Jonathan Forney

I believe that playful curiosity about who we truly are is at the heart of our journey into deeper healing, more authentic connection, and joyful living. I am a therapist in training, in the final year of earning my M.Ed. in Couples and Family Therapy at VCU. As an intern at Fairfax Integrative Therapy, I focus on working with individuals, couples, families, and polycules. I have specialized coursework and training in working with anxiety, depression, and addictions, as well as communication problems between partners and within families. I am also committed to making therapy a safe space for folks who have been historically (or are presently) oppressed in US society.

My approach to therapy is person-centered and draws on Gestalt, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) approaches. I have also completed Level 1 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. While understanding the past can be helpful, I believe that healing happens in the here and now. I work with my clients to build trust, establish clear goals, and identify habitual ways of thinking and acting that are holding them back. If happiness were a skill that could be taught, it would involve authenticity, spontaneity, and the capacity for deep connection alongside the maintenance of healthy boundaries. We can work toward these life-skills together.

My life experiences make me particularly well suited to working with people who have high-stress, high-stakes jobs, or people who have become estranged from their emotions and the wisdom of their bodies. I also love helping partners and families to improve their communication and let go of resentment. For those interested in non-Western healing modalities, I am a yoga teacher (RYT 200 hours), breathwork instructor, and a devout meditator. I believe movement and meditation can be powerful complements to traditional therapy.

I will be working under the supervision of Christina Frank, LMFT and Maureen Bethea, LMFT.