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Jackie Schwartz, LMFT 
"Helping adults & couples achieve happiness,
connection & fulfillment."

I’m Jackie Schwartz, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of A Better Life Now, by Jackie. Are you experiencing anxiety, insomnia, depression, low self-esteem, relationship conflict, or parenting problems? Life can be overwhelming and lonely, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.

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As a result, you may feel like no one can relate to what you are going through. I understand how lonely and isolating that can be, and I am here for you! I have a very high success rate navigating clients to better versions of themselves and helping couples reconnect and rebuild trust and intimacy. I know it can be difficult to take the first step in reaching out for help but I want to help you take your power back!  

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Learn More About How I Help Adults &
Couples Live Their Best Lives...
My Counseling Services for Adults & Couples
in Fort Lauderdale, FL & Coral Springs, FL

Growing up in south Florida has exposed me to a variety of people, of many cultures, from all walks of life. I am fascinated by people and their differences, providing me with a profound interest in human behaviors and exploring why we do what we do and why we feel how we feel.

 

I help people overcome crippling negative thinking patterns, striving towards happiness and knowing the self. I aim to motivate my clients to achieve their goals in their personal and professional lives. I assist clients with improving self-esteem, self-worth, overcoming personal/professional challenges, stress, and relationship issues.

 

I guide, re-empower, and work to improve your ability to achieve desired outcomes. I provide tools for support and broadening perspectives to help you achieve your goals. I strive to help you recognize your self worth and capabilities that have been diminished and underestimated. 

 

Together we will identify the problem and behavioral patterns, so you can find peace, happiness, love and confidence. In my practice I create a safe environment to self reflect, explore, and enhance lives. I'm passionate about helping those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem find their way to a more fulfilling life. You will begin to look forward to loving each new day. My methods are designed for increased self reflection, insight into ourselves and others, and love for the self.

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Dating Therapy:

 

Dating can be fun and sometimes it can be anxiety provoking - leading to fears and negative thoughts about ourselves and others. Wherever you might be on the dating continuum, seeing a relationship expert can help! 

 

Maybe you just started dating someone and you really like them, but are worried it won’t work out. When you are in a new relationship, there can be so many thoughts and questions swirling around in your head.

 

Relationship counseling isn’t just for people who are in long-term relationships or married. Individual relationship therapy can help you find the confidence you need to be the best version of yourself and to get the relationship of your dreams.

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Counseling for Adults: 

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I will work with you individually in a safe, caring and confidential environment to explore feelings, beliefs and behaviors. I assist with challenging influential experiences and helping to recognize unhealthy patterns of thinking that lead to low self esteem and self shaming thoughts. I will work to identify aspects of your life that you wish to be different and set personal goals to initiate change.

 

Whether you are suffering from, depression, anxiety or consistent negative thinking I will help you develop or rebuild the necessary coping skills to manage through such feelings successfully while developing an increased understanding of yourself and others. I aim to help you set personal goals and work towards change that will lead to a better life!

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Couples Therapy & Marriage Therapy: 

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Attending couples therapy can be a scary experience for many people, preventing them from seeking out help when it’s needed. Understandably, couples worry of hearing things that they don’t like or saying things that their partner won’t like.

 

During our couples counseling sessions, I will provide a safe environment to express your needs, rehearse and implement better patterns of communication and explore patterns of interaction that are playing a negative role in relationship.

 

It's so important for you to know that you CAN have the relationship you've always dreamed of and you can do it by modifying old and unhelpful patterns of thinking, communicating and self-talk. I have many years of experience helping people find hope and connection while regaining their sense of power and inner strength.

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Gottman Method Couples Counseling: 

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As a relationship expert who has been working with couples for well over a decade, I primarily use the Gottman Method Couples Therapy approach in my work with couples. The Gottman Method approach is the most research-based approach to working with couples and understanding the science of relationships. 

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In my practice, I work with both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ couples (both married and unmarried). My work focuses on assisting them with understanding how their relationship patterns play a role in negative or undesirable outcomes. 

The Gottman Method improves communication, increases intimacy, increases respect, increases affection and removes barriers to conflict resolution while creating more empathy and compassion within relationships. I use a variety of techniques from the Gottman Method to help couples create a mutually fulfilling relationship that lasts for years to come.

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Counseling for High Conflict Couples:  

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I have a lot of experience helping high conflict couples to learn how to better manage their conflict management and resolution strategies. Both individual therapy and couples counseling can help you stop fighting and can promote positive communication that strengthens relationships.

 

I work with people on various levels of their relationship while educating my clients on the conflict management system that involves more than just talking over each other, fighting to be heard. You'll get real tools that will that can build or rebuild any relationship through improved conflict management skills.

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Pre-Marital Counseling: 

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Premarital counseling offers unmarried or engaged couples an opportunity to discover principles of premarital education, relationship maintenance, and evidenced-based marriage education.

 

Premarital counseling helps partners improve communication, set realistic boundaries and utilize conflict management and resolution skills.  Premarital therapy is a productive approach to relationship education and how to discuss expectations and standards of your future marriage. 

 

Discernment Counseling: 

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Discernment counseling is a brief protocol (1-5 sessions) for treating mixed agenda couples where one partner is leaning out of the relationship and is reluctant to work on it in therapy, and the other partner wants to save the relationship.

 

Studies suggest that as many as 30% of couples presenting for couples therapy fall into the mixed agenda category. Discernment counseling is intended for couples who have made a permanent commitment to one another whether or not they are legally married.

 

In discernment counseling, the goal is greater clarity and confidence in their decision-making about the future of their relationship, based on a deeper understanding of what’s happened due to each person’s contributions to the problems.

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Counseling for Low Self-Esteem: 

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Many people have low self-esteem, constantly doubt themselves or abilities, or treat themselves worse than they treat others. Self-esteem is one’s perspective on self-worth. Self-esteem plays a role in the outcomes we experience in life.

 

Self-esteem predicts our self-talk and the thoughts that we have about ourselves. If you are struggling with low self-esteem, you will likely have negative thoughts that lead to negative feelings that lead to negative behaviors and outcomes. This is how life goals go unmet and the cycle of low self-esteem and negative thinking continues.  I will provide tools for how this can be prevented and help you connect to the amazing person you are. 

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My Background & Fun Facts
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I received my Masters degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2010 and have worked in community mental health, substance abuse and have been dedicated to private practice for 4 years. I have specialty training in Gottman Couples Therapy and continue to attend trainings for Emotionally Focused Therapy which assists couples and individuals.

I am born and raised in South Florida so my family and I have always loved fishing on the ocean, dining out and going to the beach. I try to practice what I preach, which means ensuring that I’m taking care of myself mentally and physically I regularly participate in rigorous workouts and love spending time at home with my family. My guilty pleasures include but are not limited to Hulu, Netflix and ordering in sushi and Chinese food.  If I had my way, I’d take my dog everywhere with me!

Why Work with Me? 

When you work with me, you will feel supported and understood. I bring a positive and compassionate energy into every session.

 

I have taken extensive post graduate training in couples therapy and I continue to train and retrain myself even after 10 years as a therapist.  

 

I will never presume that I know or understand your life better than you. I understand that I as your therapist may be the only person whom you confide in and that is something that I never take for granted.

 

I will believe in the ideal vision you have for your life and I will work with you until you reach that vision. l will never give up on you.

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Get Started Today!

Contact me today to get your first session scheduled at 954-391-5305I offer FREE 15 minute phone consultations to provide you with any more information you need and to answer all of your questions. I'm excited to help you on your path to healing and happiness! 

 

I provide counseling for adults and couples at our beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Coral Springs, Florida offices. I also offer online counseling on our secure telehealth platform for those who reside in the state of Florida.  

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For more information about my services or approach, please visit my website.

Rave Reviews

Me and my wife were struggling for years and after several months of working with Jackie, things began to turn around in such positive ways. Our experience with her was different then other experiences with couples therapists and we never dreaded going to therapy and without Jackie, our marriage might not be what it is today”.

 

“Working with Jackie was very impactful for me. She helped me make sense of things and I felt very safe in her presence. If not for her I’m not sure if I would’ve made it through some really tough times. She’s an asset to anyone who needs help”. 

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