- Years in practice
- 25
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- Florida
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Family conflicts
- Focus
- Parenting issues
About Arlene
Dr. Arlene Brett Gordon is a Florida-licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience. She offers steady, practical support for people worried about relationships, parenting struggles, and major life changes.
Her style is straightforward and hopeful, focused on what can improve now. She began her career as an early childhood schoolteacher and later led university therapy clinics for many years. That background shaped a hands-on approach to problem solving and family dynamics.
Background and approach
She spent 16 years directing a brief therapy clinic and also ran a medical family therapy clinic at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Gordon uses a strength-based, solution-focused way of working.
That means she looks for existing strengths and small changes that lead to better patterns. Sessions focus on clear goals, practical steps, and building confidence in everyday life. Parents often consult her about communication breakdowns, discipline struggles, and balancing caregiving stress.
She also helps people facing divorce or separation, chronic illness, shifts in life purpose, and midlife transitions. Attachment concerns, post-traumatic stress, and feelings of isolation are also within her focus. Meetings are collaborative and goal-oriented.
She guides people to notice strengths they may have missed and try manageable shifts. Deciding to seek help is a first step, and she supports each person as they move toward clearer patterns and better functioning.
What Arlene works with
Everything Arlene lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Arlene helps people with.
Approaches That Fit Parenting and Relationship Work
Dr. Gordon draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on strengths and solutions. A strength-based approach spotlights a person's existing abilities and resources, then uses those assets to tackle problems like caregiving stress or low confidence. Solution-focused techniques center on clear goals and small, concrete changes that lead to better day-to-day interactions and parenting routines.Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. She works collaboratively with each person to identify what matters most, try different strategies, and adjust the plan based on results and preferences. Clients and therapist decide together which techniques to use as needs evolve.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility for busy parents and people juggling caregiving. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and relationship work. Phone sessions can fit into short breaks and need less bandwidth. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between sessions or share quick updates when schedules are tight. These options make it easier to keep steady progress without long travel or fixed office hours.
Questions people ask about Arlene
What kinds of issues does she address?
She works with relationship concerns, parenting challenges, family conflict, self-esteem, and coping with major life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
She uses a strength-based, solution-focused approach that looks for small, practical changes and builds on existing strengths.
What is her professional background?
She has 25 years of clinical experience and previously directed university brief therapy and medical family therapy clinics.
Where is she licensed and located?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, credentialed as FL LMFT, and practices from Florida.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to start, select Start Therapy, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule.
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