EVOLVE THERAPISTS

OUR COUNSELING TEAM

Owner of Evolve Therapy

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist and Supervisor

I consider it an honor and privilege to do the work I do. My role is to empower you, inspire hope, and restore love and respect in your relationship and for yourself. 

I understand that for many clients, this is a big step. It requires vulnerability, honesty, trust, and a willingness to be open to something that may be out of your comfort zone. It takes courage to ask for help especially when you are hurting. And this is the first step in evolving to a more positive place for you and for your relationship. 

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I have clinical interests in attachment science, bonding, the mind-body connection and the developmental aspects of trauma as they relate to healing and the therapeutic process.

In our work together, I will get to know a lot about you. It’s only fair that you learn about me before we start our work together. 

I have been married for 33 years and have two adult children. I know personally both the joys and the challenges that married life can bring. I have been a yoga teacher since 2006, and I practice yoga and meditate daily to keep me grounded and fully present throughout the day. I am a runner and have completed two marathons and several half marathons and I love biking, swimming, lifting weights and doing high intensity workouts. When I am not working or working out, I am usually found outside, I love coffee and dark chocolate. I also love to read and watch movies, I often reference movies and books during my sessions, although it is never a requirement for therapy.

My greatest joy is helping couples heal and restore the love, respect and connection between them. I am often told by my clients that I help them feel more bonded to one another and more at ease with themselves throughout the therapy process. My clients also tell me that I am warm, direct and clear. I am not a therapist that “just sits there”, I am active during the sessions.

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 Renee in the 

 Media 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Marriage and Family Therapy Intern

I believe one of the most important aspects of life is connection with the ones you love. Strengthening the connection between you and your loved ones brings joy and healing. Given that living life can bring disconnection to loved ones, my job is to help you conquer those barriers so that you can enjoy your relationships and be much closer.

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I am currently working to attain my license in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have a passion for helping and serving others. My background consists of serving people in the Information Technology field for 6 years. I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Although I enjoyed my time in the I.T. field, I have always wanted to help people in a more direct and personal way.

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With my extensive background in Information Technology, I am well aware of the positive and negative impacts it can have on people and relationships. While internet culture can offer a tremendous amount of knowledge, wisdom, and entertainment, it can also be the cause of many of life’s largest problems. I am here to help with these problems by creating safety.

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I have clinical interests in grief and loss, addiction, life transitions, relationship conflict, and premarital counseling. My goal will be to listen, collaborate, validate, and support you with whatever struggles you may be facing.  Using Emotionally Focused Therapy, I will help you and your partner grow closer together while increasing each other’s positive sense of self.

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I have been married for 7 years and I enjoy spending time with friends, hiking, bringing our husky to the dog park, playing with our cats and staying up to date on the latest TV shows. During my free time I enjoy playing board games, Dungeons & Dragons, video games, ultimate frisbee, football or any other team-based activities.

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It would be my pleasure to work with you as you grow stronger individually and in your relationships. 

Email Lukas