Dr. Tammy Ricker

As a Veteran and someone who comes from a military family, I have a deep personal and professional understanding of military culture and the unique challenges it brings. I've been working with military families since the beginning of my career over 17 years ago. This experience has shaped my commitment to helping service members, veterans, and their loved ones navigate the complex stressors that come with military life-from deployment cycles and reintegration to secondary trauma and strained communication. Many of the couples I see are under high stress, have low tolerance for conflict, and feel like they barely have time to catch their breath.

As an American Family Therapist, I work from a systemic perspective, focusing on the entire family unit rather than just the individual. My goal is to help families uncover and understand deep-rooted patterns and issues that interfere with healthy communication and connection. Through this process, I support each member in developing more effective ways of relating, resolving conflict, and fostering emotional safety with the family system. I primarily use Dialectical Behavior Therapy and view my work through that lens. This means focusing on mindfulness, expanding tolerance for discomfort, increasing effectiveness in relationships and strengthening emotional regulation. When challenges arise in therapy, I often find that the root of the issue can be addressed through one of these core areas. For clients struggling with post-traumatic stress injuries-particularly common in military populations-I also incorporate Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help them reframe and work through trauma-related beliefs. My approach is structured, evidence-based, and tailored to the needs of each individual or family.

My approach is direct and collaborative. I won't just tell you what you want to hear-I'll tell you what I believe will be most helpful, even when it's challenging. Therapy is a team effort, and I view you as an active partner in the process. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Therapy should be tailored to your unique story, needs and goals.