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Bio & Publications
Jeffrey J. Schutz
Individual, Couple & Family Therapist
Ma - Marriage and Family Therapy
Certified Neurofeedback Clinician (BCN / BCIA-EEG)
Ma - Philosophy of Religion
Ordained - C&MA
Treasurer-Elect and Member, Board of Directors - CTAMFT Board of Directors
Advisory Board Member - Marriage and Family Therapy Department, Fairfield University
Member - Alpha Sigma Nu
Pre-Clinical Member, AAMFT & CTAMFT
Bio & Background
Before I get into my background, I want you to know that I do what I do because I love what I do. There are few things in life that are more important than your family and your relationships. When these things are "out of whack," I find that life feels like trying to jog in a foot of mud. Uphill. Limping.
You get the point - especially if you're looking for a good therapist right now!
I've committed my career to helping people go from surviving to thriving in the relationships that matter most. I love working with people, and I enjoy seeing my clients grow and work through the issues that prevent them from experiencing life to the fullest. To play a little with my practice's name, families matter, and challenging family matters are what I help you to work through.
I believe in hope: Not the empty, feel-good, well-wishing kind, but the kind that is able to take the tough, the painful and even the ugly, and use those things to make life better, deeper and more purposeful overall. Life is not easy, but it can - and should - be meaningful and, ultimately, fulfilling. I've had my fair share of trials and challenges in life, and it is a privilege for me to be able to work with others as they deal with theirs.
As for my credentials, I hold a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University, where I graduated at the top of my class, summa cum laude. I was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu fraternity, which is the highest level of recognition afforded to a student at a Jesuit university for academic achievement, moral character, and social involvement.
I am certified as a Neurofeedback clinician (BCN) by BCIA - one of only 12 who hold this certification in Connecticut. I work with the most technically advanced NFB equipment available, including QEEG, Infra-Low, sLoretta, and live z-Score Training.
I serve on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut chapter of the Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CTAMFT) and am the Treasurer-elect for the Executive Committee. I am on the Advisory Board of the Marriage and Family Therapy Department at Fairfield University.
I hold a Master's degree in Philosophy of Religion and I am an ordained minister with the C&MA denomination. I have served for over 17 years in full-time Christian ministry.
I want to assure every one of my clients that I provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on the basis of race, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, health status, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. Christian counseling is by request only. I believe that the therapist / client bond is a sacred trust, and I work hard to provide you with an environment that is focused on and revolves around your personal goals, convictions, issues and values. I work with clients from a wide diversity of backgrounds and excel at identifying and incorporating your personal belief system into your therapeutic treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns about my qualifications, please do not hesitate to ask!
I look forward to meeting you!
Publications
Schutz, J.J. "Therapeutic considerations for working with families who have a child with a disability." Family Therapy Magazine, January/February 2011: vol. 10 (1). pp. 22-29.
Family Therapy Magazine is the "flagship" periodical for the AAMFT and is distributed to every Marriage and Family Therapist in the country. I was inspired to write this article by an almost unbelievable paucity of material on how to provide systemically-oriented (that is, relationally-based) therapy for families who have a child with a disability. I performed an article-by-article, issue-by-issue survey of the top 7 family therapy periodicals over the past 10 years and found NOT A SINGLE ARTICLE that addressed family therapy for families with a special needs child. This, despite the fact that at least 1 in 10 families includes a child with a disability! All of my resources and research had to come from other fields, so my work in this area is genuinely at the cutting edge. I am continuing my work of pioneering relationally-based treatment models for helping families with a special needs child.
Schutz, J.J & Schutz, L.E. "Operation Recreation." Exceptional Parent Magazine, June 2010: vol. 40 (6). pp 14-16.
My wife Laurie and I decided to write this article as a kind of motivational piece for parents who have a child with a disability. We are avid hikers, and we love to go biking. This article talks about what it takes to adapt to the challenges of including your special needs child in doing the recreational activities you love the most!
(Yes, that is me and 3 of our children on the cover! Anyone want to guess where it was taken?)
