Discover how starting couples therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Norfolk
I believe healing happens through genuine connection, and I strive to create a warm, compassionate space where clients feel truly ...
About
I believe healing happens through genuine connection, and I strive to create a warm, compassionate space where clients feel truly seen, supported, and empowered to grow.
I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Sue Ann McCray, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree from Boston University. I graduated in 2017, and I have 8+ years of experience supporting adolescents, teens, and adults facing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, stress, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I also work with those in early recovery from substance use. I provide individual therapy, creating a collaborative, reflective space to build insight, resilience, coping skills, and personal growth.
My approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, and grounded in compassion, acceptance, and respect. I use evidence-based methods tailored to each individual’s needs, to help clients feel seen, heard, and empowered to pursue meaningful, lasting growth.
My care style is warm and collaborative. I create a safe, supportive space where you can feel heard and understood as we work toward meaningful change. Together, we’ll build coping skills, resilience, and self-awareness at a pace that feels right for you. You don’t have to face life’s challenges alone—I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Education and training
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As a therapist, I feel very fortunate to work in a field where I am helping and supporting others as they work on their personal g...
As a therapist, I feel very fortunate to work in a field where I am helping and supporting others as they work on their personal goals.
Sarah Stovall is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 15 years of broad experience in the mental health field. She is dedicated and compassionate about helping others grow, develop healthy relationships, and strengthen their overall emotional well-being. Sarah works with children, adolescents, adults, and families to address their personal challenges. She specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma-related issues, PTSD, relationship issues, parenting, and adjustment to recent life changes.
Sarah completed her Master's degree in Psychology at Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino, CA. She has since used her skills and knowledge with all types of clients, where she has observed positive growth and change in others who have overcome many challenges. Sarah utilizes multiple treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), solutions-focused therapy (SFT), family systems (FST), parent-child relations, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT).
Sarah has a great understanding of many different challenges and life experiences that come to each and every one of us. She also has the tools and techniques to offer supportive change. Sarah has the genuineness, open mind, and willingness to work together with you to support whatever challenges you might be facing. She looks forward to you scheduling your first session.
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 couples/marriage counseling is providing an objective and client-centered supportive approach for working towards identified goals for the couple. I find the best benefit with the use of communication skills/techniques to support increased communication and understanding within the relationship. Additionally, teaching CBT skills to help support interpretation and management of negative thinking to increase awareness of any distorted thinking that may be contributing to negative communication or tension.
I teach the following tools in couples/marriage counseling:
I know a client is making meaningful progress in couple/marriage counseling when they are demonstrating reduction in their symptoms related to identified goals and reporting an improvement in the relationship.
Clients can supplement their time in couples/marriage counseling with application of interventions and other skills learned to support their goals.
To prepare for your first couples/marriage counseling session, you can expect an intake to be provided to gather further historical and current information to help identify and support development of appropriate treatment goals.
Thriveworks Couples therapy helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. It is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples. Some examples of common focuses within couples therapy include:
Couples therapy works by helping couples identify and better navigate their unique challenges. Following an initial assessment of the couple in terms of strengths and needs, the therapist would then discuss their therapeutic goals and any possible approaches or ways of working together as therapist and couple.Couples attend sessions together, whether they meet in person or by video. In addition to regular couples therapy sessions, each partner may also be asked to attend a few individual sessions to supplement their progress. This will allow their counselor to get to know each individual better, assess each of their personal needs, and develop the very best treatment plan moving forward.
Couples therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and via Online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.
On average, couples attend couples therapy for 12 weeks. However, couples therapy may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress.
Couples therapy is a type of therapy specifically geared to help couples work through their challenges and improve their relationship as a whole. If you and your partner are having trouble working through your challenges or would simply like a couples therapist’s input, consider reaching out to Thriveworks Norfolk Counseling.
Thriveworks Norfolk has couples therapists who specialize in treating and addressing relationship issues.
Couples therapy can prove helpful to any and every couple out there: from those who have been together for years to those who are only beginning to build their relationship:
For example, if you and your partner are stuck in a rut, your Thriveworks Norfolk couples therapist can 1) help you determine why intimacy is lacking, 2) improve your intimacy, 3) offer support during these tough conversations about intimacy and affection in your relationship, and 4) provide therapeutic techniques for keeping that flame alive now and always.
If you and your partner are struggling with a specific challenge or conflict, the couples therapists at Thriveworks Norfolk Counseling can help. If, on the other hand, you’re just looking for professional guidance in building a stronger or happier relationship, our couples therapists can help then, too.
The “downs” in your relationship, or the relationship issues that you encounter, might include:
The items on this list are many. Whatever it is you have going on, don’t be afraid to talk to your Thriveworks Norfolk couples therapist about it. They’ve seen it all, and they always offer a supportive space free of judgment for working through these relationship issues.
If you’re ready for a happier, healthier relationship, reach out. Thriveworks Norfolk Counseling is here to help, and we’re ready to get you scheduled now. To schedule couples therapy at Thriveworks Norfolk Counseling, call us today or schedule online.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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