Rate Dr. Faline Christensen

I have noticed that people often come to therapy hoping that their lives can be better. I offer hope based on many observations that people CAN achieve the improvement and change they are seeking. I will help you find the resources you need, and to think and see things in different ways. It will be my privilege and honor to walk with you in your journey of meaningful and lasting positive change in your life. I am your advocate for becoming emotionally strong and sustaining healthy mental well-being. Whatever the reason you are seeking therapy--depression, anxiety, trauma, anger management, parenting, unhappiness, loneliness, infidelity, etc.--your therapy will be uniquely for you. I am genuinely committed to help you heal, find peace and hope, and grow stronger emotionally.

Some things about me as a therapist: 1. I am a marriage and family therapist of 25 years, with a Masters degree and a PhD degree. My license to work as LMFT is current and active in both Texas and Utah. 2. I am committed to life-long learning and improving my skills by receiving the best professional trainings from the top scholars and practitioners in the counseling world. This benefits you when you experience the outstanding care and treatment you want. 3. I create a caring and welcoming environment. As a systemic thinker, I believe that many emotional problems have been influenced, and maybe even jointly created with some of the people in our lives. When needed, we will address those influences in a useful way. You will find me compassionate, empathic, understanding, knowledgable, and friendly. 4. Whatever your challenges, I respect you and I will work with you. You will receive my unique perspective, you will experience increased light and understanding along with wisdom garnered from life experiences, and we will work together toward your healing, wholeness, happiness, and resolution.

I use the Emotionally Focused Therapy model, which is based in attachment theory. There are many studies that confirm the power, or weakness, of attachment in emotional well-being. A person may get stuck in one of three basic patterns, where they don't believe they can connect safely with other people. They may react with blaming, or with hostile criticism, where they may feel wounded and enrage the other; or one or the other may just feel like giving up. In therapy, I look to see and understand the whole "dance." Each person is trapped, maybe attacking, and then the other gets defensive. Or one makes it hard for the other to be open and responsive, and the other may feel separate and alone, and pursuing the other for connection. These patterns are universal because our needs and fears, and our responses to perceived loss and separation, are universal. We can know the nature of love, tune in to these moments of disconnection and protest--then people can learn to see the negative pattern as the enemy, not each other.