Jake Thiessen, PhD
"I believe the most productive focus of therapy is on the here and now as opposed to the there and then. Granted, we are all, in many ways, the product of our history so it is often important to explore events from the past. But, the only place we can affect change is in the present. As a result, my primary interest is in how one experiences one’s self and others in the present."
The first eighteen years of my life were spent in rural Central Kansas. After graduating college with a degree in English, I attended the University of Grenoble in France for a year. From there I moved to Ouargla, an oasis in the Algerian Sahara, where I taught English as a second language for two years. Experiencing the contrast between continents and cultures at an early age began to teach me an appreciation for the differences that naturally occur between people.
When I returned to the States I began graduate work. My graduate education includes a masters in theology and marriage and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California which I received in 1977. In 1979 I earned my doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Currently, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. After completing my formal academic education, I taught marriage, family and parenting related courses full time at the college level for fifteen years while maintaining a private practice.
My post-doctoral education includes certifications in Conjugal Relationship Enhancement, Couples Communication, Collaborative Divorce Coaching, Divorce Mediation and Focusing. In addition to five years of training in existential-gestalt therapy, I have received ongoing training in couple therapy and couples sex therapy. My life experience and profession training have taught me to appreciate and respect the unique qualities of each individual’s life path.
My orientation to working with couples is essentially existential and experiential. That means I tend to believe the most productive focus of therapy is on the here and now as opposed to the there and then. Granted, we are all, in many ways, the product of our history so it is often important to explore events from the past. But, the only place we can affect change is in the present. As a result, my primary interest is in how one experiences one’s self and others in the present.
My primary interest is in relationship difficulties. As humans, we are essentially relational and emotional beings. Because of this, I work with couples whenever possible. Change occurs most efficiently in the context of an intimate relationship where we have an opportunity to feel accepted just as we are. Most of us want to feel that no matter how messed up we are, we are still lovable and deserve respect. Whatever the format of my work with couples, my goal is always to offer a safe environment to address those things that keep us from feeling loved and respected.
When I returned to the States I began graduate work. My graduate education includes a masters in theology and marriage and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California which I received in 1977. In 1979 I earned my doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Currently, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. After completing my formal academic education, I taught marriage, family and parenting related courses full time at the college level for fifteen years while maintaining a private practice.
My post-doctoral education includes certifications in Conjugal Relationship Enhancement, Couples Communication, Collaborative Divorce Coaching, Divorce Mediation and Focusing. In addition to five years of training in existential-gestalt therapy, I have received ongoing training in couple therapy and couples sex therapy. My life experience and profession training have taught me to appreciate and respect the unique qualities of each individual’s life path.
My orientation to working with couples is essentially existential and experiential. That means I tend to believe the most productive focus of therapy is on the here and now as opposed to the there and then. Granted, we are all, in many ways, the product of our history so it is often important to explore events from the past. But, the only place we can affect change is in the present. As a result, my primary interest is in how one experiences one’s self and others in the present.
My primary interest is in relationship difficulties. As humans, we are essentially relational and emotional beings. Because of this, I work with couples whenever possible. Change occurs most efficiently in the context of an intimate relationship where we have an opportunity to feel accepted just as we are. Most of us want to feel that no matter how messed up we are, we are still lovable and deserve respect. Whatever the format of my work with couples, my goal is always to offer a safe environment to address those things that keep us from feeling loved and respected.