Our Mission
At Make Marriage Better, we are dedicated to helping couples navigate the complex journey of marriage (or any relationship) to a successful conclusion. Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where partners can communicate with maximal effectiveness. This, as we see it, is the key to healing wounds and strengthening bonds. Using proven methods grounded in the award-winning Deconstructing Anxiety™ model, we empower couples to resolve conflicts, build deeper emotional intimacy, and create lasting, fulfilling partnerships. By fostering empathy, understanding, compassion, and resilience, a meaningful, enduring relationship is the inevitable result!"
Meet Our Team
Todd Pressman, Ph.D.
Dr. Pressman is an award-winning speaker, psychologist, and author. He is known internationally for his work on "Deconstructing Anxiety". Graduating with degrees in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and Saybrook University, he has authored 3 widely acclaimed books and over one hundred published articles on the subject of human potential. He is also a highly sought after media expert, having appeared on scores of television, radio and podcast shows. His most recent book Deconstructing Anxiety: The Journey from Fear to Fulfillment, was named one of the top 15 books on anxiety by a panel of mental health professionals.
In 1982, he traveled the world to study the great wisdom and healing traditions, including with a Zen master in Kyoto, a Jain family in Delhi, a Zoroastrian high priest in Mumbai and a Sri Lankan firewalker. His education also includes an internship under Stanislav Grof, M.D (considered the grandfather of Transpersonal Psychology), mentoring by Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., and many other notables in the field.
With a background deeply rooted in tradition (he was groomed by a father whose teachers were taught by Sigmund Freud), he has integrated this wide-ranging experience into the Deconstructing Anxiety program. Realizing the powerful effect of this model on couples counseling, the Deconstructing Relationships program was a natural next step in the evolution of his work. Whether helping individuals, couples or families, his working model is based on Michelangelo's ideal: to release the statue from the stone, the authentic Self from the overlays of imposed identity, into the discovery of purpose, meaning and enduring fulfillment.
Shannon Brandes, LMHC
Shanon Brandes is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who earned her degree from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York. She is known for her caring, empathetic approach with her clients, combining it with a keen insight into the deep source of conflict in relationships and in life. Her holistic approach addresses mind, body and spirit, specifically looking at how thoughts and emotions interact, but also recognizing the importance of the physical—how to release tension in the body, and how diet and exercise can support optimal performance.
She was the first person to successfully complete full certification in the Deconstructing Anxiety™ Method, and has been personally trained by Dr. Pressman in the Deconstructing Relationships Method. She loves seeing her clients “get it” when deep insight and healing occur in her sessions. She holds licenses in New York State, Kansas and Florida.e take a personalized approach to marriage counseling, tailoring our services to meet the unique needs of each couple. Our experienced therapists use evidence-based techniques to help couples develop better communication skills, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their emotional connection.