Hannah Dykehouse, Ed.S., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Education:

Graduated from University of Florida with a Master’s and Specialist Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

At a Glance:

I am a client-centered therapist at heart, meaning that I believe a client is the "expert" of their own story. The best and most effective therapeutic relationships are equitable and based in mutual trust, respect, honesty, humor, and warmth. I have experience working in residential substance use treatment, crisis intervention, and systemic family therapy. My work is greatly influenced and informed by Existential, Feminist, and Narrative therapy approaches. 

Why did you become a therapist? 

I first learned about healing client-therapist relationships in massage therapy school, and when I was able to build rapport and use active listening with massage clients, I realized that talk therapy might be a better fit for my career. I am infinitely curious about how our different experiences, systems, and relationships shape our lives. I have experienced my own healing in talk therapy and strongly believe in the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship in finding new ways to relate to ourselves and others.

What can a client expect to experience in session with you? 

I strive to work with people to create an environment that invites curiosity and vulnerability, both for the client and myself. Therapy is meant to be safe, but not always comfortable. I will make observations, challenge you when necessary, give feedback, and talk about what is helpful and what is not productive in our process. I welcome feedback from clients along the way to make sure that you feel understood and that I’m able to help you most effectively.

If you could work with on celebrity, who would it be?

David Sedaris. He is one of my favorite authors, and he has such a rich interior life and family of origin story!

How do you spend your free time? 

Nearly all of my hobbies involve the fiber arts: knitting, cross-stitch, weaving, and spinning. I also enjoy trying to maintain my houseplants, listening to audiobooks, and going on walks. I have a husband, three daughters, two dogs, and two cats, so our house is full of love and chaos.

What's your favorite quirk about yourself? 

I love talking to strangers.

What does social justice mean to you? 

In the therapy room, it means understanding and being aware of my own privileges and meeting clients within their own unique contexts, taking into account that those who hold marginalized identities are suffering because of oppressive systems and need a therapist who is informed and willing to work towards changing these systems and using the power and privileges I have to advocate for them whenever I can.

How do you believe change happens?

Change happens when we find our growth edges and walk towards them, rather than avoiding the discomfort of the unknown. Change is scary, and often we would rather continue to make the same choices that might be causing suffering, because that particular pain is familiar. When we move through fear and find courage to think, feel, and act differently, we can feel empowered by change instead of stuck in fear.