Meet our team of Specialized Couples Therapists

If you're reading this blog, chances are you're looking for a clinical psychologist trained to provide high-quality couples therapy and marriage counseling.   Wellness Psychological Services in Tampa and St. Petersberg, FL had a team of highly-trained therapists ready to help you and your partner, read on to learn more about each one.

Meet Couples Therapist Evangelin Browne LMFT      

SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND APPROACH TO COUPLES THERAPY:

• Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Gottman Method Therapy

As a relationship counseling specialist, I support couples through the Developmental Stages of a Relationship. When couples come to counseling they usually express concerns surrounding a lack of communication amongst other concerns. However, lack of communication is a symptom of a larger problem. I typically see problems arise when couples move from the beginning "we are a couple" phase of their relationship to the "we are different" phase. Tension often arises when partners struggle to express their own individual needs and desires, or listen to the needs and desires expressed by their partner. Especially if they differ from their own. I know your conflict may seem unsolvable, but it's likely not. Hold strong. Be curious and get to know your partner. This is an important part of laying a solid foundation for your relationship and furthering your connection to each other. It takes work to reach the fruit in a mutually affirming relationship, but you can do it together. It's not easy to reach the fruit together, it will take perseverance, build new skills to see beyond what you thought you knew and might have not known.

The Phases of Therapy

It takes work to reach the fruit in a mutually affirming relationship, but you can do it together. It's not easy to reach the fruit together, it will take perseverance, build new skills to see beyond what you thought you knew and might have not known. The next phase is “I want to be independent,” another area of growth and disruption. This is when one partner wants to develop a personal identity apart from the couple's relationship. The "I want to be independent " phase can often cause issues as well. This usually happens when one partner wants to build an identity that is separate from their partners. However, you can overcome these challenges as you learn to "move close and move away." During this phase of a relationship, a couple works to move closer together but still be able to pull apart without causing distress or tension in their relationship. Lastly, the final phase is "one plus one is greater than two." This is where copies become mutually interdependent and have a successful relationship. I don't usually see couples at this point. Relationships are a vital part of human life. To ensure success, you need to understand each other and communicate effectively.

Meet Couples Therapist Justine Devlin Ph.D.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING & APPROACH

• Cognitive-Behavioral Couples Therapy for Trauma
• Imago Interpersonal Couples Therapy
• Discernment Counseling
• Gottman Method Therapy

Psychological literature shows that humans need connection for survival. In fact, a study showed that babies monkeys prefer a soft place to rest when taking a bottle versus receiving a bottle from a wire monkey. This shows that they value connection and love over their basic need for food. Humans are much the same, they want to feel loved, cared for, and connected to others in their important relationships. When you're relationships are strained or tense it has a negative impact on our wellbeing. This leads to the inability to trust others to provide love, security, and intimacy. It also instills the belief that we are not worthy/lovable. Relationships are powerful and finding healing through Gottman Therapy, couples behavior therapy, couples therapy for PTSD (if one or both partners have trauma), and family systems therapy, can help. I will work with you and your partner to decide what is best for you.

Identifying the Root of the Issue

As a therapist, I work to find the underlying cause of distress in your relationship. I want to know how these issues have impacted all the various facets of your relationships. Once these concerns are known, I will work with you to create goals for your relationship and fix any unhealthy relationship dynamics by replacing them with helpful and healing communication. We will talk about ways the skills you can use to solve your relationship concerns and figure out what works and does not work in your relationship. When you reconnect with your loved ones: your partner, family member, or other significant people, it will have an invaluable impact on your wellbeing. I work passionately to create a safe space where you will feel heard. I believe that in therapy the individual is the client but in couples therapy, the partners are the client as the goal is to heal and grow the relationship.

Meet Couples Therapist Patricia Cabrera Ph.D.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING & APPROACH

• Emotion-Focused Therapy
• Cognitive Behavior Couples Therapy
• Gottman Method Therapy

Our relationships with others influence our mental and emotional wellbeing, for better, or for worse. Our early life experiences, especially disappointments, broken relationships, and other hardships can make it hard to have a healthy relationship. But, healthy relationships with others lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

My Approach to Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling

In therapy, I assist clients in exploring salient experiences and patterns and identifying needs and wants to better understand themselves in the context of relationships. I also help clients evaluate behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that could be altered to create and/or improve the quality of important relationships. In couples therapy, I specialize in working with couples who wish to improve communication, rebuild emotional, physical, and sexual intimacy as well as strengthen emotional resilience. I have advanced training in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I often integrate concepts and skills from both therapeutic approaches to inform my clinical work, but ultimately, I utilize the therapeutic approach that best reflects the couple’s preferences, needs, and presenting concerns. My goal in therapy is to assist clients in exploring their life experiences and patterns, so they can identify their needs and better understand themselves in the context of their relationships. I work with my clients to examine the behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that could be changed to better the quality of their relationship. Then, we work on rebuilding emotional, physical, and sexual intimacy while strengthening emotional resilience. I have advanced training in Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I use both concepts and skills in my clinical practice. But, most importantly I use a therapeutic approach that is tailored to meet your unique needs, preferences, and concerns.

Meet Couples Therapist Brittany Carswell Ph.D.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING & APPROACH

• Gottman Method Therapy (Level 3)
• Relational Life Therapy
• Certified Discernment Counselor
• Emotion-Focused Therapy

Dr. Carswell has a waitlist and is not currently accepting new patients.

Begin Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling in Tampa, FL

We appreciate you spending and learning more about our caring therapists. Our clinicians would be honored to help you at either our Tampa, FL-based counseling practice. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps:

1. Contact Wellness Psychological Services
2. Meet with a caring therapist
3. Start improving your relationship

Other Services Offered at Wellness Psychological Services

Couples therapy and marriage counseling isn't the only service provided at our Tampa, FL-based counseling practice. We offer marriage counseling, divorce discernment counseling, support through a divorce, and mediation for couples. For individuals, we also offer anxiety treatment, trauma therapy, depression counseling, OCD treatment, and stress management. Learn more about our St. Pete and Tampa, FL therapy offices, or learn more about our testing and evaluation services!