Welcome to Marriage & Family Therapy Services Hickory Area

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Since 1999, Marriage and Family Therapy Services (MFTS) has been an essential resource to the Hickory-area community. We were the very first (and therefore, we are the oldest) therapy practice in Hickory that employed solely Marriage and Family Therapists and catered specifically to clients seeking expert relationship support. Throughout the years, MFTS has employed a total of 10 therapists and has served hundreds of Hickory-area families, couples, and individuals. Liza Shaw is the founder and Practice Director of MFTS. She is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Certified Breath Worker, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist. 

After not practicing in the building for more than 2 years, Liza made the difficult decision to sell the building and permanently transition to an online therapy practice.  While we no longer have an in-person option for clients in the Hickory area, we utilize the HIPAA compliant version of Zoom, which allows clients in the Hickory area to link to their therapy session from wherever they are without the hassle of a commute to the office. This also provides a convenient way for couples to be in different places during their therapy appointment. As long as they have a high-speed internet connection and the Zoom app loaded on their device, clients can connect from wherever they are. 

This also created an opportunity for clients throughout the state of North Carolina to participate in therapy with Marriage and Family Therapy Services. We consider that one of the hidden blessings that came out of the COVID-19 Pandemic!

Whether working with multiple clients in a given session or with individuals, Liza's approach is always based on Family Systems Theory, a theory of human behavior that defines the family unit as a complex social system in which members interact to influence each other's behavior. Family members interconnect, allowing each to view the system as a whole rather than as individual elements. This method has been shown to be much more effective, providing longer-lasting change than other counseling techniques. Family Systems Theory also helps the therapist have an unbiased perspective about all members of a family system --an  especially useful tool when working with couples who have highly polarized points of view. Clients report that this unique approach to therapy is highly effective, and MFTS consistently receives 5 star reviews.