Amber Priestley LMFT

Couples work is one of my deepest passions and the reason I became an marriage and family therapist. When working with couples, I utilize Gottman methods based on the Sound Relationship House Theory. I work with couples dealing with a large range of relational issues from poor communication to recovering from infidelity and everything in between. I also offer pre-marital counseling to couples who are interested in starting off their relationship with a solid foundation.

There is so often a lack of resources for individuals who have intellectual disabilities are seeking an informed therapist who understand their unique needs. I have over 14 years of experience working with individuals who have disabilities. In therapy, interventions are adapted to the individual needs of the person and their support systems.

Due to the fast paced nature of society, anxiety is a very common mental health issue that clients seek therapy for. I specialize in treating individuals with anxiety diagnoses. I utilize cognitive based therapies, solution focused interventions, and integrate mindfulness techniques to address and treat clients experiencing anxiety.

It is extremely rewarding to see a couple resolve issues, develop stronger communication, and reignite the passion in their relationship. I utilize the Gottman method of therapy for couples which is based on years of couples research. Sometimes, couples wait too long to seek help. In situations where couples are already separated or divorced, therapy can still benefit both in healing old wounds, finding closure, and consciously uncoupling from their now ex-partner.

I have 14 years of experience working with individuals who experience intense emotions, outbursts, and have difficulties coping. Often these individuals also experience thoughts of self-harm or suicidal thoughts. DBT is a manualized treatment approach that seeks to balance strong emotions, impulsive actions, and strained relationships with others through skill building and development of distress tolerance. DBT involves both individual therapy and group therapy on a weekly basis.

CBT is a very effective treatment method of anxiety. Cognitive therapies work to re-frame your thoughts and change your mindset allowing you to build more effective coping mechanisms. Cognitive therapies rely on the ability to identify thoughts, patterns, and emotions and analyze their function. Therapist and client then work to re-frame these unhelpful thoughts and patterns resulting in reduced anxiety symptoms.