Evidence-based Couples Therapy in Greenville, SC

“Emotional dependency is not immature or pathological; it is our greatest strength.”

— Dr. Sue Johnson

Welcome to Abby Wilhelm Therapy | Greenville, SC

I’m Abby Wilhelm, MA, LMFT-A (license no. 10257)—a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. 
If you’re looking for a therapist who is warm yet direct and one that specializes in couples work, you’re in the right place. I only see couples and have pursued elective, relationship-specific training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy since graduating with my Master's degree from Converse University.
Read More About Me 
Your relationship should provide you a “safe haven” from which you can gain strength and confidence to face all of the difficulties of life, but instead life has hurt and weakened your relationship and bond. Many couples are surprised and confused when they realize that their once exciting, joyful, fulfilling, and even easy relationships are now leaving them feeling lonely, frustrated, stuck, hurt, exhausted, and hopeless.
I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (the evidence-based “gold standard” of couples therapy) to help couples repair and then deepen the connection they once had. You can expect to accomplish the following in therapy with me:
  • Gain understanding of your unique negative cycle. “The more I _____, the more you _____, and round and round we go toward deeper disconnection.”
  • Better understand your protective behaviors within the context of your experiences and what life has taught you.
  • Dig deeper and uncover the vulnerable emotions underlying the anger, frustration, annoyance, shutting down, and defensiveness.
  • Discover and verbalize your deepest needs and fears that drive all of your emotions and behaviors.
What I expect of my clients:
  • Acknowledge your part in the negative cycle.
  • Allow me (your therapist) to guide you into deeper personal insight and away from blame, crtiticism, and defensiveness.
  • Be open to learning about yourself and your partner and the reasons why you both behave the way you do.
  • Practice communicating differently in session. (I will guide you carefully through this part.) This looks like sharing the new, vulnerable things you’re learning about your inner world and your part in the negative cycle with your partner.
Get in touch

My Specialties

Life transitions

 Communication 

 Emotional distance

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I’d love to hear from you!

Schedule a free, 20-minute phone call to determine if I’m the therapist for you.

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FAQs

  • I see clients from 3 pm on, Tuesdays through Thursdays. Some couples just go ahead and make it their date night since they already have childcare!

    We can discuss exact days and times I currently have available in our 20 minute phone call. Or you can email or text me so you know if our availability matches before you schedule the call.

  • My schedule is not very flexible. I work with clients who can keep the same appointment time week to week. That is your slot and I reserve it for you.

  • I charge $200 for the initial 90 minute intake session and $150 for subsequent 50 minute sessions. See the investment section at the top of the page for more information.

  • No, I do not take insurance. Taking insurance reduces client privacy and therapists’ freedom to serve their clients how they need. I am “self-pay” and payment is due at time of service.

  • A therapy “hour” is 50 minutes.

  • I do not currently offer virtual therapy.

  • Weekly sessions are ideal for making excellent progress in therapy. Every other week is the minimum I would agree to see clients initially. If we’re meeting every other week, it is extra important that you don’t miss sessions. We need some time in between sessions for you to apply what we’re working on, but we need to meet often enough so that we don’t lose momentum and end up staying in the stuck place you’re in.

  • As long as you both want and need to be. Most couples spend 6 months to a year. This varies depending on many factors including your specific concerns, the amount of work you do within and outside of sessions, how open and honest you are, and how consistently you make it to sessions.

  • You can stop therapy at any point. I just ask that you have a conversation with me about why you’re stopping, whether it’s financial, something I’ve said or done, a mismatch in style or personality, etc. I can’t help or improve (whether for you or other clients) if you don’t offer feedback. Also, while you can stop at any point, EFT is most effective when all of the steps have been completed. We can have conversations throughout the course of therapy about the progress you’re making and what there is left to accomplish.