Connecting Couples Therapy
Attachment Based Couples Therapy
Windsor, Vacaville, or online
707-955-LMFT
Regain the spark, depth, and intimacy your love relationship deserves!
About Chaela:
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
-Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Chaela Stewart, LMFT98110
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Feel free to read the biographies of myself and my fellow therapists as you search for a therapist to support you. If you need help deciding who would be a good fit, feel free to give the practice owner, Chaela, a call to discuss availabilities, rates, and therapy orientations at 707-955-LMFT or use the booking button to schedule a free 15 minute video consultation.
I took note of the marriages, divorces, and families around me when I was a teenager. I began to have the dream of helping couples create more beautiful, lasting, and loving relationships. I know first-hand how challenging relationships can be, especially after the transition a marriage undertakes when kids enter the picture. And I have great respect for the couples I see who put in the hard work to really make their relationship what they want it to be. I couldn't be happier doing the work I know I was meant to do.
I attended the University of Washington for my undergraduate work and then in 2006 I earned a Master's of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University, (SPU). During this time I held a graduate assistantship facilitating an undergraduate course for Dr. Les Parrott, international speaker and New York Times #1 bestselling author. I worked in a broad range of settings before becoming a licenced therapist. I worked in a university counseling center with individuals, and engaged and married couples; in a public school setting with "severely emotionally disturbed" (SED) children; in a residential group home with at-risk foster youth; and as a leader of a new parent support group for mothers and their new borns. In 2011, I decided to go into private practice and focus on my passion, working primarily with couples.
In graduate school I studied Family Systems theories and focused my work on Experiential Therapy, specifically, Dr. Sue Johnson's Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT). EFT is a clear, short-term, structured approach based on clarifying and identifying relational distress and improving adult primary attachment. EFT has over 20 years of empirical research, showing it's effectiveness, with nearly 90% of couples showing dramatic improvement. Dr. Sue Johnson is the author of the book, "Hold me Tight".
Since 2011, I have attended two professional trainings with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, "The Attachment Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together" live with Dr. Neufeld, and "Neufeld Intensive Level 1: Making Sense of Kids" via distance learning facilitated by Transformative Parenting. Neufeld is one of the world's leading attachment theorists and experts on child development. The author of "Hold onto your Kids," Neufeld, uses attachment theory and the belief that the relationship IS the cure, as the basis for helping parents work through behavioral stuckness in their children. Because of the parallels between the parent-child relational needs and the primary-love relationship needs, I often make references to Dr. Neufeld in my work with couples, as well as when working with parents.
In 2012-2014 I attended PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples therapy) trainings with Dr. Stan Tatkin and became a certified Level 2 PACT clinician. Dr. Stan Tatkin is the author of "Wired for Love", "Relationship RX", In Each Other's Care", "Wired for Dating", "We Do", and "Baby Bomb". The PACT methodology looks at early childhood attachment and focuses on how that effects both the brain and the nervous system of partners. Using the PACT approach, I work in the moment, noticing the slight changes in affect and arousal that constantly occur within a couple, and placing a high value on experience, rather than on the cognition or analysis of events.
In my use of both EFT and PACT models I emphasis the need for emotional containment, real intimacy and vulnerability, and a spiritual healing that comes from being more seen and more fully present within a couple relationship. I help couples experience a deeper connection through facilitating an increase in body awareness, eye-contact, and touch.
In 2019-2022 I trained with both Rachel Walker, LMFT and Colleen West, LMFT in their integrated IFS (Internal Family Systems) parts, Structural Dissociation, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and Attachment Trauma work. This training has allowed me to work with more intense clients in a trauma informed and clinically appropriate way by stabilizing traumatized clients and supporting them in integrated healing.
About Ingrid:
Ingrid Redding, AMFT109689
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Supervised by Chaela Stewart, LMFT 98110
We all want to lead a life in which our life dreams and inner potential are fulfilled. Sometimes life and we, ourselves, get in the way of pursuing these dreams and potentials. As a marriage and family therapist, I can help with these challenges whether they are within your relationships, career or your inner self. I am a client-focused therapist. I work in an engaged, supportive and relational manner. I use an integrative and holistic style in my therapeutic approach and take into consideration attachment, somatic, psychodynamic and mindfulness modalities. I view the client as a whole person and pay attention to influencing factors including trauma, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity.
After a life working in the corporate realm and public sector, I decided to switch gears and become a therapist to really make a difference in people’s lives. My aim is to support you to reach your personal goals and development whatever they may be. And if you are not sure, we can work together to figure your goals out. It takes so much courage to seek help. Thank you for taking the first step towards healing your inner self. To schedule a free 15 minute video consultation please call or text 707-278-8553 or use the booking button.
About Rebecca:
Rebecca Sweeney, AMFT127352, APCC10076
Associate Marriage and Family Therapy, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Supervised by Chaela Stewart, LMFT 98110
Entering therapy can be a challenging step, so my primary focus is to meet my clients where they are in order to effect change in a sustainable way. I received my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University of California, where I completed my qualifications as both an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. I have experience working with children, adults, and groups in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Attachment Theory (which forms the foundation of my work with couples), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential/Humanistic Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Therapy. I believe that making space for one’s own needs is the key to establishing productive relationships with others, whether those are romantic partners or platonic connections, and I care deeply about removing the barriers around mental health care, both internal and external.
To schedule a time for a free 15 minute consultation call, text 707-340-5767 or use the booking button to schedule a video call.
About Christine:
Christine Lewis, AMFT134789
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Supervised by Chaela Stewart, LMFT 98110
I support couples and individuals seeking to make a change in their life. I hold value in the belief that everyone has their own internal strength to solve their issues and that sometimes it takes a different perspective to help guide you towards taking those steps to improving your quality of life. I work with a variety of conflicts that come up in relationships from infidelity to premarital counseling. My approach is strengths-based and attachment theory oriented. Sometimes couples can get stuck in a cycle of unhelpful behaviors that stem from early childhood experiences. I enjoy supporting the couple to identify these cycles and then build new, more healthy ways of communicating their needs. The same can be said for my work with individuals. We find where old, unhelpful ways of getting our needs met can be replaced with more effective behaviors. I would love to support you in actualizing your goals, whether that be in individual or couples therapy.
To schedule a time for a free 15 minute consultation call, text 707-504-8594 or use the booking button to schedule a video call.
