Hi, there

I'm Amy Lemberger a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

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For over 15 years I’ve committed my professional focus to helping couples and partners find joy, satisfaction, and hope in their relationships.  Many things unintentionally get in the way of having the partnership you desire, and I take careful consideration of these factors to unveil what is possible.

My training started in my graduate program, anchoring me in a systemic clinical approach.  I graduated from Northern Illinois University’s COEMFTE Accredited MFT program in 2008 and worked towards full licensure as an LMFT.  To build on my couples experience I completed a Gottman Training in 2017.  This is a well-known method to therapists and clients alike, and enhanced my couples work, but I wanted to go further.  I wanted to reach more depth in the perpetuated cycles of couples I was seeing.

This led me to Sue Johnson’s Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples training in 2019.  I love the attachment focus, and labeling the patterns and cycles couples get stuck in.  Having a solid and trusted foundation with your partner as you develop new skills made all the difference, so repairing attachment ruptures is an important element to my work.

I still wanted to go further.  There were elements to couples experiences that were standing out to me as not problems, per se, but competing perspectives and difficulty managing individual changes with the expectations people had of each other, and of their relationship.  I found the Developmental Model for Couples through the Couples Institute, led by Drs Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson.  This became evolutionary in my work.  I completed the first year of this training early 2025, and began the second year shortly after.  In total it is over 60 hours of couples focused training.  This model combines neuroscience findings, attachment needs, lifespan development, and a systemic framework to give couples a truly comprehensive path on how to help them.

My approach with couples is warm, inviting, non-judgemental, and patient.  I want you to feel at ease working with me, because I know it’s already difficult enough to come in and be open, to share painful parts of your lives.  I take on a more leadership role in our sessions as we begin, and balance this with supporting your growth and the important things you reveal about yourself along the way.  Conflict with your partner can be some of the most challenging and hurtful events you endure.  I will take time to understand your unique perspective and experience as we address your goals for the relationship.​​

Couples Therapy Training

NIU MFT Program Graduate *COAMFTE Accredited  2008

Gottman Method  2017

Emotion Focused Therapy  2019

The Couples Institute Developmental Model  2025