Relationships are inherently complex & vulnerable, …

 …but, with the right support, they are also our greatest avenue for healing.

 

APPROACH

 

Together Known specializes in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a model of therapy grounded in research & centered around relationships.

 

You can expect EFT sessions to be:

 
Featured
Experiential

Instead of just talking about things from a cognitive place, we are going to work on helping you to experience in session what we’re talking about so that you can have a felt sense of new ways to engage.

Emotionally Focused

We won’t be problem-solving or analyzing your past, we know that emotions are signals in the present that help us make sense of our experiences and send messages to others about what we need. We will work to trust, expand and work with emotion to take us where we need to go.

Attachment Based

Bonding science has taught us that we are hardwired to be deeply connected. “Bad” behavior or distress in our relationships has its roots in attachment security. By looking through the lens of attachment, we can understand the deeper down intentions that fuel negative interactions.

about julia

Empathy & Curiosity

 
 
 

I didn’t always know I would be a therapist, but I always had a thing for relationships.

As the middle child in a family of three where I had to learn to be flexible and bring people together from an early age, I became skilled at empathizing and understanding different perspectives. I observed and engaged with the relationships around me and became curious about what made some really seem to work while others fell apart.

Experience & Expertise

 

I pursued my studies in Marital and Family Therapy and was drawn to the humanistic, systemic, and relational aspects of Emotionally Focused Therapy. My advanced and ongoing training in EFT and the countless clients I get to serve, continue to teach me that central to healthy functioning is our ability to create secure and connected bonds with others.

 

  • Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (#108114)

  • Master’s in Marital & Family Therapy from the University of San Diego

  • Ten Plus Years of experience working in the field

  • Advanced Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy including:

    • Completion of EFT Externship

    • Completion of Core Skills

    • Ongoing supervision and consultation with EFT specific supervisors/trainers

    • Active member of ICEEFT

 

Karen Harvey, AMFT, APCC

Supervised by Julia Alford, LMFT

 
 

  • Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#139048)

  • Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (#13656)

  • Master’s in Psychology, dual emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling, from UMass Global University (formerly Brandman)

  • Over 15 years of experience as a parenting coach and parent educator

  • Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy including completion of EFT Externship

  • Active member of CAMFT

I’ve always had a knack for listening – to friends, colleagues, family members, and others who needed to be heard and understood.

From a young age, I’ve known that emotions played a big role in my life, and emotions are now a key piece of my practice as a therapist. In graduate school, I was drawn to approaches that were humanistic, attachment-based, and relational. This laid the groundwork for pursuing Emotionally Focused Therapy, an approach that allows couples to connect in a meaningful, deeply personal and lasting way. It’s a privilege to walk alongside couples on their journey of growth, helping them strengthen their relationships as they begin to understand each other in new ways.

A Together Known therapist may be a fit for you if…

 

  • We have immense respect for our clients that choose to invest in their relationships in such an intentional way. Whether you have been together a long time or are trying to establish healthy patterns early on, putting work into your relationship shows how much you value it.

  • We are here to bring our expertise and training to facilitate the process, but we value your collaboration, feedback, and willingness to dive in together.

  • We are fascinated by the science of relationships and are constantly learning and growing in an ever-evolving field. We love to share some of this education with our clients if it’s helpful and relevant in our work together.

 
 
 

A Together Known therapist may NOT be a for you if…

 

  • Behaviors, while not always effective, do serve a function for all of us. In our work as EFT therapists, we are much more driven to understand why someone does what they do vs. putting them into a limiting box. From this place of understanding and empathy, change begins.

  • While EFT is considered a short-term therapy, it is an experiential process that does take some time and work. We'd rather us work towards lasting and meaningful change together than slap a quick band aid on the symptoms.

  • We love our clients and being part of their lives and relationships in an intimate way. However, it is also our goal that through the process of therapy you get to a point where you feel equipped and secure to move forward on your own. You're always welcome to check back in, but we are confident that you won't always need us.

 

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”

-Timothy Keller

 

Are you ready to be fully known?

If so, we’re ready to help.