Dorothee Ischler, DMFT

Thank you for reading my bio. I love working with individual and couples and see my profession as my vocation. I have been a psychologist and marriage and family therapist for over 30 years. I studied clinical psychology for 6 years and received a degree of “Diplomate in Psychology” from Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany. Most of my training there focused on individual therapy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Wanting to learn more about relational therapy, I came to the United States in the winter of 1984 to study Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Minnesota, Family Social Science Department. Eventually, I received a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) from Argosy University / Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. Beginning in my adolescence, I had a burning desire to understand myself and my family and I read every self-help book I could get my hands on. I also had many existential questions about the meaning of life which spurned my interest in spirituality and Frankl’s Logotherapy. After a failed marriage, I added romantic relationships to my knowledge quest. I have been studying Gottman Method Couples therapy since 2009 and am a level 3 trained therapist. I have been with the Center for Healing and Resilience since the fall of 1986. I’ve been working with clients who suffer from mood disorders (anxiety and depression), eating disorders, addiction, and trauma. My clients are adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Over the years, I have acquired many skills and learned various therapeutic approaches. I might use elements of behavioral cognitive therapy, psychodynamic and humanistic methods, systems therapy, and narrative therapy in my work with clients. It is important to me to get to know my clients and develop individual treatment plans using the therapeutic interventions uniquely suited for that patient. I incorporate the connection between mind, body and spirit in my therapeutic work. I do this by combining modern psychological science (evidence-based practices) with ancient wisdom (mindfulness training, existential philosophy , and spirituality). I not only want to help my clients heal from past injuries and betrayals but also increase their resiliency for future challenges. With clients who experienced trauma I often use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to helped them “get passed their past” and install new positive beliefs about themselves. I just became an empty nester and would like to travel more. The desire to travel made me venture into this online counseling platform. I have been doing Teletherapy through Simple Practice. In my free time, I enjoy being with my family, friends and fellow Benedictine Oblates. I love reading and learning. I also like the outdoors: walking, biking, and cross-country skiing. And of course, I like to travel around the world!