M. Douglas Evans

Our lives involve many transitions related to couple or marital relationships, family, parenting, education, work, jobs, careers, health, retirement, aging and death. Life transitions always involve grieving the loss of what was and the uncertainty of a new beginning. Throughout my life I have worked with clients in therapy and my consulting work that are navigating toward something new in their personal and work lives.

In my work, both as a therapist and as a organizational consultant, I have witnessed the stressors people face as employees and as managers or leaders of organizations. Personal and work stressors are intertwined and often the result of trying to keep up with unrealistic responsibilities and expectations rather than having a more realistic understanding of what can be done.

In my therapy and life coaching practice I work with monogamous and non-monogamous couples, who are attempting to bridge differences and meet each others needs and expectations. One of the key factors in healthy couple relationships is to what extent partners or spouses are emotionally accessible, emotionally engaged and emotionally responsive to each other on a regular basis.

My work with couples is eclectic depending on what the partners or spouses need both as a couple and as individuals. I primarily use a Systems approach and Emotionally Focused Therapy approach. In addition. However, I borrow from other's work like John Gottman when relevant. In addition, I will give brief homework or related readings that may highlight or reinforce the issues and concerns surfacing in our therapy session. On my website I have recommended books and other sources that may be help

My work with interpersonal relationships come from a variety of resources, but also uses a Systems approach which is primarily process oriented. All behavior can be seen as relevant communication meaning and relationship. Relationships involve content and process, but process is key in terms of getting and receiving messages, as well as, maintaining a healthy Rrelationship.

My use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involves helping clients identify their problematic narratives and beliefs that are causing behavior or emotional states that are getting in the way of moving toward their desired outcomes. Next is learning to challenge and reframe their problematic narratives or beliefs so they are able to redirect, counter, neutralize or let go, in order to focus more on what they want to happen in their lives, rather than what they don't want to happen.