Family Counseling in Asheville, NC
Reconnect and heal your family through Emotionally Focused Therapy for Families
Struggling with family conflict, communication breakdowns, or emotional distance? I offer evidence-based family counseling in Asheville, for families with teen or adult children to rebuild trust and find connection through EFFT.
Is your family facing any of these challenges?
Frequent tension or arguments
Every conversation escalates, and you can barely get through a meal together without conflict. Sometimes it feels like your family is falling apart.
Communication breakdown between parents and teens
Your teenager has shut you out, and you don't know how to reach them anymore.
Emotional shutdown or avoidance
Someone in your family has checked out emotionally, and the silence is louder than any argument.
Disconnection between parents and adult children
You're all adults now, but the relationship still feels stuck in old patterns from years ago.
Parenting conflicts or co-parenting challenges
You and your partner (or ex-partner) keep clashing over how to handle the kids.
Family stress caused by transitions, illness, or loss
A divorce, a death, a move–something changed, and your family hasn't found its footing again.
If any of this resonates, I want you to know: every family hits roadblocks, but you don't have to stay stuck. If any of these apply to your family, therapy may be the next best step.
How family counseling helps
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) helps families break free from recurring cycles of disconnection and conflict. Instead of focusing on blame or quick fixes, we uncover the emotional patterns driving your family's struggles and work together to create healthier, more secure relationships.
What we'll work on together:
Identifying the negative cycles keeping your family stuck
Improving emotional responsiveness between family members
Creating a secure emotional base for adult children and their parents
Navigating transitions like divorce, grief, or blended family dynamics
Strengthening bonds between parents, teens, and adult children
Addressing unresolved emotional injuries or ruptures from the past
What to expect from family therapy
01
Free consultation (15 minutes) We'll talk briefly to understand what's going on and determine if we're a good fit.
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First session I usually start by meeting individually with the person who initiated therapy, then separately with other family members to hear everyone's perspective.
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Ongoing sessions We'll meet as a whole family, with breakout sessions as needed. Sometimes just the parents, or just the siblings, or one-on-one with a teen. EFFT is flexible and follows what your family needs.
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Between sessions I may suggest tools or communication strategies to practice at home–but only if they feel genuinely helpful
Why work with me
I've been doing this work for over 20 years, and I'm certified as both an EFT Therapist and Supervisor–which means I'm trained specifically in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). I know how families get stuck, and I know the roadmap to help you reconnect.
But here's what might matter more: I've navigated my own family relationship challenges. I understand what it's like when those relationships feel frozen in time, when old patterns keep showing up no matter how hard you try.
My approach is calm, direct, and respectful. And I give you my full, focused attention–this isn't a large practice where you get shuffled between providers. It's just me, working alongside your family.
What clients say
"Paula has been phenomenal to work with for family therapy. Because of the global pandemic…the majority of our work has happened remotely over Zoom. I was skeptical at first, but the online therapy sessions have been incredibly helpful and productive in working through decades of ruptures in our relationships and starting to lay the foundation for healthy patterns of communication with those I love. Two months ago, the thought of getting together with my extended family would bring on days of anxious preparations and arguments with my spouse leading up to the visit. After less than ten sessions, we are now in a place where we can approach family visits with a clean emotional slate and comparatively little emotional stress before and after. It feels like a new beginning! Therapy is hard work, but it's also some of the most important work we can do. Paula, thanks for guiding along this path and helping us to get to a better place."
— M.C
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Serving families online throughout Western North Carolina
I work with families across Western North Carolina and throughout the state via secure, HIPAA-compliant video. Whether you're in Asheville, North Asheville, West Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, or tucked away in the mountains, we can work together online from wherever you are in North Carolina.
Common questions about family therapy
Common questions about family therapy
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It depends on what you're working through, but most families start to see shifts within the first few sessions. Treatment typically runs 10-20 sessions, though some families stay longer for deeper work.
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Absolutely. I work with all kinds of family configurations–blended families, single-parent families, LGBTQ+ families, families with adult children, grandparents raising grandchildren. If there's a family relationship that matters to you, I can help.
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Yes. While I prefer everyone to be together when possible (especially for parents and teens in the same household), we can work with family members joining from different locations if needed.
Please note: I am licensed in the states of North Carolina and Massachusetts so at least the parent must be located in one of those states at the time of the session.
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I work with families with older teens (high school age and up) and adult children.
I’ve noticed that teens do especially well with EFFT because they get to be active participants in the process, and the model doesn't "blame" any one person for the problems.
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That's common. Sometimes I'll start with whoever is willing and bring others in as they become ready. Sometimes a brief individual conversation with the hesitant person helps. We'll figure out what works for your family.
Have other questions?
Ready to take the first step?
Family reunions and get-togethers don't have to be awkward. You don't need to be the Brady Bunch–but a little connection and peace would be nice.
When you're ready to solve the problems lingering underneath your family's surface, here's what to do:
Step 1: Fill out a consultation request and tell me about what's going on
Step 2: We'll talk briefly to make sure we're a good fit
Step 3: Start the work of breaking out of your family's cycle for good