Meet Carole Cullen of My Therapist

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carole Cullen.

Hi Carole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a young girl, my family moved around quite a bit. I lived all over the country from New York to California. We experienced hardship, both financially and personally, but also had great adventures together as a family. My parents struggled in their marriage during these years and it definitely had its impact on me and my siblings. They loved each other very much but during these years their instability and volatility was scary and unpredictable.

When I look back now I can see that I wanted to help them stay together and have a stable marriage, both for them and for me. I was always watching them to see if they were struggling and would try to repair it for them. I think this influenced my decision to be a therapist and focus on helping couples have loving and lasting relationships. The safety and security of a stable loving marriage is so important to the whole family, not just the couple.

I went to graduate school for Marriage & Family Therapy at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island. I graduated just before September 11, 2001. This attack changed everything for so many and particularly the residents of Long Island. After the initial shock and recovery, I began working with The World Trade Center Family Center in Rockville Center, NY as the Child and Family Programs Supervisor. My experience with families at the Center shaped the work that I do today. I became very familiar with traumatic stress and its effects on couples and families. My biggest passion is working with couples in crisis and helping them heal from relational trauma.

Since then, I have continued to work with couples providing therapy and couples intensives in Wake Forest, NC. My practice has grown to include several relationship experts that help couples move from struggling to thriving.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle I’ve faced has been balancing my work with my family goals. I have such a deep love for what I do that I can sometimes work too much or compromise my family time to fit in just one more appointment. This has been a struggle for me and a constant balancing act. I work hard now to block off my family time and keep it protected as much as possible. I also focus more on my own personal well-being and health by prioritizing exercise and relaxation.

As you know, we’re big fans of My Therapist, Inc. . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My Therapist is a group practice in Wake Forest, NC. We specialize in working with couples & families providing therapy, couples intensives and workshops. Our therapists are trained in research-based approaches of couples therapy including Gottman Method Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Using research-based methods is the most effective way to make change in a relationship and help couples create a lasting love.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up in so many different places helped me to become resilient and strong in so many ways. I was always a shy, quiet person with a very imaginative internal world. I always felt a little bit like I didn’t belong. Probably because we moved so much and I was always trying to fit in and didn’t know who I really was. The benefit of moving around so much was that it helped me to develop socially and emotionally in ways that help me today to be a better wife, parent, friend and therapist.

Contact Info:

• Email: carole@mytherapistnc.org
• Website: https://mytherapistnc.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytherapistnc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolecullenlmft/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mytherapistnc