MEET THE TEAM
Moraya DeGeare MA, LMFT
Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist
Online Video Sessions Only
There is no greater joy in my work than helping individuals and people in relationships break through barriers created by conflict and disconnection. My purpose is to help them rebuild trust, restore love and respect for self and one another, and heal.
I’m acutely aware that you might feel uncomfortable with the idea of seeking therapy and reaching out for support when you’re feeling vulnerable. Life can be a roller coaster ride and seeking professional help through the tough times can prove to be a huge benefit with a life-long impact.
I come from a large musical family from New England and a mixed-race background, primarily African-American, Caucasian, and Japanese. I am married, and my husband is also from a mixed-race family, as well, so I know personally the challenges and joys this can bring. I have a unique level of understanding in helping mixed-race couples. Our families and cultures can bring such diverse -- and sometimes conflicting -- beliefs about how to communicate and connect in a marriage. We are also parents to a wonderful and inquisitive young son who is a joy to be around.
When I’m not in my practice, I enjoy reading, walking the lakes, playing with my son and cooking with my family. I love to travel and cook (and bring all of our heritage and cultures into the kitchen). As a teenager I was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that limits my diet and I love exploring restaurants and cooking and baking gluten-free. I am passionate about helping those newly diagnosed navigate the complexities of this challenging disease.
I utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy to help couples and individuals break out of the negative cycles we get stuck in and learn new ways to communicate and connect. My specialized clinical experience is broad, though I my expertise is helping people navigate addictions, with a focus in sexual and porn or cybersex addiction / compulsivity. I’m also adept at helping people who are in transition from one stage of life to another, whether it is newly married and starting a family, separating or divorcing, or trying to manage different life stages.
I love helping people find their voice, achieve clarity about themselves, and find calm in the chaos in life. I believe that self-awareness can help people have stronger and more meaningful relationships.
CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE
Mixed race identity development
Microaggressions in multicultural marriages
Race based trauma
Raising mixed race kids
Couples therapy
Marriage & relationship counseling
Teen counseling
Suicide survivors
Family therapy with chronic illness
Anxiety
Depression
Cultural and multicultural issues
Grief and loss
Parenting
Identity development
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ)
Education
Training
Professional Memberships
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Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
I believe in the healing power of relationships. I trust that therapeutic relationships can bring clarity, remedy, and growth into one’s life. Most of us can say that almost any issue can be bearable when we have the right people by our side.
When people struggle with relational or personal issues, they feel shame, fear, hurt, mistrust, and disconnected from themselves and the people close to them. I work with clients whose issues vary from seemingly simple to highly-complex cases. I work with individuals and couples who struggle with different relational and sexual issues taking into consideration culture, religion, and sexual preferences, as well as, personal and sexual history.
I know what it’s like to live overseas and be far from home. I also know what it means to make a home in a country where you were not born, and whose culture may at times, puzzle you. I also know how to prosper and thrive when you are surrounded by people who love you and care about you. I am who I am today and where I am at today because of loving, kind, generous, and wise people, who listened to my story and were willing to be my support when I needed it.
I understand that despite cultural differences, we all have common struggles no matter where we come from. We all want to belong, to feel loved and cared about, live happy lives, have meaningful jobs and raise healthy children. And most of us, at some point in our lives, look around and realize we no longer feel like we belong, we do not feel loved, feel miserable at our jobs, struggle with raising children and do not feel like life is pleasurable any more.
When we feel most disconnected is when we actually need to reconnect the most. I know that therapy can be a safe place to open old wounds or freshly acquired ones. Therapy is also a wise investment in one’s emotional, physical, and relational wellness.
I bring common sense, humor, and authenticity when working with clients. I am a quite direct therapist, yet I am always respectful and empathetic. Most of my work deals with the effects of trauma in people's lives, its behavioral manifestations, and its impact on relationships with others.
Carol Schirber MA, LMFT
Seeing clients in Minnetonka and Prior Lake
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
I believe that relationships in all areas of our lives are important for our well-being. I have a passion for helping people as they journey through life's difficulties and transitions and find joy and peace along the way.
Before becoming a therapist, I was an audiologist for many years. It was an honor to help patients with hearing loss as they came to understand their diagnosis and treatment options. Looking back, it was always the relational patient interaction aspect of that profession that appealed to me most. Through my own life journey, I had the opportunity to meet many gifted mental health therapists and through them I discovered my calling.
My clinical focus is working with couples who are seeking to re-establish intimacy and create a stronger lasting bond in their relationship. It can be easy to allow your relationship to become a lower priority when other parts of life seem to take up so much time. This can take a toll on the quality of the relationship over time. I often hear couples talk about having lost that special feeling and connection they once had.
I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a model of therapy that focuses on decreasing conflict, increasing positive communication, and deepening the connection between people. Though it can be hard to take that first step to repair your relationship and restore the respect and love you once had together, my purpose is to help you build the relationship that you want, need, and deserve.
Working with people who have been affected by trauma is an area of special interest and passion for me. I am trained in, and have experience with, two powerful interventions for processing trauma and associated after effects: Brainspotting and EMDR. I have seen first-hand the healing effect these can have when used within a trusting therapeutic relationship. Together we will work to process through the difficult emotions, thoughts, and memories that are tied to trauma. I also have a special interest in neuroscience as it relates to therapy and the process of change, the mind, body, and spirit connection, and mindfulness meditation.
If you are looking for help, someone to listen, or are simply curious about life changes you are experiencing, I will work with you through a collaborative therapeutic process. I believe family, friends, and community are an important part of any healing process, since effective and lasting change happens through supportive relationships and connection. With this foundational approach, I work to support couples, individuals, and families through life's challenges. I bring a gentle, mindful, client-centered and humanistic approach to therapy, focusing on your needs while listening with an open heart and spirit.
I have been married to my husband for 35 years and we have three grown daughters. We enjoy spending time together as a family when time and distance allow, and typically will pick spending time at, on, or in the lake as a favorite family activity. I am grateful to my husband and girls for the life lessons we have experienced together, and which have helped me to grow both personally and professionally. When I am not in the office, I enjoy travel, especially adventures to places I've never been, long conversations with friends, and of course Netflix! When I need to restore and recharge I turn to yoga, meditation, and walks in the woods with my dog.
I’m privileged and grateful to have the opportunity to walk with you as you find your strength and build resilience in your own healing.
CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE
Marriage/relationship difficulty
Trauma
Anxiety
Depression
Eating disorders
Grief and loss
Anger issues
Attachment issues
Body image
Conflict resolution
Parenting
Family of origin issues
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Self-esteem
Shame
Work-related issues
EFT Core Skills
Brainspotting Phase I
Education
Training
Professional Memberships
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
My greatest joy is to help people find their inner voice and personal power.
My journey to becoming a therapist has been a rather circuitous one. I earned my bachelor’s degree in business and studio arts and a master’s degree in architecture, which led me to a career in graphic design. From there, I ventured into mosaic art, teaching and creating custom installations for more than a decade. I furthered my education and received a Master of Psychotherapy, which combines my love of self-expression with a quest for deeper insight.
My source of inspiration has been raising my two boys who are now young adults. They have taught me how to listen and see things in a more open and accepting way. In my free time, I enjoy long walks with friends (both two legged and four), yoga, speaking Italian with anyone who will engage with me, and good food around a table filled with laughter and love.
Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, I work with individuals and couples. I enjoy working with clients who are struggling with stress, co-dependency, anxiety, depression, body image and relationship / communication issues that are causing personal discord. Looking at attachment patterns that are unconsciously learned in childhood, we will see where and how those patterns play out in your life and how they hold you in unhealthy beliefs. Together, we will unravel the thought processes that thrive in judgment, scarcity, blame, and fear.
Clients who work with me say they feel heard and validated. My approach is direct, and I will lovingly hold you accountable. I will probe and encourage you to continue when you feel stuck. I will empower you with tools that will help to reshape old beliefs, wrapping them in kindness and self-compassion. The healing process and positive change occurs when you gain insight into yourself and empower yourself through authentic self-expression. Clients who are most successful engage in the work and face the demons that chase them.
Liz Godes, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselsor
My favorite part of being a therapist is to witness the growth that my clients make. I want to help you develop a deeper connection with your partner and heal the pain caused by disconnection. It takes courage to start the journey towards a more respectful and loving relationship. My calling in life is to help people on their journey.
My clinical interests include issues related to relationships and sexuality. I am experienced working with individuals who have engaged in compulsive problematic sexual behaviors; these individuals have caused immense pain in their own lives and the lives of their loved ones. I believe that the sexual behavior is a maladaptive attempt to meet needs in their life. The work that we will do is to uncover these needs and help you learn how to address them. I am interested in helping couples and individuals explore what healthy sexuality means to them and I approach this topic with compassion and sensitivity.
Besides being a therapist, I am also a wife and a mother, so I understand how relationships can be both a source of strength and stress. I enjoy reading, exploring new restaurants, game night with my family, and traveling.
I have been told that I am easy to talk to and inspire feelings of hope in my clients. I strive to provide a safe space for you to discuss your thoughts and feelings, and I recognize that this may be the first time you have experienced this.
I am passionate about working with issues related to sexuality on behalf of individuals and couples. My belief is sexuality is a central part of being human. Unfortunately, you may have had negative experiences and messages about sexuality that get in your way of enjoying your sexuality to the fullest. My goal is to create a safe place and provide you with the skills necessary to grow a healthy sexual identity and improve your experiences. I am particularly interested in working with couples who experience differences in desire, performance anxiety, abuse supportive sexual interests, LGBTQAI concerns, and issues related to phase or life changes (e.g., pregnancy, post-partum, and aging). My favorite part of being a therapist is to be able to help people live a better, more fulfilling life! I believe your sexual health is a huge component.
CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE
Relationship Issues
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Sex Therapy
Parenting
Stress Management
Issues Related to Sexuality
Sexual Compulsivity
LGBTQ
Trauma
Personality Disorders
Anxiety
Depression
Sex addiction
Education
Training
Professional Memberships
