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About Bret Eartheart
Founder, Licensed Therapist, Marriage and Couples Counselor, and Thriving Relationship Coach
With laser wisdom, Bret’s specialty is helping couples identify exactly what’s not working, transform the core issues that lie underneath recurring problems, and discover a clear and deeply rewarding pathway to new levels of love. As a licensed social worker and marriage therapist, Bret has extensive experience helping people from all walks of life dissolve long-standing conflicts or challenges and gain profound new insights into their lives.
Bret received his Masters of Social Work from Indiana University and is a licensed psychotherapist. He is also a certified Conscious Loving Coach through the Hendricks Institute and has been trained in diverse modalities: cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, Emotional Freedom Technique, mindfulness, men’s work, hypnotherapy, breathwork, and beyond. In addition to working specifically with couples, Bret is passionate about helping parents work together more effectively and entire families develop flourishing relationships that support and bring out the best in everyone involved.
Bret has been facilitating healing and transformation since the 1990’s. People describe him as having an exceptionally calming, accepting, caring, grounded, fun, and sage-like presence and depth that helps them see things clearly and goes right to the core of who they are meant to be, individually and together.
About Christine Eartheart
Founder, Thriving Relationship Coach, Author, Speaker
Known for her infectiously positive energy, inspiring presence, and abundantly loving heart, Christine is in awe of the healing, transformation, and growth that are possible in our relationships.
Through her coaching and teaching, she will skillfully help you break free from whatever unhealthy patterns are holding you back so that you can experience all the love, joy, and connection available to you.
Christine adores the heart and soul of relationships, as well as teaching clients about the neuroscience of what actually happens in your brain during times of stress, conflict, and connection. She has spent years devouring research and the very best strategies available for what it takes to experience our optimal life and relationships.
Christine is a graduate of Indiana University and has received countless certifications in diverse healing modalities. She is passionate about all-things-relationships, as well as Positive Psychology (the science of happiness), energy healing, and mind-body practices.
Christine is a beloved teacher and facilitator and, in addition to supporting clients in thousands of breakthrough coaching sessions, she has led hundreds of workshops, trainings, and group circles over the past 15+ years and also founded and runs Joy Potential.
Our Team
Amanda McKenzie
Licensed Therapist and Thriving Relationship Coach
The most delightful combination of warm, kind, caring, sparkly, brilliant, grounded, and wise, Amanda offers individual and couples therapy and coaching to help you overcome hurdles, communicate harmoniously, become emotionally aware and empowered, experience exponential personal growth, and reach your relationship potential.
Amanda has a holistic understanding of mental health, relationships, and marriage and realizes the many components involved (environment, genetics, trauma history, nutrition, mindset, belief system, strengths, lifestyle, and more). Amanda thrives in helping individuals as well as couples, with not only relationship challenges, but personal issues as well.
She is passionate about healthy communication, boundary setting, emotional intelligence, and helping you heal from the past to live more wholeheartedly in your present and enjoy your relationship more fully. In addition to her training through the Center for Thriving Relationships and being stocked with countless relationship tools, Amanda may also weave into her sessions elements of Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and EMDR (a powerful modality to overcome trauma).
Amanda earned her BA in Psychology/Pre-Medicine and her MA in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Cincinnati. She has also completed a Birthing from Within® childbirth educator training intensive, which she finds helpful in supporting parents-to-be and mothers navigating the postpartum experience.
Andrea Golden
Thriving Relationship Coach
With tremendous kindness, wisdom, depth, and warmth, Andrea will pour her heart into supporting you with all your relationship hopes, goals, and dreams. After working closely as a Co-Founder of two schools with families and parents for over a decade and raising her own daughters, Andrea developed a passion for helping people communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and develop healthy and resilient relationships.
She has spent over twenty years studying communication and relationship skills as a teacher, administrator, manager, and freelance writer and researcher. Prior to becoming a couples coach, Andrea earned her Masters degree from Ohio University.
Andrea is particularly interested in Dr. Sue Johnson’s innovative work on Attachment Theory and how it relates to couples, as well as the relationship science of Drs. John and Julie Gottman.
When not supporting couples, which is work that she finds both inspiring and deeply rewarding, Andrea can be found behind the lens of her camera or at home with her husband of 30 years, their two teenage daughters, three cats, and their new puppy, Arlo.
Jessica McDonald
Licensed Therapist and Thriving Relationship Coach
A beautiful spirit in every way, you will instantly feel uplifted and cared for in Jessica’s incredibly warm, calming, and kind presence. One of the many special things about Jessica is her experience and knowledge of working across the entire lifespan. She is fascinated by the interplay between work with children, parents, individuals, and couples. When it comes to any issues regarding your family or parenting, Jessica is especially insightful and helpful.
In addition to utilizing our many tools through the Center for Thriving Relationships, she may incorporate Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Positive Psychology. Jessica happily sees clients in both couples counseling and for individual therapy for all ages.
Jessica received her BA in Psychology and Brain Sciences, and her MS and Ed.S in Mental Health Counseling at Indiana University. She has also completed training in Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, Insight Meditation, and Theraplay (an attachment based therapy for parents and children).
In her free time, the things that bring Jessica joy are dancing, nature, reading, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Rachel Bird
Thriving Relationship Coach
With her extraordinary gift for deep, wise, and compassionate listening, it’s no wonder people find it so easy to open up to Rachel and feel her support immediately. An avid reader and researcher, Rachel has extensively studied relationships, sexuality, and personal development.
As Co-Owner of a wellness salon for 20+ years, she has a wealth of experience in diverse healing modalities, and it is her life’s mission to support others in living their optimal lives.
Rachel is passionate about relationships and truly lives what she teaches, as exemplified in her own thriving relationships with her life partner and two sons. Some of her (many) specialties are communication, helping couples who feel sexually disconnected, or supporting couples where at least one partner is healing from past trauma in a way that interferes with their current relationship.
In addition to being a certified Thriving Relationship Coach, Rachel delights in time with her family, hikes in nature, camping, road trips, picking wildflowers, and constantly learning new things.
Ingrid Skoog
Thriving Relationship Coach
With stunning clarity, compassion, and care, Ingrid’s gift is guiding couples towards their aha moments of greater understanding and deeper connection. She is masterful at helping you hear each other in new ways, uncover patterns, and see one another with renewed possibility and vision.
Over the past 20 years, as a communication coach and teacher of Nonviolent Communication, she has led retreats and workshops for organizations, nonprofits, and yoga studios. Among her countless trainings, certifications, and passions, Ingrid has also studied gestalt therapy, the science of bonding and attachment, Dr. John Gottman’s relationship research, mindfulness, somatic psychology, and movement meditation.
For fun, Ingrid loves improvisational dance, organic gardening, deep connection with loved ones. and rescuing animals.
Tris Bolstridge
Operations Manager and Project Specialist
We are incredibly fortunate to have Tris on our dream team! Always with a warm smile, Tris works behind the scenes on a variety of projects to make everything with the Center for Thriving Relationships run smoothly, helping us serve even more people. When it comes to insurance and billing inquiries, Tris is the friendly contact who will help make sure your questions get answered. She is also your contact for any issues you might experience- whether it is with any of our websites, services, products, or general questions.
Not only is she amazing with details, she is wonderfully creative, thoughtful, talented, and insightful, cares greatly about others, and has a huge heart. Prior to joining our team, she earned her Computer Science degree from George Mason University and worked as an Information Assurance and Security Engineer.
When not working with the Center for Thriving Relationships, Tris loves road trips, traveling to interesting places, having fun with her three kids, learning new things, and sharing her healing gifts as a certified Reiki Master Practitioner/Teacher and holistic practitioner. She has always been passionate about helping people grow and transform and loves that all of her life roles afford her the opportunity to do just that.
Kate Ransford
Client and Student Relations
It is truly a dream come true to have Kate on our team! She loves meeting new people, and you will instantly feel like you are her friend within moments of connecting. A true extrovert at heart, she values authenticity and meaningful connections and approaches life with a positive attitude and openness to new things.
Kate leads our efforts with client and student relations and events and is based in Chicago where she lives with her wonderful husband and two sons.
If you have any questions about our counseling and coaching services, online programs, or an upcoming retreat, Kate is your gal. She will also be the friendly voice you hear when you schedule a free consultation.
Kate loves witnessing the transformation of couples who participate in programs at the Center for Thriving Relationships. You will likely see her working in the background at our events, so please introduce yourself!
HECK YES it will work
"You guys changed my marriage for the better! Before we went on your retreat we were a step away from divorce. Neither of us were happy about that, but it seemed likely. After your retreat we have decided to get remarried (even though we never actually got divorced) so we can put the past behind us. We are putting new habits together on a daily basis so we never go back to where we were. I can’t thank you enough, and to all of those of you trying to decide if it’s worth it…if you’re both ready to listen to these two wise minds then HECK YES it will work."
Lisa Levin"You guys changed my marriage for the better! Before we went on your retreat we were a step away from divorce. Neither of us were happy about that, but it seemed likely. After your retreat we have decided to get remarried (even though we never actually got divorced) so we can put the past behind us. We are putting new habits together on a daily basis so we never go back to where we were. I can’t thank you enough, and to all of those of you trying to decide if it’s worth it…if you’re both ready to listen to these two wise minds then HECK YES it will work."
We would not be together if not for you.
“We wouldn’t be together if not for you. We met you guys at the absolutely perfect time — you were truly heaven sent to us. I am blown away by what you are doing for the world. May you always be blessed with abundance, joy, and love.”
Rachel Gratz“We wouldn’t be together if not for you. We met you guys at the absolutely perfect time — you were truly heaven sent to us. I am blown away by what you are doing for the world. May you always be blessed with abundance, joy, and love.”
Bret and Christine helped save and transform our marriage…
"Fantastic. Exceeded all expectations. Bret and Christine both have a special gift. They have provided insight and tools that will add so much to our relationship. Thank you!”
Nick Miller
"AMAZING & relationship changing! Bret and Christine helped save and transform our marriage! This was supposed to be a place for us to reconnect, instead it was a place we discovered our true potential for a thriving relationship! Thank you so much."
Kate Miller"Fantastic. Exceeded all expectations. Bret and Christine both have a special gift. They have provided insight and tools that will add so much to our relationship. Thank you!”
Nick Miller
"AMAZING & relationship changing! Bret and Christine helped save and transform our marriage! This was supposed to be a place for us to reconnect, instead it was a place we discovered our true potential for a thriving relationship! Thank you so much."
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HECK YES it will work
"You guys changed my marriage for the better! Before we went on your retreat we were a step away from divorce. Neither of us were happy about that, but it seemed likely. After your retreat we have decided to get remarried (even though we never actually got divorced) so we can put the past behind us. We are putting new habits together on a daily basis so we never go back to where we were. I can’t thank you enough, and to all of those of you trying to decide if it’s worth it…if you’re both ready to listen to these two wise minds then HECK YES it will work."
Lisa Levin"You guys changed my marriage for the better! Before we went on your retreat we were a step away from divorce. Neither of us were happy about that, but it seemed likely. After your retreat we have decided to get remarried (even though we never actually got divorced) so we can put the past behind us. We are putting new habits together on a daily basis so we never go back to where we were. I can’t thank you enough, and to all of those of you trying to decide if it’s worth it…if you’re both ready to listen to these two wise minds then HECK YES it will work."
We would not be together if not for you.
“We wouldn’t be together if not for you. We met you guys at the absolutely perfect time — you were truly heaven sent to us. I am blown away by what you are doing for the world. May you always be blessed with abundance, joy, and love.”
Rachel Gratz“We wouldn’t be together if not for you. We met you guys at the absolutely perfect time — you were truly heaven sent to us. I am blown away by what you are doing for the world. May you always be blessed with abundance, joy, and love.”
Bret and Christine helped save and transform our marriage…
"Fantastic. Exceeded all expectations. Bret and Christine both have a special gift. They have provided insight and tools that will add so much to our relationship. Thank you!”
Nick Miller
"AMAZING & relationship changing! Bret and Christine helped save and transform our marriage! This was supposed to be a place for us to reconnect, instead it was a place we discovered our true potential for a thriving relationship! Thank you so much."
Kate Miller"Fantastic. Exceeded all expectations. Bret and Christine both have a special gift. They have provided insight and tools that will add so much to our relationship. Thank you!”
Nick Miller
"AMAZING & relationship changing! Bret and Christine helped save and transform our marriage! This was supposed to be a place for us to reconnect, instead it was a place we discovered our true potential for a thriving relationship! Thank you so much."
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