Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
6 therapists available in Gainesville
As a married mother of 3, I understand the challenges of life and family, as well as the anxiety and depression that can be caused...
About
As a married mother of 3, I understand the challenges of life and family, as well as the anxiety and depression that can be caused by the transitional stages of life.
I am a Registered Mental Health Intern with 1 year of experience supporting clients managing a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality, and psychosis. My work focuses on helping clients find their voice and feel heard by their family and friends. I aim to guide clients in learning how to communicate their emotions and needs effectively while recognizing that their diagnosis does not define who they are.
I earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. My therapeutic approach is holistic, empathetic, and client-centered. I help clients develop coping strategies, build emotional awareness, and strengthen communication skills to support lasting personal growth and resilience.
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, but it’s a powerful act of self-care. I encourage you to keep moving forward, reach out, schedule an appointment, and begin the process of finding clarity, healing, and connection. Together, we can help you discover the tools and confidence to reach your goals.
Education and training
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As a woman of color, I understand the unique issues of dealing with social and environmental conflicts....
As a woman of color, I understand the unique issues of dealing with social and environmental conflicts.
Kimberly Cohens is a Registered Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in assisting young adults in navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and self-worth. Kimberly strives to provide a safe, compassionate space for individuals to gain clarity, build coping skills, and foster resilience. She has worked with children in the foster care system and with patients of all ages in psychiatric hospital settings. Kimberly encourages clients to explore various negative thought processes and develop healthier more meaningful ways to deal with problem areas.
Kimberly received her Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She utilizes a variety of approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based methods.
Kimberly is passionate about helping others reach their goals and believes everyone has strengths that they can use to overcome even the most challenging circumstances. She brings a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to helping others reach their full potential and would be honored to work with you!
My role is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, supportive environment that will allow you to grow in awareness of yourself and modi...
My role is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, supportive environment that will allow you to grow in awareness of yourself and modify the things that create chaos and rigidity in your life, allowing you to optimize your health.
I am a Registered Clinical Social Work Intern with 24 years of experience supporting trauma survivors, including those affected by sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and homicide. I also work with clients managing anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and respect for each client’s journey. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where humor, vulnerability, and healing can coexist as clients move toward a more fulfilling life.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University. My integrative approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy, crisis intervention theory, and a strengths-based perspective. I am trained in eye movement desensitization reprocessing and have experience supporting individuals and caregivers in the neurodivergent community.
Life can feel overwhelming, and we all need community—especially during difficult times. Reaching out for help is a brave step. My goal is to provide a compassionate, empowering space where clients can rediscover their resilience and begin writing new chapters of healing, clarity, and growth.
I’ve learned that having a safe, judgment-free space to explore your experience can be crucial in times of stress....
I’ve learned that having a safe, judgment-free space to explore your experience can be crucial in times of stress.
I am a Registered Mental Health Counselor resident in the State of Florida. I work with clients from diverse backgrounds and age groups who may be navigating challenges such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, cultural struggles, or workplace concerns. I focus on helping clients build the tools and skills they need to cope with stress while also exploring the deeper issues impacting their emotional and mental well-being.
I hold a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University. My approach to care is holistic and integrative, blending evidence-based techniques with client-centered support. I believe every person knows themselves best, so I tailor therapy to meet individual needs and preferences in a safe, healing environment.
I am committed to walking alongside you as you work toward healing and growth. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, grief, depression, or life transitions. I will provide a supportive space where you feel heard and empowered. Together, we can create healthier patterns and meaningful change so you can move forward with confidence.
When I began this journey as a therapist I thought my role was simply to help others, but I've learned that as my clients grow and...
When I began this journey as a therapist I thought my role was simply to help others, but I've learned that as my clients grow and heal, I grow too! I'm here to support you every step of the way.
Juan Cobo is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 9 years of experience. They support individuals experiencing concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, and anger, as well as mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. Juan began his career as a therapist in a psychiatric hospital and has also worked in emergency mental health, community services, and the prison system. With extensive experience across various diagnoses and settings, they specialize in helping clients achieve success and happiness while managing stress and mental health challenges.
Juan has a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. He tailors care to each client and utilizes approaches including emotionally-focused therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the Gestalt and Gottman methods.
Juan understands that seeking help can feel overwhelming, but they are here to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where healing and growth are possible. With compassion and a commitment to your well-being, Juan is ready to support you on your journey toward a more fulfilling life. Take the first step — your path to healing starts here.
I believe in providing a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, collaborative therapy space....
I believe in providing a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, collaborative therapy space.
Vanessa Cumber is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about working with clients to help them face their unique challenges and barriers and achieve more quality and fulfillment in their lives. Vanessa specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, marital and relationship issues, major life transitions, life adjustment difficulties, symptom management, and addiction. She commits to being genuine and open to doing ongoing work to develop personally and professionally.
Vanessa completed her Master's in Counseling Psychology at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She utilizes an eclectic approach to treatment, incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing.
Life happens and it is normal to feel stressed or overwhelmed. Seeking help can be scary, but Vanessa's supportive, collaborative approach lets clients feel safe and capable of moving toward desired change, growth, and healing.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My go-to approach for helping people in family therapy is to help everyone find a mutual goal for the family system. I enjoy helping families create balance and learn healthier ways to engage in their family system because people reach out for help to get relief.
I teach the following tools in family therapy: effective communication (which details learning how to verbally express yourself in non-blaming/attacking ways, with reflective listening and effective language) and how to request emotional consent to avoid assumptions and unrealistic expectations. Additionally, I teach problem-solving, decision-making skills, how to emotionally support each other, and how to compromise as a unit without dismissing anyone.
I know a client is making meaningful progress in family therapy when everyone can report that there's improvement within the family unit, consistent behavior shifts, and symptom relief reporting by family members.
Clients can supplement their time in family therapy by checking in with each other between sessions and carving out time to work on their assigned tasks when they are not in sessions. As a clinician, I believe in assigning tasks to help develop the skills we are learning in sessions for a continuum in my clients' day-to-day lives because the goal is for them to maintain those skills when they are no longer in therapy.
To prepare for their first family therapy session, families can sit down together and come up with 1-3 goals for therapy. Identify what is the most important to address first to help build their treatment plan and start the ground running once they enter therapy.
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 Gainesville, FL 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 Gainesville, FL 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.
Perhaps you’re also looking to help your family members to overcome resentment, hostility, and other emotions that are harming your relationships. Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL has providers who can assist you: Our family therapists can offer you and your loved ones new ways to communicate and compromise. Give us a call or book online to get started today.
Instead of wondering whether therapy is needed, it’s better to remember that a therapist or counselor can help improve anyone’s interpersonal relationships, no matter their age or situation. That’s because family therapy is about removing the obstacles preventing you from seeing each other and communicating healthily.
Family therapy is something that will benefit you and your loved ones at any stage in your relationship, regardless. Interpersonal relationships and personalities will vary between families, but our family therapists at Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL can help extended families or households who are struggling with:
These are only a few of the many ways that our home and family lives can become unpleasant and hostile. Use your own judgment to determine if your own family’s dynamics are out of line and could be repaired with professional assistance. The family therapists at Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL can address your unique concerns and help you figure out what solutions will work best.
Our family therapists can help families by:
Session by session, a family therapist can help you all to start implementing coping methods and communication strategies to help you compromise with your parents, siblings, spouse, and kids. With a counselor’s help, even when you’re frustrated or angry, you’ll have the tools you need to avoid the conversation spiraling into an unproductive argument.
We also offer online counseling options, so even if relatives don’t live together or nearby, they can still:
If your family is ready, you can call our office to schedule an appointment—or you can book online, quickly and conveniently. Our scheduling specialists are standing by and can assist you with each step of the scheduling process. And by choosing to become a Thriveworks client, you’ll gain access to exclusive perks, including:
Choosing to confide in a family therapist with Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL is a proactive step toward building a better home life. And for extended family, or for those with empty nests, you can still foster healthier connections between your loved ones and yourself with virtual counseling.
Family therapists can offer you hope and guidance when interpersonal dynamics become negative. You can turn to Thriveworks for support when it’s needed—reach online or by giving us a call today.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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