Couples Counseling & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Heal your past, present, future, and your children’s future, by learning to reconnect to your self and your partner.
Approach to Change
I see counseling like physical therapy, but for your emotions and your brain.
Rather than just talking about change we are going to do the change in session.
My role is not to be an “oracle” only doling out advice, strategies and skills. Instead I am an emotional trainer actively guiding our conversation so you can experience change directly in session.
I started viewing therapy as an “emotional workout” experience once I realized my practice attracted clients who had already seen several therapists, people who knew all the healthy skills, and people knew how to Google good strategies. They were still struggling in times of stress, high emotional reactivity with their spouse, or days when OCD and Anxiety was flaring.
This disconnect of having a lot of knowledge and not being able to implement it when most needed is common.
Our brain has different sections: a logic section, emotional section, and fight, flight, or freeze section. The logic and emotion sections need to be active in therapy, experiencing something new in order for the information to be integrated in all the sections of the brain (and even the body memory) so that we can access it later when emotions are high.
For example, if you only ever read about how to lift weights, but don’t ever practice. It will feel weird to do it. The weird feelings might lead you to avoid it. And then the new skill might not be learned.
However, if you learn how to lift weights with a personal trainer, your logic brain, body, and emotional brain learns how to do the activity in an integrated way.
I have sought out therapeutic training that brings this integrated type of experience to the therapy room. After getting to know each other and learning some basic skills, by session 5 or 6 we are gently exploring more emotional experiences relevant to your life.
Clients bring in scenarios from their week and I help them get in touch with what their body is telling them, what their emotions are saying, what their thoughts are wanting to communicate. When working with couples I also help each partner learn to say what they really want to say while utilizing healthy communication skills.
This speeds up healing because once you have felt the new way of doing things, new neural pathways form- right there in session, and your brain will know how to recreate the change outside of session.
Often couples and clients mention that sessions with me feel like an emotional workout. I am pleased to hear this because it means emotional muscles are getting strengthened and change is occurring.
ACT Based Exposure Therapy
Internal Family Systems Informed
Emotion Focused Couples Therapy
Gottman Leader Trained
“We come together on the basis of our similarities; we grow on the basis of our differences.”
— Virginia Satir
In-person and remote options
My office is conveniently located in Fort Worth. Can’t make it into the office? No worries – I’ve got you covered with teletherapy.
Services
-
Individual
Get ready to dig deep. You’ll map and heal your internal realities beyond your thoughts and feelings. No matter what you are going through, there is a path forward. When you reconnect to your inner compass and release stuck points, you’ll have new ways to respond to your external world.
For those struggling with OCD, I utilize ACT based exposure therapy combined with IFS.
50 mins | $110
-
Couples
Life has a way of driving a wedge between lovers. It doesn’t have to be this way. You can learn to to reconnect after drifting apart or experiencing relationship ruptures. Once reconnected, you can maintain a sense of partnership through simple interactions while raising children, climbing the career ladder, and managing a household. Read more
50 mins | $110
-
Discernment
Not sure if couples counseling is for you? Save time, money, and effort and gain clarity and confidence with Discernment Counseling. For 1-5 sessions you and your partner will meet with me together and separately. You’ll gain insight about your unique relationship patterns. With this clarity you’ll have the confidence to decide between 3 options for moving forward with your relationship, or not. Read more
80 mins | $165
-
Family
When you change, it will have a ripple effect on your other relationships. Stay connected with your loved ones as you grow by learning to communicate about change in a way they can hear. Likewise learn to hold space for what comes up for them as you change.
50 mins | $110
Specialties
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Have you tried Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) before and still feel like you are “white knuckling it”?
I see individuals and couples struggling with OCD. I combine evidence based ACT Exposures and Internal Family Systems to get to the root of OCD and release you from the cycle. You do not have to keep playing compulsion “whack-a-mole”.
Anxiety
Whether it is generalized or social anxiety, I can help. Between ACT and IFS, I can guide you through external changes and internal exploration to get to the root of the problem.
Postpartum
Adding a member to the family is a stressful time. Often moms and couples neglect themselves and then end up out of balance. I can help you restore your balance and determine how to move forward as individuals and a family.
Family of Origin
What you learned while growing up with your parents may have helped you get to adulthood, but it also may be what is tripping you up in your current relationships. Get to know yourself and your patterns more deeply and expand your skills.
Infidelity
Infidelity is a symptom of a stressed relationship. Let’s discover what stressed the relationship in the first place. First we will rebuild safety & trust, then learn new patterns to get you both back on track—together.
Divorce
Do you feel stuck? Is one of you thinking about divorce or separation, but the other still wants to try coupes counseling?
Couples counseling does not work until both partners have the same goal: to go all in to save the relationship.
Discernment counseling is designed to save time, money, and effort so you can gain clarity without months of confusing couples therapy wondering why it’s not working.
Lets explore your options with Discernment Counseling.
Meet Your Therapist
-
Amanda Averbeck, M.S.M.F.T., LMFT Associate
Supervised by Gena St David, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC-S
For nearly 15 years Amanda has professionally supported family change. After obtaining her bachelors degree, she worked at The Parenting Center as a Nurturing Parenting trained Family Life Educator.
In 2015 she returned to school at Texas Wesleyan University for a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Since graduating and opening her own practice, she has written a chapter on The Satir Model in an internationally used textbook edited by Dr Linda Metcalf.
To stay abreast of the latest techniques, she participates in an international bimonthly learning group with world renowned master therapist Jean McLendon. Additionally, she attends a supervision group with Melissa Mose to receive ongoing learning and support in the latest techniques for IFS, ACT, and ERP as they are applied to OCD.
Amanda is trained in ACT based Exposure techniques, is IFS informed, Level one trained in The Satir Model, Gottman Leader Trained, and EFT familiar.
She is passionate about providing the best possible care and is always learning.
When she am not counseling, Amanda loves to read, hike, puzzle, and have deep conversations with family and friends.
Verified By
Featured In
What People Are Saying
“Amanda is compassionate, relational and thoughtful. She is well-versed in her area of expertise. I highly recommend her as a therapist!”
— Meaghan
“Amanda is a loving, sensitive and caring therapist…. Amanda is intuitive and insightful. She is an excellent therapist. I refer all of my couples and families to her.”
— Mary
“I have had the privilege of knowing Amanda as a friend and trusted colleague over the past 7 years. Amanda has the highest regard for her clients and a true passion for helping others. She is always at the top of my list when referring clients because I trust her wholeheartedly to provide the best care possible. She is a gem and anyone would be lucky to have her as their therapist!”
— Jennifer
FAQ
-
The type of therapy I practice is called Experiential therapy. You will emotionally experience the change you seek in session. Rather than me becoming an oracle for advice, strategies and skills, I take on the role of emotional trainer actively guiding our conversation so you can experience an emotional change. This speeds up healing because once you have experienced change in session your brain will know how to recreate it outside of session.
Often couples and clients mention when they leave that they feel like they have just completed a workout. I am pleased to hear this because it means emotional muscles are getting strengthened and change is occurring.
-
At this time I can provide a receipt for reimbursement so you can file with your insurance. Please call your insurance company to find out your estimated cost prior to session.
-
My rate is $110 for a therapeutic hour. I also offer an 80 min session for $165 upon request or when couples are engaging in Discernment Counseling for 1-5 brief sessions.
-
Discernment counseling is designed for couples where one partner is ready to leave the relationship and one wants to save the relationship. Couples therapy only works when both partners are fully committed to the process and the relationship. I often suggest discernment counseling when there is any ambiguity about wanting to keep the relationship. For 1-5 brief sessions, you and your partner will meet with me to gain clarity and confidence about your relationship patterns and how to move forward either together or separately. Either way I will help you put together a concrete plan.
-
Yes. The research suggests telehealth appointments are just as effective as in person appointments. My clients have even mentioned they prefer telehealth appointments because of the deep inner work done in session. They are able to go deeper from the comfort of their own homes.
-
Therapist and partners are all in the virtual space together. Each partner signs in to the virtual session room from a separate room at home and from a different device. Sessions are most effective when you have childcare, adequate internet connection, are not driving, and have the television or other distractions turned off or put away.
If you do not have a way to sign in from multiple devices, signing in from one device is still effective.
-
Yes I do! At this time I offer in person appointments on Thursdays at
6300 Ridglea Place
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Get started with Amanda Today
Please reach out via the form below!
Or call (682) 747-6166 and leave a voicemail.
I will respond before the end of the business day.
