Jonathan Forney

Jonathan Forney

  • Position: Licensed Resident in Counseling; Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Location: 10640 Page Avenue Suite 330 Fairfax, VA 22030
  • Email: jon@fairfaxintegrativetherapy.com

Personal Experience & Biography

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. As a Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy at Fairfax Integrative Therapy, I focus on working with individuals, couples, families, and polycules. I also provide group therapy, with a focus on interpersonal processes and authentic relating. I have specialized coursework and raining 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.

As a Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy, I am working under the supervision of Melissa Callahan, LMFT. Finally, I believe that my capacity to help others grow and heal is a direct product of my own self-work. I attend individual therapy on a weekly basis and participate in active consultation groups with Fairfax Integrative staff, as well as co-leading a peer consultation group focused on men’s issues.

Education

Virginia Commonwealth University—Master of Education, Couples and Family
Therapy

University of Virginia—Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science

University of California, Los Angeles—Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and German Language