Relationship therapy for women in Boulder
Are you a woman who values relationship and wants to stay connected to yourself and others?
I'm Lori Beth Goldman, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Boulder, Colorado. This is individual therapy for women, about the relationships in your life: with a partner, your family, friends, work and yourself. You can see me at my office on Iris Avenue or online, and it begins with a free 15-minute call.
What does it mean if a therapist specializes in women's issues?
For me, it means paying close attention to what women are taught about themselves. Growing up, girls are often told they are too sensitive or too needy, or if they express strong opinions or anger, they are often directly or indirectly minimized or criticized. Conversely, as adults, women are often told they are too harsh or 'masculine', and then when they try to be more soft or express more emotionality, they are labeled as erratic.
Much of our work is noticing those messages as they show up in your relationships, and finding out what is actually true for you.
What do women bring to therapy with me?
High sensitivity and overwhelm by your own feelings and the feelings of others
Recovering from fawning and freezing
Pressure to be the perfect mother, employee, daughter, lover and friend at the same time
Struggles with self-doubt and decision making
Difficulties expressing what you honestly feel, or hearing other people's honest opinions of you
Difficulties forming close relationships with partners or friends, and trusting the people you are close to
A troubled relationship with body image and food, or eating disorders
Which kind of therapist should you see for relationship issues?
It depends on who wants to do the work. If you and a partner want to work on the relationship together, a couples therapist is the right choice, and I do not offer couples therapy. If you want to understand your own patterns, and what you want and need from the people close to you, individual therapy is where that happens. That is the work I do.
How do I work with women?
My approach combines relational, depth-oriented and somatic therapy. In a session we talk, and we also slow down and notice what happens in your body and your feelings as you talk. That is often where an old pattern shows itself before you have words for it.
Together we untangle the past from the present, so an old pattern becomes something you can recognize while it is happening, in your relationships and on your own.
Healing works and can resolve long-standing traumas and wounds. Not always in the ways or timeline the ego would like.
Is there a difference between a therapist and a psychotherapist?
Most people use the two words for the same thing. What matters is the license behind the word. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Colorado (MFT.0002249) and California (LMFT 51126), with a master's in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and 18 years in practice.
Questions people ask
Do you see couples?
No. I work with individuals. If you and your partner want to work on the relationship together, look for a couples therapist.
Is this only about romantic relationships?
No. We can work on any relationship in your life: a partner, a parent, your children, friends, colleagues, and the one you have with yourself.
Can we meet online?
Yes, if you are located in Colorado or California at the time of the session. See online therapy in Colorado and California. You can also see me in person at my Boulder office.
What does it cost?
I am private pay and not on insurance panels. I can give you a superbill, which you can send to a PPO plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. We talk about fees on the free consultation call, and you can ask me for a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges.