Gottman Method

Staff Spotlight: Meet Jaclyn Cole, LLMFT, R-DMT

jaclyn, registered dance therapist and limited license  marriage and family therapist in royal oak,  michigan, with a passion for helping couples in therapy learn transferable skills to their everyday lives

Couples Therapy & Dance Movement Therapy

At Inspired Healing Therapy, we believe healing happens in relationship with ourselves, with others, and even within the way we move through the world.

This month, we’re excited to introduce (or re-introduce!) one of our wonderful clinicians:

Jaclyn Cole, LLMFT, R-DMT
Limited License Marriage and Family Therapist & Registered Dance Movement Therapist

Jaclyn has been with Inspired Healing Therapy since October 2023, bringing a deeply relational, collaborative, and refreshingly practical approach to her work especially with couples.

What Drew Jaclyn to Therapy

Like many meaningful career shifts, Jaclyn’s path toward therapy began during a time of pause and reflection.

During the COVID shutdowns, while working as a ballroom dance teacher, Jaclyn found herself noticing something important:

She loved working with couples not just teaching steps, but witnessing communication, connection, tension, repair, and growth.

“I realized I wanted to do similar work, but on a deeper level.”

Helping couples navigate their patterns, learn how to give and receive feedback, and cultivate appreciation for one another felt deeply aligned with her natural interests.

This realization led her back to graduate school, where she pursued a master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) and Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), with the vision of integrating her background in movement with systemic therapy theory.

It’s a blend that continues to shape her uniquely grounded approach today.

Who Jaclyn Loves Working With

Without hesitation:

Couples.

Jaclyn specializes in helping partners better understand each other’s communication styles, relational dynamics, and emotional worlds.

Her clinical backbone is rooted in the Gottman Method (Level 1) — an evidence-based approach that focuses on strengthening connection, improving conflict management, and building emotional intimacy.

But what truly defines her work isn’t just theory, it’s how she shows up.

Jaclyn’s Therapy Style

If Jaclyn had to describe her therapeutic presence in three words:

Collaborative. Goal-focused. Practical.

Her sessions balance compassion with structure, creating space for insight and tangible tools.

Jaclyn’s philosophy is simple but powerful:

Understanding and growth can coexist.

Clients often find that they feel deeply heard while also being gently challenged to shift patterns, try new strategies, and move toward the relationship they want.

What Makes Her Approach Unique

Jaclyn brings a rare and refreshing integration of:

• Relational depth
• Clear direction
• Practical strategies

She emphasizes helping clients leave sessions not only with greater awareness, but with something concrete they can actually use in daily life.

Because insight is valuable, but insight paired with action is transformative.

Jaclyn, marriage and family therapist in michigan, meets with couples online for teletherapy and in person for therapy sessions and ballroom dance workshops

The Heart Behind Her Work

At the core of Jaclyn’s clinical philosophy is a belief many clients immediately resonate with:

Relationships are a pillar of our lives.

When there is distress in a relationship, it often ripples outward — affecting emotional wellbeing, stress levels, confidence, and even physical health.

Conversely, when relationships become sources of safety, understanding, and support, everything else tends to feel more manageable.

“Being able to transform a relationship into a source of strength and support is incredibly meaningful.”

Creating a Safe Space

For Jaclyn, safety in therapy is not about avoiding discomfort but about creating a foundation of trust that allows for growth.

A safe space means:

• Feeling understood
• Having lived experiences honored
• Being supported in vulnerability
• Having space to explore change

It’s about attunement, respect, and the courage to gently examine patterns together.

Jaclyn, dance therapist in royal oak michigan, let's loose in her freetime when she is not in session or leading couples in ballroom dance workshops

Fun & Human Moments

Because therapists are humans too 💛

When Jaclyn isn’t in session, you might find her:

- Doing puzzles
- Dancing
- Running
- Cross stitching
- Watching The Traitors
- Getting lost in a fantasy book series

For New & Nervous Clients

Starting therapy — especially couples therapy — can feel vulnerable, awkward, or even intimidating.

Jaclyn’s perspective is reassuringly grounded:

Therapy isn’t about “who’s right.”
It isn’t about blame.
It isn’t about being perfect.

It’s about curiosity, understanding, and learning new ways of relating.

If you’re nervous about starting, you’re not alone and that nervousness is welcome in the room too.

couples therapy in royal oak, michigan

Working With Jaclyn

If you’re seeking support for:

• Communication challenges
• Recurring conflicts
• Emotional disconnection
• Relationship transitions
• Strengthening connection

Jaclyn offers a warm, structured, and collaborative space to explore what’s happening — and where you’d like to grow.

🔗 Appointments available through Inspired Healing Therapy