Staying2getherRocks!!
Welcome to the web-site of
Marie Schimmelpenninck, MEd, LMFT
Arizona Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Private Practice located in dowtown Flagstaff, Arizona
Supporting Couples in All Stages of Their Relationship
Updated MAY 2012
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ABOUT MY PRACTICE
Staying2getherRocks!
As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Private Practice,
I combine PSYCHOTHERAPY, EDUCATION, and COACHING in my work with:
Individuals, Couples and Families
My Theoretical Orientation is a Combination of:
- General Family Systems
- Inter-Generational
- Developmental
- Relationship Skills & Treatment
(such as, among others, Gottman, Bader & Pearson, Gray)
One very important focus in my work is
working with couples.
It is within the Couple Relationship that we have a chance to 'grow up'.
It is where we are confronted with our worst selves.
It is the perfect "laboratory" for continuing the process of becoming our best selves.
It is where we have a chance to heal old childhood hurts.
It is where we can identify our emotional, reactive behaviors when we are confronted with stress or conflict.
It is where we can practice replacing these negative behaviors with speaking up assertively, and with understanding and compassion.
Together with our partner we can build a "Couple Identity" of mutual respect, love, and team-spirit.
It is this Team-Spirit, which values individual differences, that will get you through challenging times and will support you throughout the various phases in your relationship.
Your children will notice and learn to thrive as well.
While relationship success starts with love,
long-term happiness needs more than love alone!
After the love-"high" that melts couples together as one wears off (sorry, it really does, sooner or later!) and differences between you suddenly cloud the initial bliss, intentional love needs to be added. Goal-setting, learning how to deal with differences and stress, staying connected as a couple while your family grows, are all important tasks that require good relationship skills, such as Listening, Speaking-up, showing Appreciation, Love and Respect for your partner.
Building a strong, fun, loving and lasting relationship that can go and grow with the flow of life, is the finest and most rewarding project you'll ever undertake.
I educate and coach couples in becoming intentional in their behaviors that promote living their COUPLE VISION.
The optimal, happy, relationship is when partners are BUDDIES FOR LIFE in living that vision.
I offer Relationship Therapy, Education, Consulting, and Coaching
during all stages of your relationship project.
STAGES IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP
- PRE-MARITAL
- 2-YEAR ITCH
- FIRST BABY - FROM PARTNERS TO PARENTS
- RAISING AND LAUNCHING YOUR CHILDREN
- PULLING TOGETHER DURING UNFORESEEN ILLNESS
- MID-LIFE BLUES
- EMPTY NEST- FROM PARENTS TO PARTNERS
- RETIREMENT- STAYING BUDDIES FOR LIFE
Transitions between stages can make couples vulnerable to AFFAIRS
- I teach you how to PREVENT AFFAIRS, or how you can PICK UP THE PIECES and REBUILD AFTER ONE.
When you decide to MARRY, or become NEW PARENTS...
- Treat yourself to PRE-MARITAL EDUCATION or NEW PARENTS EDUCATION
- Get some coaching in Balancing COUPLE LOYALTY with FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN LOYALTIES.
RE-MARRIAGE and STEP-PARENTING
- These transitions require a road-map! Don't enter these territories without some guidance and skills.
- Learn to negotiate inherent LOYALTY CONFLICTS in a healthy way for all involved.
My "Looking Glass"
- I look through a MULTI-GENERATIONAL LENS and help you see how your automatic reactive behaviors you learned in your childhood may contribute to ineffective relational patterns in your relationship now. I'll help you become aware and understand these 'default' patterns and I will coach you in updating your behaviors, which will not only benefit the quality of your relationship with your partner, but with your (future) children as well.
Research Based Practice
- My work is informed by the latest research data about GENDER-DIFFERENCES and about RELATIONSHIP SUCCESS.
My Practice Format
Couples do their best work when they have at least 1 hour per session.
I schedule 60-90 min. sessions. After the initial assessment and setting of treatment goals, we schedule sessions for relationship counseling, education, and practicing relationship skills.
Homework assignments are part of our work together. The couple is responsible for making time to finish homework before the next session.
Workshops for Couples:
I offer affordable, 5-hour Couples Workshops
where couples learn and practice the skills for building, and thriving in, their relationship.
To REQUEST A BROCHURE,
or to arrange a WORKSHOP ON DEMAND
Call me at: 928-380-6460
E-mail me at: staying2gether.rocks@yahoo.com
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Everything Changes: Grow with the Flow
To learn more about my commitment to couples:
1. www.marriagefriendlytherapists.com
2. www.thefirstdance.com/premaritalbioazschimmelpenninck.php
To learn more about my professional background and credentials:
http://www.marriagefriendlytherapists.com/marieschimmelpenninck.php
To read an article about my work with couples:
http://gailgcollins.com/Writings.html#Strength_in_Partnership