About Durham Therapy | Compassionate Marriage and Family Therapy Services

About Tara Gogolinski, LMFT

Since 2012, I have been dedicated to serving couples and individuals as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I hold licenses in North Carolina and Maryland, and I am also an out-of-state telehealth provider in Florida. By exclusively offering telehealth services across all three states, I ensure that therapy is both accessible and convenient for my clients. To better accommodate the clients I work with, I offer non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends.

I earned my Masters of Science in Couple & Family Therapy from the University of Maryland. My graduate work at The Center for Healthy Families, a community outpatient therapy clinic, exposed me to a diverse population of couples, families, individuals, and children.

I then transitioned to becoming a therapist and clinical supervisor at Family and Children’s Services, a nonprofit community outpatient therapy organization. I provided therapy to adult and child survivors of physical and sexual abuse. During this time, I also volunteered as a therapeutic grief mentor at Hospice of Chesapeake’s Camp Nabi, a grief camp for children coping with significant loss. Additionally, I served as adjunct faculty at the University of Baltimore, teaching a Masters-level Couple and Family Therapy course, as well as served as a clinical supervisor at the University of Maryland’s Center for Healthy Families.

In 2017, I transitioned to working full-time for the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing evidence-based trauma treatment to combat veterans and military sexual trauma survivors. In 2023, I assumed a new position at the VA, focusing primarily on treating couples with various presenting issues via telehealth.

Throughout my career, I have concurrently managed a private practice specializing in a systems-based approach to therapy, working with both couples and individuals to understand relational patterns and emotional dynamics. By exploring how relationships, families, and broader social influences shape experiences, I help couples navigate relationship dissatisfaction, disconnection, and ineffective communication while also guiding individuals through personal growth within these relational contexts. My work is rooted in the belief that healing happens not only within the self, but through meaningful interactions and deeper understanding of the systems that shape us.

Specialized Training:

Level One and Level Two Gottman Couple Therapy
Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)
7 Principles for Making Marriage Work Program Leader (Gottman)
Certified facilitator of the PREPARE/ENRICH premarital program
Certified facilitator of Warrior to Soul Mate (W2SM)
Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

My Values:

Empathy: I strive to understand your feelings, experiences, and perspectives without judgment.
Authenticity: Being genuine and transparent is crucial.
Respect: I respect my clients’ autonomy, choices, and boundaries. I honor cultural differences and treat everyone with dignity.
Non-Judgment: I create a safe space where clients can share without fear of criticism. I withhold judgment and focus on understanding.
Self-Awareness: I continuously reflect on my biases, emotions, and reactions.
Ethical Practice: Upholding professional ethics is paramount. I maintain confidentiality, avoid dual relationships, and prioritize clients’ well-being.

With my extensive experience and dedication to fostering healthy relationships, I am a trusted resource for those seeking compassionate and effective therapy. My approach combines professionalism with a personal touch, ensuring that each couple receives the support they need to navigate their unique challenges and achieve lasting growth.