Tabitha Scheffler (she/her)

I have experience working with couples who are struggling with communication, intimacy issues, and phase of life changes. Often the couples I see have struggles that relate to past experiences that have impacted their ability to trust, move forward, and connect with one another. We often carry with us old and unhelpful ways of thinking that are holding us back. Working through these barriers can help us as individuals and within our relationships.

Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked for over several years as a social worker within the foster care system with foster children and with families seeking to adopt. My experience on both sides of the issue has helped me appreciate the challenges both adoptees and their parents face as they seek to bring together different worlds, navigate identity issues, and struggle with the grief and loss that inherently leads to adoption.

I have found that we are all better off when we know our own worth and surround ourselves with others who see it too. The majority of the clients I work with have struggled with self-worth, which has impacted their lives in countless ways. Even the clients who begin therapy for other reasons, have told me they like themselves more after participating in therapy. Helping others see their own worth is something I am passionate about as it helps us live the life we deserve.

As a systemic therapist, I believe the relationships we have impact us in so many ways. Making sure the relationships we have are healthy and strong improves our connections, but also our mental health. This includes having healthy communication, boundaries, and mutual trust. All relationships experience ups and downs, but how we handle the hard times matters. In my relational work, there is a focus on repairing connection when it is damaged, so that we can return to a sense of harmony.

I use a combination of narrative therapy and collaborative language therapy in my work. I believe that, while I am an expert on mental health, the client is the expert on their life/experiences. I love working together with a client to establish goals, determine priorities, and seek solutions. I believe there is significance in the stories we tell ourselves about our lives, and changing the narrative can have a positive impact on our thoughts, feelings, and behavior.