RELATIONALLY FOCUSED THERAPY IN JACKSONVILLE
Improve communication & restore connection.
You want to be closer to people, but things feel hard right now.
When your alarm buzzes in the morning, you’ve already been lying awake, staring at the ceiling. As you struggle to get out of bed, the upcoming day feels lonely and heavy. The same fight, just a different day. You’re navigating a world full of people but don’t feel seen by anyone. People seem just out of reach.
Throughout the day, you wave hello or nod politely as you pass acquaintances in the hall. Any conversations you have feel shallow and rehearsed or leave you with the nagging suspicion What do they really want from me? You notice everyone around you having close friendships and relationships - inside jokes, weekend plans, someone to go home to. You have this low-grade ache in your chest as you watch others interact. Sometimes you wish you could be a part of it, but your inner voice quickly responds, You’ve tried before. People only let you down.
Later, lying in bed, you wonder why relationships are always so hard - like you never got the instruction manual everyone else seems to have. The idea of opening up feels both dangerous and exhausting, and part of you believes sharing something real will only end up with you misunderstood, judged, or worse, betrayed. It’s easier not to risk it. But another part — the quiet, hopeful one — is holding on to the idea that maybe, just maybe, it could be different.
You’re tired of feeling caught in this cycle:
Feeling like there is supposed to be more to life, so you try to invest in your friendships and relationships
You try to be open and connect, but it’s difficult to trust people.
You eventually distance yourself for protection and feel alone all over again
how i can help
Relationally focused therapy can help you learn how to connect securely
If you struggle to connect with others, feel distant even in close relationships, or find it hard to trust people — relationally focused therapy can help.
This kind of therapy focuses on your relationships: how you relate to others, how you feel in connection, and how your past experiences may be shaping your current struggles. But it’s not just about talking about relationships — it’s about having a different kind of relationship in therapy.
Your therapist works with you to build a safe, real, and supportive connection — one where you can show up fully, be yourself, and explore what makes connection difficult. As trust grows, you’ll start to notice patterns, heal past wounds, and slowly learn how to relate in new, healthier ways.
Over time, what you experience in therapy can help you feel more confident, open, and connected — not just in the therapy room, but in your life.
imagine if you…
Understood what patterns from the past are holding you back
People often repeat patterns in relationships without realizing it — like distancing themselves when they feel close to someone, or choosing partners who are emotionally unavailable. I will help you recognize these patterns, explore where they come from, understand how they show up in the present, and identify how to shift those patterns to more secure, connected dynamics with your loved ones.
Could stop second-guessing every thought and emotion
Rather than only talking about relationships in the abstract, relationally focused therapy focuses on what you feel right now — including how you feel about me, the therapy process, and yourself. These moments are opportunities for real growth in hearing and trusting what your mind and body are telling you.
Felt connected and able to go deeper in your relationships
As you gain insight and emotional safety, you’ll likely begin to take more relational risks outside therapy: being more open with friends, asserting needs in a relationship, or allowing someone to comfort them. The confidence to do so often grows out of the reparative experience of our sessions as well as the tools you will gain.
I want you to know:
Change is possible.
Let’s work together to shift insecure attachments to deeply connected, satisfying relationships.
faqs
Common questions about relationally focused therapy
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Yes and no. Couples specialists often have specialized training such as Gottman Method or Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. Shannon works from a Family Systems and Attachment Theory lens on relationships of all kinds. If you are looking for specialized training in marriage and intimacy, I can help you find a great therapist.
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It is a cliche for good reason. While your parents are not to blame for all of your problems, your early relationships with them and other caregivers, your siblings and peers, your first romantic partners are the basis for what you learned to believe about yourself, relationships, and the world at large. I have yet to meet a client in the last 15 years that doesn’t have at least a little bit of work to do on these beliefs to address the present-day symptoms.
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I provide free consultations to all new clients so we can make sure I’m the best fit for your needs. If not, I will point you in the right direction.
Ready to get started?