Philadelphia Area Couples Counseling Alliance

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Jacqueline Summers, M.A.

has a profound understanding of the world of couples in distress. With warmth, wisdom, and professional expertise, she helps couples to make positive changes to achieve a mature, nourishing, and enduring love. For more than twenty-eight years, she has been committed to transforming conflict into a map for growth. She helps couples to recognize and alter dysfunctional patterns, emphasizes the importance of emotional connection, teaches remarkably empowering communication techniques, and treats the anxiety and depression that often arises from relationship issues.

Jacqueline Summers is a licensed psychologist and a Certified Imago Couples Therapist. Her prize-winning poetry has been published in magazines and anthologies in the United States and Canada, including The Saturday Evening Post and Reader's Digest.

Jacqueline Summers sees clients in her Ardmore PA office. Her office is convenient to Narberth, Lower Merion, Bryn Mawr, Broomall, Upper Darby, Wynnewood, Haverford, Havertown, Drexel Hill, Springfield, Penn Valley, Rosemont, Bala Cynwood, Manyunk and Lawrence Park.

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Lucinda Mitchell, Ph.D.

is most noted for her gifted ability to empathically connect with each partner in a distressed couple. This helps to bridge and soften the gap and enables them to learn new ways to communicate their needs and conflicts. Couples find that developing new skills and unlearning old destructive habits are fundamental to the recovery of a good marriage.

Just learning how to talk and listen to one another in new ways is a key. Taking time to heal a marriage and repairing intimacy can be painful, but Dr. Mitchell's sensitive and expert skill helps many couples achieve rewarding and permanent results.

Dr. Mitchell is a licensed professional counselor and a nationally certified analyst. Her research and publications include extensive work on infidelity and obsessive love.

Dr. Mitchell sees clients in her Philadelphia Center City office near Rittenhouse Square.

Call 888-242-1720 Now for a Free Initial Telephone Consultation

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Jeannette Samanen, Ph.D.

loves helping couples work through their power struggles to achieve a loving relationship based on open communication and mutual respect.

For over 30 years she has been helping people learn what they can do differently to get more of what they need, want and deserve. The only person you can control is yourself. Learning to change your own behavior can result in benefit for you, your partner and your relationship.

An important part of this process is helping partners to improve their communication. Learning to be a better listener is almost always the key to better communication and enhanced relationship satisfaction. Through improved communication an atmosphere of safety and trust is established in which old wounds can be healed and true intimacy created.

Jeannette has specialized in relationship counseling and sex therapy since her graduate training 30 years ago. Eighteen years ago she was certified in Imago Therapy, the highly effective approach to relationship therapy developed by Harville Hendrix, the author of Getting the Love You Want.

Dr. Samanen's office is located in Phoenixville PA near Valley Forge and is convenient to King of Prussia, Norristown, Norriton, Royersford and Collegeville PA.

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Sandi Cohen, Ph.D.

brings her wisdom, compassion and 28 years of experience in marriage and family counseling to help individuals and couples in all relationships, including traditional, interfaith, interracial, gay, lesbian and alternate lifestyles. She respects the individuality of each person and teaches highly effective communication skills and creative problem solving as she helps couples enrich and enliven their lives.

Dr. Cohen received her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, is a certified mediator, and has published articles on cross-cultural families and cultural differences in marital role expectations. She has appeared on many radio shows and presented at numerous national and international conferences, focusing on the impact of issues of infertility and adoption.

Dr. Cohen sees clients from her Mount Airy office in Philadelphia PA. Her office is convenient to Chestnut Hill, Germantown, Andorra and Roxborough.

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Judith Lowenthal Psychologist, Ph.D.

is proactive, practical, and rarely glib. She works to build on the strengths in relationships. She has 35 years of experience working with individuals, couples and families. Her patients describe her as compassionate, warm, intuitive, non-judgmental and perceptive. She loves her work and feels fortunate to share the struggles and the triumphs of my patients. She has helped people make positive changes and fresh starts. She believes that finding love and success are choices.

"I am challenged by diverse lifestyles and working with individuals from different cultures, ages, ethnic groups, and sexual orientations," opines Dr. Lowenthal.

I have raised three children, and I believe that often parents are only as happy as their saddest child. I work well with adolescents and young adults. I have the maturity and life experience to understand the challenges of chronic illness, disability, aging, grief and care giving.

I am a positive, supportive, and creative therapist who actively participates in the process of change. I try hard to support marriages, relationships, and families. I would be happy to speak with you if you need more information. Please call with any questions.

Dr. Lowenthal works from her office in Elkins Park PA. Her office is convenient to Northeast Philadelphia, Jenkintown, Abington and Willow Grove PA.

Call 888-242-1720 Now for a Free Initial Telephone Consultation

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Larry Schwab, Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT LMFT

is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist based in Media, PA and Wilmington, DE. He has treated individuals, couples and families for 21 years, and has supervised other therapists.

"I believe that it is the relationships we have with each other that determine our peace of mind and quality of life. It is through relating more clearly with each other that we can improve our lives. Couples often enter therapy feeling disappointed and disillusioned. It is important for them to leave the first session with a sense of hope and anticipation of better ways of communicating and being intimate with each other"

Larry Schwab sees clients at his office in Media PA and Wilmington DE. He serves clients from the surrounding areas of Newtown Square, Westtown, Ridley Park, and Chadds Ford PA as well as the state of Delaware and northern Maryland.

Larry Schwab is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and has a Masters degree in Family Therapy from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia.

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Dr. Laurence Minter Psychologist, Ph.D.

provides a non-judgmental, empathic atmosphere for clients, he is able to quickly and skillfully focus on core difficulties. He works effectively with diverse concerns, specializing in depression, anxiety, sexual and relationship issues. He provides individual therapy, life coaching and couples counseling. Treatment is adapted to the individual and collaborative, typically including self-help homework between sessions. Various well-proven techniques are employed depending on personal needs. Focusing on client strengths helps realize personal goals. As a multimodal therapist, many methods may be employed to achieve the desired outcome. Some examples would be hypnosis, cognitive-behavior therapy, visualization, relationship enhancement and mindfulness.

Dr. Minter works from his Doyelstown PA office and serves Bucks County, New Hope Warrington, Horsham and Lansdale PA.

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Natasha S. Chang, M.S.

is a systems oriented practitioner specializing in individuals, couples, and family therapy. She is particularly skilled at incorporating two evidenced based approaches to couples therapy, that of John Gottman at the Gottman Institute in Seattle, WA and of Susan Johnson in Ottawa, Canada. Natasha's primary emphasis is on using Dr. Johnson's Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples.

It is a very exciting time to be in this field with a map to explore what is common to all humans on the planet: human emotion and attachment (or its loss). Natasha works with individuals, couples and families to improve communication resolve conflict and achieve a greater satisfaction and joy in their relationships. Natasha helps couples establish or restore intimacy in their relationship, even after such traumatic events such as an affair. She is known for her work with nontraditional families, families/couples with a member recovering from addiction and co-parenting after divorce. Multiculturally sensitive therapy and larger context issues are a focus in her practice. Natasha works out of offices in Ardmore, PA as well as Center City, Philadelphia.

She provides therapy for couples in Center City and Ardmore PA.

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Janet Cegelka, Ph.D.

has over twenty years experience mentoring couples and transforming their relationships to a state of well being which enhances the energy and creativity of each partner. She teaches couples the art of true independence. This is the ability to relate closely to one another while still maintaining a sense of self. Couples learn how to transform into loving and nurturing individuals. Through skill techniques, Dr. Cegelka helps partners grow separately as individuals, while still being intimate together. According to Dr. Cegelka, key elements that all human beings strive for are unity and independence

Dr. Cegelka is a licensed professional counselor, certified grief counselor, board certified forensic addiction counselor and certified hypnotherapist. Dr. Cegeka sees clients in her Yardley office, which is convenient to Levittown, Bensalem, Makefield, Washington Crossing, Newtown, Langhorne and Morrisville.

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Rita Porreca, LMFT

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I focus on understanding my client's problems and interaction patterns within their existing environment. Whether working with individuals, couples, families or groups I view the presenting issue from a relationship perspective that incorporates family systems. I make every effort to remain impartial and help each person identify and own their contribution to the current situation. Couples struggling with becoming new parents, parenting teenagers, facing the empty nest, torn between the demands of their parents and children, two careers or loss of health or employment are issues that many marriages face. Let me help you, Help yourself through challenging times by finding your inner power, wisdom and love. Life is a journey. Let me accompany you through the rough terrain.

Rita is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Board Member of the Pennsylvania Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and member of the American Academy of Bereavement.

She has worked extensively with engaged couples providing pre-marital education, consultation and counseling. Bereavement including: death of a spouse, miscarriage, loss of a child or loss of physical capabilities due to illness or injury are also issues that she works with and has personal experience.

Rita Porreca's Office is located in Wayne PA on the corner of W. Valley Road and Swedesford Rd near the Gateway Shopping Center. It is a red brick, 2-story office building. Use the entrance to the building from parking lot.

From Gateway Shopping Center, exit on the Outback side, turn left onto Swedesford Rd and my office is at the corner at the first light which is W. Valley Road.

From PA turnpike exit at Valley Forge and follow directions from Route 76.

From Route 76 or Route 422, exit at Swedesford Road. Turn left onto Swedesford Road. Continue on Swedesford Rd to W. Valley and office is on south west corner.

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Megan Norris

Megan Norris, MS, LMFT offers comprehensive counseling services to individuals, couples, and families in the Pittsburgh area. With a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University, Megan has counseled numerous people with a variety of problems for over 8 years.

Megan believes that we all have the ability and desire to form and maintain healthy relationships in our lives. She recognizes, however, that all too often, the demands of work, family, and household responsibilities take precedence over our most important relationships, consequently leading to the deterioration of our most intimate relationships. Inevitably, negative interactions begin to replace the once-existing respectful and supportive communication. Anger and resentment may set in. Fear and withdrawal may occur. Before long, we start to wonder, "is this worth it?" because it seems like the good parts of the relationship are too often overshadowed by the not-so-good ones.

If you are wise, you are able to recognize that the negative feelings you are having toward the other person is not because you no longer love him/her. Rather, the negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are a result of the lack of attention you both have given each other and the relationship. Maybe you start to realize that the qualities which attracted you to each other still exist, but they just got forgotten along the way. You want to work on the relationship but things have gotten so bad that you aren't sure where to start. Even your best efforts don't seem to be changing anything.

The good news is that distressed couples often find it helpful to work with someone who can guide and help them. It is never too late to have a better relationship. With a renewed commitment to each other and the process of therapy, anyone can overcome the hurt and anger which may have developed because of the lack of attention given to the relationship. Scheduling that first appointment is a big step toward change. Megan looks forward to being a part of your transformation.

Call 888-242-1720 Now for a Free Initial Telephone Consultation

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