Tami Peckham LCSW

Don't go to her for couple's therapy

Tami is the worst couple's therapist in Richmond in my opinion...she continued saying our relationship was doomed. The very beginning she would say this about the relationship, and a couple’s therapist isn't supposed to do this.
Five months were spent with her simply because my partner did not want to start over with a new therapist and continued saying perhaps she'll get better. She never made a treatment plan for us or talked about the same thing from week to week (We never picked up where we left off or anything).
It was the weirdest therapy treatment I have ever participated in with anyone.
She was very annoyed when asked questions about her methods, and it seemed to really prick her ego.
Perhaps she's been great as an individual therapist for some people, but she picked favourites in our sessions.
My partner had a huge problem at the time (I thought only one) but it turned out to be two 'HUGE' problems with behaviour. If I didn't speak up at the beginning of a session I'd constantly be told to hold up or hold on so he could talk about his personal problems. Admitting one of his problems did affect our relationship on a grand scale, it was still inappropriate the way she handled it.
Something came out in our last session about my partner he'd been keeping a secret for the entire twenty years of our relationship. I was floored at what was said, and it was something that could ruin a relationship.
Although we were there in hopes of staying together...I said once I found out this 'HUGE' news "I have been in this relationship for over twenty years and this is the first time I knew anything about this." She (knowing we wanted to stay together) said to me "no-one is holding you in this relationship, you can leave any-time you want too as a matter of fact right there is the door."
Once she said this to me she proceeded to say can't you see how hard it was for your partner to reveal something this big to you, and all you can concentrate on is how long you've gone without this knowledge.
She absolutely hated to be questioned and I was raised to always ask questions if I don't understand something. Perhaps a lot of people go to therapist without asking any questions and doing exactly as the therapist says for them to do.
I asked the day we were there (the last session we went) "can you tell me why I go away from your sessions feeling worse and go away from my own individual therapist feeling better?" She never did answer my question and proceeded to ask "what are we going to talk about today."
If anyone ever uses her for couple's therapy be certain to never ask any questions, or do exactly as she tells you. Plus do not be surprised if she picks a favourite, because if one partner seems to have more personal problems she'll jump on it.