Rhonda Stiver, LPC is a licensed professional counselor who has a private practice in Maytown, PA. She earned her M.A. in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling and specializes in relationship counseling. The counseling practice is located on the first floor of an 1891 brick tobacco warehouse, renovated by her husband, Rick. On-site guest suites are available for overnight accommodations.
She has been training in Emotionally Focused Couple (EFT) counseling since 2017. With EFT, negative cycles are interrupted and changed so that love, connection, and safety can be restored. EFT helps partners get to the underlying issues that drive their conflict, moving away from the content of what the fight is about and focusing more on how the conflict is occurring. It is designed to help partners interrupt the negative and stuck patterns in their communication and interactions, and learn how to express more vulnerable feelings and needs that often underlie anger, defensiveness, and withdrawn behavior.
Rhonda offers one-day, two-day, and three-day Hold Me Tight marriage intensives.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EFT:
Suggested Reading
by Dr. Sue Johnson:
- Hold Me Tight
- Love Sense
- Created for Connection
A Snapshot of the Change Process as given on the ICEEFT website:
In a therapy session, a husband’s numb withdrawal expands into a sense of intimidation and helplessness. He can now assert his need for respect and become more accessible to his wife.
He moves from “There is no point in talking to you. I don’t want to fight.” to “I do want to be close. I want you to give me a chance. Stop poking me and let me learn to dance with you.”
His wife’s critical anger then expands into fear and sadness. She can now ask for and elicit comfort. She moves from “You just don’t care. You don’t get it.” to “It is so difficult to say – but I need you to hold me – reassure me – can you?”
New cycles of bonding interactions occur and replace negative cycles such as pursue-withdraw or criticize-defend. These positive cycles then become self-reinforcing and create permanent change.
The relationship becomes a safe haven and a healing environment for both partners.