioral concerns, and adjustment disorders as well as family conflict.
Caitlin completed her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, after obtaining her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Thanks to her personal and professional experiences thus far, Caitlin has a knack for helping children, teens, families, and individuals work through their own life stressors while providing a supportive environment for growth. To do this, Caitlin utilizes evidence-based approaches (including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy (NT), Humanistic therapy (HT), and play therapy techniques (PT) to provide integrative care for her clients.
It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps toward change. Caitlin is confident in her ability to support and empower you on this journey. If you are interested in taking that next step for yourself or your child, schedule your appointment with her today.
Education and training
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Just as no two people are alike, the pathway to recovery is different for everyone. I am a big believer in meeting a patient where...
Just as no two people are alike, the pathway to recovery is different for everyone. I am a big believer in meeting a patient where they are at and helping them decide on and move towards the next steps to wellness, on their own terms.
Lance Pritchard is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 8 years of experience in the mental health field. Lance is passionate about helping people identify and conquer the obstacles that stand in the way of them achieving the wellness and stability that they are striving for. He specializes in addictions, anxiety, depression, grief, and stress. After working in substance abuse treatment facilities for most of his career, Lance has accumulated a lot of experience working with folks struggling with addictions and the associated mood, relational, and other issues that frequently go along with that.
Lance completed his Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Adventist University in beautiful Collegedale, TN. He has a great deal of experience using behavioral interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as integrating motivational interviewing and some solution-focused ideas into his therapeutic work. Lance brings a combination of real-world experience and technical knowledge to the table in a way that helps his clients feel heard, understood, and cared for. He emphasizes creating lasting change through identifying and changing negative beliefs that a client may have about themselves, the world around them, and their own ability to interact with that environment.
Lance will work with you to amend impaired thinking, change negative behaviors, and to develop a meaningful spiritual connection with a higher power of your own understanding. Maintaining a sense of wellness or making lasting positive change in your life is difficult even when things are going well around you. When you consider the amount of turmoil and chaos present in our society today, it is causing people who would normally be very functional and stable to struggle and falter under the pressure. This environmental stress also hurts those who may already be struggling with mental health or addiction issues, causing these conditions to worsen. This is nothing to be ashamed of, but also not something to be ignored. Lance doesn't have any magical answers, and doesn't promise that things will suddenly get easier; but he has the experience, empathy, and compassion to help you on the next leg of your journey to wellness. If you are looking for someone to empathetically walk with you through your current struggles, and to help you navigate upcoming hurdles as well, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with Lance today!
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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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 Chattanooga, TN 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 Chattanooga, TN 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
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