Dr. Fortenberry has worked with adults, children and families for 32 years. She began by testing children for learning differences while working toward her masters degree in community psychology. She went on to work in a group setting, treating children, adolescents and families, while earning her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. For over 30 years, the primary focus of Dr. Fortenberry’s career has been helping individuals and families achieve their life dreams and aspirations, while creating happy, functional relationships.

Teaching children how to appropriately express their thoughts and feelings and helping them get the grownups to listen has always been a goal for Dr. Fortenberry in her work. Today, children’s lives are often highly structured leaving little time for creative expression and play. With so many life demands, children and their parents spend little time just talking, playing and being together. Frequently, life is a journey of going from one activity to the next. Without time for free play and creative expression, children often feel rushed, hurried and stressed. Academic learning becomes a drudgery with little joy or passion. Dr. Fortenberry helps children become less stressed and to rediscover the joy of learning and simply being a child.

In working with children, Dr. Fortenberry also works with parents. Family therapy is one of her passions. She helps parents recognize the gift of having children. Children, without realizing it, often help parents to address and work through the unresolved issues in the family, from the past, or with life’s transitions. One such transition is divorce. Divorce changes how the family is structured particularly when children are involved. The goal of therapy is to help parents effectively co-parent while not being married and to help family members deal with the loss of the original family structure. Through talking, listening and playing with their child old wounds and hurts can be healed.

Dr. Fortenberry presents at conferences and professional meetings regarding her work with children and families. Her presentations often involve working with the family as a whole, along with doing group psychotherapy with adults and children, and play therapy.

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