Dennis Doke

I completed my Master's Degree in Agency Counseling from the University of Nebraska in Kearney in 1987. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. I trained in cognitive therapy and in the Gottman Couple's Method (I completed Levels 1 & 2).

I use the Gottman Couples Method in relationship and marriage counseling. Doctors John and Julie Gottman conceptualize a healthy relationship as a "Sound Relationship House" with seven floors that need attention throughout a relationship history. When you attend to these floors, the house pillars of trust and commitment can be stabilized. The seven floors are Build Love Maps, Share Fondness and Admiration, Turn Towards Instead of Away, The Positive Perspective, Manage Conflict, Make Life Dreams Come True, and Create Shared Meaning. Within the Manage Conflict floor you learn how to dialogue about problems using two of their research based strategies about listening and talking about problems and …life matters. Some couples want to spend the time they have to learn how to listen to each other. This may your focus if you can only commit to a handful of sessions together.

In individual therapy, my focus will be for you to experience a relationship with me based on the Person Centered Theory of Carl Rogers. I assume you are the expert in your life, not me. As you talk about your life, I will strive to be real and to create a relationship where you feel listened to, respected, and accepted. You may have accepted the belief that an expert needs to tell you what to do. In this therapy context, you will be encouraged to trust yourself and to ask yourself tough questions about your life. I anticipate that you will be pleasantly surprised that you can decide what to do about many of your situational or life problems, if you have the freedom to talk about it. You can take this learning with you as you continue your life journey.