Desiree Coleman

Hi, I’m Desirée T. Coleman, LMFT. I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families navigating the messy, complicated, and deeply human parts of life and relationships.

I believe we are shaped by our relationships, our families, our histories, and the systems we move through every day. When relationships feel safe, connected, and balanced, we tend to thrive. When they feel strained, overwhelming, disconnected, or stuck in painful patterns, therapy can help create space for clarity, healing, and change.

I specialize in couples and relational concerns, including communication struggles, emotional disconnection, conflict patterns, attachment wounds, family stress, life transitions, and the impact of cultural, racial, and generational experiences on relationships. I also work with individuals who want to better understand themselves, their boundaries, their patterns, and the way they show up with others.

I am working toward my PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Cultural Diversity and Social Justice in a Global Context. Therapy with me is real, relational, and human. My goal is to help you feel understood while helping you move toward the relationships, boundaries, and emotional clarity you want for your life.

My approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and direct. I believe therapy works best when clients feel safe enough to be honest, supported enough to be vulnerable, and challenged enough to grow.

I do not believe people exist in isolation. We are shaped by our relationships, families, cultures, histories, and lived experiences. Because of that, I pay close attention not only to what is happening inside of you, but also to the patterns, relationships, and systems around you.

In session, I work with clients to slow things down, identify patterns, name what is happening beneath the surface, and better understand how old stories, attachment wounds, communication habits, or protective responses may be showing up in the present. I draw from Narrative Therapy, Attachment Theory, the Gottman Method, and emotionally focused approaches to help clients build insight, improve communication, strengthen connection, and create more intentional ways of relating.

My style is relaxed and human. I will listen deeply, but I will also ask questions, offer reflections, provide tools, and gently challenge you when needed. My goal is not to judge or take sides, but to help you understand yourself and your relationships more clearly so you can move toward healthier patterns, stronger boundaries, and more meaningful connection.

In our first session, my main goal is to get to know you and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. You do not have to have everything perfectly figured out before we meet. We will talk through what has been feeling difficult, what you are hoping will change, and what you would like support with.

I typically use the first session as an intake, which means I will ask questions about your current concerns, relationship history, family background, mental health history, strengths, stressors, and goals for therapy. For couples and families, I will also want to understand the patterns you are getting stuck in, not just who said or did what. My goal is not to take sides, but to help us begin seeing the cycle more clearly.

My style is warm, relaxed, and direct. You can expect me to ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, and help slow things down when needed. I may offer reflections or point out patterns, but the first session is mostly about creating a foundation and making sure you feel understood.

By the end of the first session, we will begin identifying what you want to work on and what therapy together might look like moving forward. You do not have to show up polished or have the “right” words. Just come as you are, and we will start there.