https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/about daily 0.75 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633060418205-KWKI7ITW525WDK008YBN/RM+Seated About - About Me I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT 110579) located in Novato, CA. I have been working with children, teens, adults, couples, and families since 2014. I utilize an integrative approach, which means I draw from my training and experience in multiple therapeutic modalities to tailor each session to meet my clients’ unique individual needs. I also utilize a whole person view of each of my clients, whether during individual or couples and family sessions, because I hold a profound respect for how our environments, social and family systems, and childhood experiences impact us and how we relate to others. My style is warm, empathic, active, and practical. I believe therapy works best when there is a strong, collaborative relationship between client and therapist. You are the expert on your own life, relationship, and family, and my goal is to partner with you to learn about your experiences and bring my own perspective and expertise to help discover what your therapy goals and needs are. I graduated from St. Mary’s College with a Master’s of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology and Marriage & Family Therapy. I have experience providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals in both nonprofit and private practice settings. Prior to starting my own private practice, I spent several years working in a school that served children and adolescents with emotional challenges that impact learning before transitioning to a mental-health startup where I honed my practice providing telehealth services to adults, adolescents, and couples. These experiences have provided me with a crucial foundation to support clients who come from a variety of different backgrounds and life experiences. Specialties Anxiety Depression ADHD Relationships Family Conflict Parenting Challenges Life Transitions Pregnancy & Motherhood https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/children daily 0.75 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633060013689-6MFONBD37WQAZ2EBXR1F/Children+3.jpeg Children Children "Childhood is the best of all the seasons of life, and the longer it lasts with happy memories, the stronger the emotional stability in adulthood." -Venugopal Acharya. Many children enter therapy as a result of struggling with difficult feelings or challenging behaviors, a challenging time in their development, or a big change in their life or environment. My goal is to support these young individuals in having a safe space to play and process what they are experiencing, to help them in feeling better and getting back on track. In addition to working with children directly, I believe it is equally important to work with the grown ups (whether you define yourself as a parent or have a different role/title in your child’s life). I typically will recommend monthly meetings with grown ups in addition to the weekly therapy with your child to provide coaching and insight and ensure we are aligned in your child’s goals (the details of this can be discussed further in our initial consultation meeting). I also have experience with and can offer support and consultation around the IEP process for children who need more support in their school settings. https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-10-01 https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/couples daily 0.75 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633059890404-KZTKHQ43L0I0VNMRXXKE/Couples+1.jpeg Couples - Couples “The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives” - Esther Perel Our relationship with a significant other is often one of the most, if not the most important relationship in our lives. Whether you’re experiencing conflict or would like to improve and strengthen your relationship, couples therapy can be a useful space to make time to talk to your partner in an intentional way. Couples face challenges in many different ways and in many different stages of a relationship. Each couple is unique, and each individual in a couple is unique. I work with couples to support them in connecting more deeply with themselves and each other, to help identify challenging patterns in the relationship and establish realistic goals as a couple. My goal is to support you in improving communication and establishing healthy boundaries and patterns to help you achieve a satisfying and strong relationship. https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/family daily 0.75 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633059960329-WCG94LSIVE7J01W0GHXW/Family+3.jpeg Family - Family “The touchstone for family life is still the legendary 'and so they were married and lived happily ever after. ' It is no wonder that any family falls short of this ideal.” - Salvador Minuchin There are a number of reasons why you might be exploring family therapy as an option for your family. Family therapy can help in reducing conflict, increasing effective communication, supporting family members in increasing connection, defining boundaries and family expectations, and providing a safe space and support during times of transition. In family therapy, we can work together for each family member to feel heard and understood, identify family patterns and where you may get stuck, and find ways for each family member to get their needs met. Every family has its own unique strengths and challenges, and my goal is to work with you and your family to capitalize on your strengths and learn to build more harmonious and connected relationships with each other. https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/fees daily 0.75 2022-07-01 https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/home daily 1.0 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633056427912-IBWVNCBJ54SEBVICGHU0/ACS-0544.JPG Home https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/individual daily 0.75 2021-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633057003500-7GQ6DRHN7719DCFSTSSE/Individual+3.jpeg Individual Individual “...A person is a fluid process, not a fixed and static entity; a flowing river of change…” - Carl R. Rogers At different times in our lives, we may feel stuck, experience lingering problems or challenges, or just have a sense that we would like to change some things. Although it would be ideal if we could “just figure out” what is going on for us, it can be more effective and beneficial to find the support of an expert to talk through these experiences. Deciding to start therapy can open up different parts of your life and allow you the space to process what is truly happening; to examine your relationships, emotions, and experiences from a different perspective. When we give ourselves the time and permission to reflect on what’s been going on in our busy lives, we allow space for growth, overcoming obstacles, breaking patterns, and learning new ways to show up for ourselves and others. My goal is to build a trusting relationship, to partner with you, and to discover the things that may be getting in the way of you living your most meaningful, satisfying, and productive life. I have profound respect for the ways in which our past continues to influence our present, and seek to explore the relationships and experiences in childhood that may be repeating themselves in different day-to-day patterns. My hope is to support you in leveraging these insights from the past to help you in making more present, informed and genuine decisions, moving forward instead of feeling like you are stuck, dwelling on the past. I believe that therapy provides a unique place where we can try to quiet the noise from our daily lives and have the opportunity to be truly heard, seen, and work to make lasting changes in our lives. https://www.robynmckenziemft.com/teens daily 0.75 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607b527a44a4f4501110cf9e/1633060058518-HWJ8XJMIUVWT386SVB2D/Teens+2.jpeg Teens - Teens "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - E.E Cummings Teens face many different challenges during a complicated time of life. Some can be exciting and new, while others can be difficult and painful. It is very common for teens to experience loneliness, questions about identity, academic stress and pressure, challenges in friendships and romantic relationships, depression, and anxiety. Therapy at this time of life is a valuable opportunity to create a safe space for exploring one’s identity, strengths, challenges, hopes, fears, and dreams. My goal is to support teens in establishing this safe space in therapy and to help them feel better and more connected with themselves and their goals. Adults in a teen’s life (whether you identify yourself as a parent or have a different role/title with your teen) can be valuable resources and allies in this exploration and growth process. We will work together to figure out the best plan for how to have a confidential space for your teen and involve important adults in this process (the details of this can be discussed further in our initial consultation meeting). I also have experience with and can offer support and consultation around the IEP process for children who need more support in their school settings.