Certifications and Specialized Training

Approved Supervisor of Marriage and Family Therapy, Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy. Adjunct professor, Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy Program.

Clinical Member American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Juvenile Sexual Offender Treatment Provider Certification Program, University of Louisville.

Employee Assistance Provider for American Behavioral Health and Ceridian Lifeworks.

Former Director/Clinical Director Child Advocacy Center of East Alabama, Inc., a treatment program for child abuse/child sexual abuse victims and non-offending family members.

Approach to Treatment and Philosophy

Depth-Oriented Brief Systemic Therapy, with an emphasis on client strengths. It is the therapist’s assumption that the client is experiencing distress that brought them to therapy. The first objective of the therapy is to find a process of change that will relieve the distress the client is experiencing. The second objective is to help the client maintain positive gains by promoting solution-focused thinking. It is our philosophy that many problems, whether they be individual or inter-relational, may arise purely due to persons becoming “stuck” in their attempts to resolve a difficulty. When this occurs, an impasse may be reached that blocks further productive communication or action. We believe that every person, couple and family has the tools they need to move forward. We are here to help clients identify strengths that can be harnessed to get on the other side of the issues that are causing them distress.

Duration of Treatment

The number of sessions varies from situation to situation, but usually ranges from 3 to 15 sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues presented. Homework assignments are often given to help the treatment process along between sessions. When the client and therapist agree that goals have been reached, treatment is terminated. Each session is 50 minutes in length. In the beginning of therapy, sessions are held weekly; as therapy progresses, therapy may be every two weeks or even monthly until goals have been attained.

Cost of Treatment

A sliding scale fee based on family income is utilized to determine cost per session. Fees range between $50 and $90 per session. EAP clients may be required to pay a co-pay based on company health benefit package.

What Our Clients Can Expect

Confidentiality of information and records

To be treated with respect

To receive professional care by qualified clinicians 

Services will be provided as promptly as possible and in as few sessions as possible

Referral to other community resources when needed 

Emergency on-call accessibility 24 hours a day. After hours & emergencies: (334)444-4032

About Children

A custodial parent or legal guardian must give consent for therapeutic services to be provided to a minor child. Should a child ever indicate an intent to do harm to him/herself or another person, the parent will be notified immediately. When a child has an issue of concern that the therapist believes a parent needs to be made aware, the child will be encouraged to share that information with the parent(s) in a therapy session.                                                                                                                                                                

Credentials and Professional Information

Emilyn N. Gipson graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is licensed by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a clinical member of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Ms. Gipson is also a state certified Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor of Therapy. She is an adjunct faculty member in Auburn University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program, where she supervises therapists in training. She is the former director of The Child Advocacy Center of East Alabama, Inc., past-president of Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and past-president of Alabama Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers. Ms. Gipson has practiced in Auburn, Valley and Opelika for the past 16 years.

Philip A. Gipson, Jr. graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in Secondary Education. After teaching high school for several years, he obtained a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Amridge University in Montgomery. He is currently employed by Auburn University as a facilitator for the Juvenile Sexual Offender Treatment Program at Mt. Meigs, Alabama and is completing requirement for licensure. Philip sees adolescents transitioning back into the community following residential treatment and works with sexually reactive preadolescents and early adolescents through a granted program.