Gordon A Gunnell
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
I am a therapist because I like people, and I am fascinated by our shared human spirit of hope, determination, and resourcefulness when we face seemingly unsolvable problems. In such times, I take the view that life is asking us to learn something that CAN ultimately be for our good. If we learn, our problems seem to diminish, and life becomes more pleasurable. The process of learning to live happily in a problem saturated world is admittedly difficult, but not impossible. When we do the process successfully, we feel empowered, confident, and happy. Often, we do this process on our own, without the help of professionals. Sometimes, however, individual and/or relationship problems overwhelm us. We can't see the forest for the trees. We may begin to lose hope, lose confidence when our own efforts at changing ourselves or our circumstances are ineffective. Some describe it as being "stuck". Others describe it as "same thing, different day." I have even heard, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Being stuck, we may experience many distressing emotions. symptoms that are associated with such terms as anxiety, depression, grief, anger, resentment, helplessness, and many others. By indentifying what keeps us stuck in the distress and unhappiness, however, we can and do experience new perspectives, permitting previously unknown solutions to emerge. That's how I can help. Most often, the process is not a long one. ADVICE REGARDING MARRIAGE/COUPLES/RELATIONSHIP THERAPY: According to Dr. William Doherty, Professor of Family Social Science and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at the University of Minnesota: "A national survey of private practice therapists found that 80% do marriage therapy. But this is a difficult, specialized form of therapy that should not be done without supervised training. The result often is poor therapy for which couples often blame themselves rather than the therapist. Couples are playing Russian roulette with their marriages when they pick up the phone book and call a random therapist." For more information about seeking and selecting a qualified marital or relationship therapist, please visit: http://www.marriagefriendlytherapists.com. As a RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST, with more than 3 years of clinical training under the direct supervison of Dr. William A. Griffin, post-doctoral fellow of Dr. John M. Gottman, if you are UNDECIDED about your commitment to a another person, I can help you discover the factors that influence your ambivalence. If you are COMMITTED to your spouse or partner, I am respectfully passionate about helping you understand how to observe youselves CREATING your relationship, as opposed to being IN one, and to become more emotionally connected. This includes knowing how to prevent negative interaction, influenced by the miseries of past relationship history, to continue to be an obstacle to your present and future experience of mutual respect, happiness, and satisfaction. In MARRIAGE THERAPY, I take a balanced, pro-commitment stance, meaning that staying together is a desirable outcome unless there is a compelling reason not to. If your family has experienced DIVORCE, I am trained to help you and/or your children successfully adjust to the changes brought about by family dissolution and separation. If you struggle with ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS, I am also trained in treating drug/alcohol, gambling, and other habits from both an individual and family perspective that interfere with getting to the real issues that drive those habits. As an INDIVIDUAL THERAPIST, I understand how to help you reduce stress, anxiety, panic, depression, anger, PTSD, grief/loss, obsessive and/or compulsive behaviors, and other high intensity emotions that interfere with your ability to pursue and achieve your goals in life. I am happy to spend a few minutes with you to discuss your concerns. Please call 480-220-7050 for a FREE 10 MINUTE PHONE CONSULTATION. I take all calls personally. If I do not answer when you call, I am likely in session with other clients. Please leave your name and number on my voicemail. I WILL return your call the same day.
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