Family Therapy in Morrisville, VT

I utilize a client centered approach- talk therapy- with a goal of providing clients an opportunity to develop an improved sense of self. With heightened self awareness, clients can realize how their attitudes, feelings, and behaviors are being negatively affected by their current mental health. Trauma and DBT informed, my practice philosophy is to work collaboratively with clients to develop an understanding of the presenting problems and to find strategies to cope and improve their lives. My work focuses on emotional, cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques.

Today, you have taken an important first step by seeking therapeutic support for the challenges you are facing. Life is a wonderful journey. Though rewarding, sometimes life presents us with situations that can be difficult, overwhelming, stressful and sometimes traumatic. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT) is evidenced based and proven to help with trauma, anxiety, family, relationships, work, financial, grief, loss or addiction. My name is Mark Ferriman, Let me help you overcome these challenges through the process of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Relational issues or traumatic experiences can lead us to think, feel and relate to ourselves in ways that do not value our inner knowledge, health and resources. We will work together to restore talents, strengths and abilities that have been taken over by problematic stories. By retelling these stories and experiences with preferred outcomes we can reconnect to your dreams and goals, this often helps people develop new strategies for change and increased happiness and satisfaction.

I work with Young Children (age 8+), Adolescents, Adults, and Parents. I provide therapeutic interventions addressing issues including: anxiety, depression, ADHD, acting out behaviors, divorce/separation, grief, attachment issues, frustration tolerance issues, Trauma/PTSD, Parenting/Family conflict, relationship problems, school phobia, developmental problems, and adolescent issues. I offer play therapy for children, and psychoanalytically informed talk therapy for teens and adults. I believe that parents are a crucial part of any therapy with a child and ask that parents are actively involved in the process.

In our journeys through life we experience both pleasurable and distressing events. When these events reach a level of trauma and are not processed or effectively integrated, individuals may rely on less adaptive strategies to manage discomfort, stress and change. These strategies can negatively influence the way we perceive and interact with the world and affect our intuitive nature and our intentionality for seeking meaning and experiencing joy. My practice is informed by a deeply attuned and heartfelt approach to my client’s emotional wellbeing. I enjoy working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples and families.

What you can expect from me is kindness, patience, and empathy as we navigate you or your child's journey to mental wellness and improved relationships. I specialize in individual (all ages), couples, and family work with a focus on trauma, relational issues, effective communication skills, conflict resolution, healing broken trust, and more. I am also skilled at addressing parenting issues and developing skills and strategies for more effective parenting practices. My counseling style is person-centered and eclectic, pulling from a variety of modalities to personalize an approach that meets the individual needs of clients.

My practice is based on the premise that the relationship is key to emotional wellbeing. Life experiences and especially trauma can lead us to distort our interpretations of both our internal and external worlds. My counseling experience began in 2007 working with young people with extensive social, emotional, and behavioral needs. This inevitably raised my awareness of the importance of the family and related support systems. I spent much of my life as a professional musician and have been able to use music in my therapeutic work, supporting the development and maintenance of sharing, self-regulation, and effective communication.

Greetings! My approach is client- centered; I work to build a positive, trusting relationship that focuses on your concerns and goals. I believe that our positive and negative thoughts often control or motivate our behaviors and feelings. if we can learn to question and change our negative thoughts, we can then start to shift our feelings and behaviors towards more positive outcomes.

Life is complicated. Our history, experiences and trauma affect not only who we are but also how we interact with the world. Whether you are struggling with childhood memories, recent trauma or simply trying to find solutions to balance out life, we can process them together. Therapy is about going deep, processing the wounds that affect us and integrating them into our current selves in order to live productively and meaningfully in the world.

It is essentially human to seek physical safety, to belong to and be understood by others of our kind, and to know that we can control our lives and make a difference in our world. If you are struggling with emotional control, unwanted behavior, and difficulty with thinking and motivation, life can be especially hard.

I have been providing clinical supervision for over 15 years to interns and licensed professionals of all disciplines. It is a passion of mine to supervise and support the growth of counselors and therapists seeking licensure and I am excited to support this next step in your journey. My approach to supervision is both relational and competency based beginning with the creation of specific goals to cultivate your identity as a therapist and to crystalize your clinical approach. It is my goal to help you be fully present in the therapy room, bringing connection, humor, fun, heart, and sharp clinical skills into each session.

I believe no matter what mental, emotional or physical challenges you are living with, at the heart of being human we are all well. In today's world it is common to experience despair, anger, loneliness and stress. Without support and guidance unhealthy patterns can overwhelm our sense of well being. Together we will journey into the truth of being and discover the path that leads to wellness again. I am flexible and attend to your strengths and encourage activities derived from your own life experience that aid in your capacity to change and thrive.

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill. While life can be rewarding, it can also present its challenges. By viewing this site, you have taken the courage to make the first steps in addressing these challenges in hopes for a more successful and rewarding life. I have particular experience working with individuals that struggle with past traumas and those that have difficulties in their relationships. I am familiar working with families and systems dynamics, including those served by agencies. I work with individuals of all intellectual ability (children- adults).

As humans, we have amazing resiliency and the continual possibility for growth, change, and self-learning. Personal change happens through a journey of discovery and it is my belief that you already have what is needed to make the changes you want to occur in your life. It is my goal to provide a supportive and safe place for us to work on understanding and resolving issues and patterns within your life so you achieve a more positive life experience. I work with individuals who are experiencing stress, adjustment issues, depression, trauma, relationship challenges and other difficulties.

**My Practice is Currently Full** I have experience counseling children and families, as well as adults. I have worked with incarcerated youth in juvenile detention, and as a counselor for the Public Defender’s office and District Attorney’s office. I worked as a counselor for The Santa Fe Mountain Center helping to create educational and therapeutic wilderness programs for at-risk teens and I am a certified It’s Yoga, Kids® yoga instructor. My counseling is characterized by empathy and collaboration. By training, I am a solution-focused counselor who is highly motivated to help you achieve your goals. I currently live in Stowe, VT.

I provide interactive tools to help you resolve personal struggles that commonly manifest as anxiety, panic, confusion, fear, depression, worry or relationship problems. By accompanying you in conversation about your problems, strengths, achievements and values; or through play, drawing or dream recall I help you identify the relationship between your feelings and needs. Understanding this relationship is vital for resolving problems with peaceful and direct communication and cultivates self-compassion. My aim is to provide a therapeutic process that is supportive, relieving, exciting, appropriately challenging, and rewarding.

Therapy provides an opportunity to experientially gain understanding about why we feel, act, and think in unique ways based on our complex life histories. The therapeutic relationship is a key element in changing life and relationship patterns, identifying unseen connections, and developing personal insight. Common issues that improve with treatment include relationship problems between intimate partners, family members, parents and children; unhealthy or distressing life patterns; depression; anxiety; impact of trauma or abuse; use of substances; and issues related to chronic illness/pain.

I have been in private practice in Hardwick, VT since 2003. I use a psychodynamic approach. Psychodynamic therapy views the therapeutic relationship as a mirror of patients' difficulties in relation to others and, on a deeper level, of patients' earlier relations to their parents. This type of therapy is valuable for anyone but especially for people who are curious, who have the capacity for insight, and who are passionate for self-development. Common presenting issues are depression, anxiety, family of origin conflict, relationship problems (for example, divorce, separation), history of abuse/neglect, and obsessive and/or compulsive behaviors.

Explore, grow and learn new skills in a safe and empowering environment. Discover your strengths and identify clear goals and intentions.