Dr. Arlene Brett Gordon , LMFT

Dr. Arlene Brett Gordon is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of professional experience in clinical practice and training. She holds a Ph.D. - a Doctor of Philosophy degree - and the LMFT credential, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and she is licensed to practice in Florida.

Her professional path began as an early childhood schoolteacher, and she later served for 16 years as director of Nova Southeastern University's Brief Therapy Clinic and its Medical Family Therapy Clinic. After that period of teaching and program leadership, she transitioned to working directly with individuals, couples, and families, bringing a strength-based, solution-focused orientation to her clinical work.

Dr. Gordon uses a collaborative approach that invites people to explore possibilities beyond problem-saturated stories and to recognize strengths and resources they may not have noticed before. Her areas of expertise include relationship and family issues, parenting concerns, self-esteem and motivation, and coping with major life changes. She creates an open environment where clients can identify practical steps toward change and build confidence in their abilities. Deciding to pursue therapy is a significant step, and Dr. Gordon supports that decision as part of a shared journey toward positive change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support for Families and Relationships

Dr. Gordon commonly draws on a strength-based approach, which focuses on identifying and building the personal and relational resources a person or family already possesses. This approach helps people increase confidence and resilience while addressing current challenges.

She also uses a solution-focused orientation that emphasizes practical, short-term strategies and clear, achievable goals. This method can be useful for relationship tensions, parenting concerns, and navigating life transitions where clients want concrete steps forward.

As a couple and family therapist, she applies family systems thinking to understand patterns of interaction and communication and to help families and partners shift unhelpful dynamics into more supportive ones.

Finding the right approach is part of the work itself, and Dr. Gordon collaborates with each person to determine which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She combines approaches as needed to tailor care and supports clients in making decisions about what feels most helpful.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter interactions are available via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity through life changes, and access support from different locations when appropriate.