Clinical Director
Stacy Ricotta is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in treating complex trauma and working with couples. Stacy is particularly gifted in helping individuals who are recovering from abuse, neglect, or intimate partner violence, as well as adults who are ready to heal and let go of painful wounds from childhood. She also loves working with couples.
She believes deeply in the worth and dignity of each person and is able to form genuine, connected relationships even with clients who have tried therapy before but were unsatisfied with the process or results. Stacy operates from a strengths based perspective and incorporates elements from narrative and attachment based theories. In her work with couples, she uses the evidence based theory of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT).
Stacy holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St Thomas. She also serves as the Clinical Director for Bellaire Family Counseling.
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Interview with Stacy Ricotta about Couples Counseling
What do you do to create a safe and non-judgmental environment for both partners?
I insist upon it. I set guidelines and expectations at the start. I will shut down interactions that are meant to hurt or harm.
Can you describe your style of interaction during sessions? Are you more directive or do you let us lead the conversation?
It’s a mixture. A majority of the time is spent with the couple actively sharing and participating, but I will teach skills, provide structure, and facilitate difficult conversations.
How do you handle conflicts or disagreements that arise during therapy?
Conflict doesn’t scare me. In fact, observing conflict between partners gives me a lot of rich information so that I can reflect back and learn more about patterns of interaction. So, I will typically let conflicts play out during the session, as long as partners remain civil and everyone’s emotional safety is maintained.
Do you provide referrals to other professionals if needed (e.g., individual therapists, psychiatrists)?
Yes.
Do you offer any group therapy or workshops for couples?
I offer couples weekend intensives. Actually, I love this approach. We are able to make a lot of progress in a short amount of time and get back on track, moving in a good direction. When people feel disconnected from their spouse, it can be very emotionally painful. I love being able to offer an option where people have the chance to start feeling better right away
