Get to know your therapist…

About me:

Hi!  I’m Rachael Chisholm: wife, mom, and Marriage and Family Therapist. I stepped into the field of Marriage and Family Therapy in 2005 because I wanted to explore what makes great marriages thrive and help struggling marriages work better.  I’ve been married to my phenomenal husband, David, a Christian minister, for twenty years.  We have two spirited and beautiful sons, ages 17 and 13.  Our oldest son has special medical and developmental challenges, which gives me great insight into the world of special needs and full-time caregiving.

My private practice in Lawrenceville, GA, serves couples with various difficulties, including loss of connection, poor communication, parenting challenges, and infidelity. I also work frequently with individual teenage girls and women with depression and anxiety.  I especially enjoy working with clients who are motivated to make changes within themselves in order to up-level the way they live and their relationships.  

I believe strongly in the benefits of natural health solutions such as prayer, meditation/mindfulness, community, nutrition, and essential oils, and I incorporate these solutions into my daily life and in the coaching I give to the people I serve, inasmuch as they are open to these things.  I am excited for you to come along with me as we explore and mobilize your strengths, then use that momentum to make the changes in your life where you need help.

Professional background:

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Georgia (GA License #MFT001335).  I have about thirteen years of direct experience counseling individuals, couples, families, and adolescents in private practice, clinical, Christian university, and church settings.  I received my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.M.F.T.) in 2007 from Abilene Christian University, where I received the Spirit of the Counselor award from the academic department.  I received my undergraduate degree (BA) with emphases in business and vocational ministry from Oklahoma Christian University in 2005.  

I am a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT).   

Therapeutic approach:

My philosophy of therapy is holistic, meaning that I believe that people are made up of many parts–body, soul (mind, emotions, will), and spirit.  I believe that God created all these parts for wholeness, which comes from a relationship of love with God, others, and oneself.  Brokenness can occur if any of these relationships are out of balance, causing pain, which signals the need for help, forgiveness, and healing.

 My approach to therapy is from a systemic perspective.  I believe that people work in relationship systems, and each person in the relationship is important to the balance of the whole.  When relationships become out of balance, it is a result of many different factors and patterns that can be examined in our therapy sessions.  I place an emphasis on healthy communication and problem-solving.  In my work, I counsel families, couples, and individuals.  I use interventions from a variety of therapeutic methods, including Gottman method, cognitive behavioral, structural, emotionally focused, and dialectical behavioral therapies.  

Central to my work as a Christian therapist are the teachings of the Bible.  My training is not as a pastoral counselor; it is as a professional Marriage and Family Therapist.  I have studied the works and ideas of leading contributors in the psychotherapy field.  I use many of their concepts and strategies in my treatment of your concerns.  Additionally, I work from a framework of Christian and Biblical principles.  I believe that God has laid out for us in the Bible principles for effective daily living, as well as creating and maintaining healthy relationships.  I integrate Christian concepts with scientific ones to create a treatment plan tailored specifically for you.  Our level of discussion about God and Biblical principles completely depends on your preference and comfort.  If you have questions about my religious beliefs or background or about spirituality in general, I am happy to discuss them with you during our session.