- Years in practice
- 45
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- Colorado
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Family conflicts
- Focus
- Grief
About Ralph
Dr. Ralph Datema is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in Colorado. He brings 45 years of clinical experience to conversations about relationships, parenting, grief, mood, and life transitions.
He aims for simple, direct work that helps people feel heard and clearer about next steps. His sessions are conversational and reflective. He listens first, then helps people notice patterns in how they relate to themselves and others.
He combines practical problem-solving with deeper attention to values and meaning.
Background and approach
That mix helps with things like anxiety, depression, addictions, and struggles with intimacy. He uses methods that center the client’s experience and look at relationships and history together. That can include exploring long-term patterns, noticing how stress shows up in daily life, and practicing new ways to handle conflict.
The Gottman Method ideas inform work on couple communication and repair. Dr. Datema also brings attention to cultural and identity issues.
He addresses multicultural concerns, prejudice, and the effects of discrimination when those topics matter to the person seeking help. He supports people dealing with compassion fatigue, career strain, ADHD, and personality-related challenges. Practical matters are part of the plan.
Sessions may focus on short-term solutions or longer exploration depending on goals. He adapts the pace and tools to what each person needs, and helps set clear next steps for change.
What Ralph works with
Everything Ralph lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Ralph helps people with.
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Multicultural concerns
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
Approaches Ralph lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's own experience and priorities. The therapist listens closely and follows the client’s lead to help them gain clarity and make choices that fit their life. This approach is useful for parenting stress, low self-esteem, and emotional overwhelm.Mindfulness Therapy teaches paying steady attention to thoughts and feelings without getting swept away. It uses simple moment-to-moment awareness and practical exercises to reduce reactivity and improve focus, which can help with anxiety, sleep, and coping with strong emotions.
The Gottman Method brings clear, teachable skills for improving couple communication and repairing conflict. It provides specific ways to soften interactions, rebuild trust, and handle recurring fights more constructively.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. That conversation guides which methods are emphasized and how sessions are structured in a collaborative way.
Online therapy lets people fit sessions into busy lives. Video calls are close to in-person meetings and work well for full conversations. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a short break. Live chat and text-based messaging allow brief check-ins, ongoing problem-solving, or a way to track progress between sessions. These options make it possible to keep therapy consistent while balancing family, work, and other demands.
Questions people ask about Ralph
What concerns does he help with?
He works with relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, depression, anxiety, addictions, intimacy issues, and stress among other concerns.
What is his general approach in sessions?
His style is client-centered and reflective, blending practical problem-solving with deeper exploration of relationships and life meaning.
How long has he practiced?
He has 45 years of clinical experience as a marriage and family therapist and mental health practitioner.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) licensed in Colorado.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.
How is payment handled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
More therapists for parents in Colorado
All in Colorado
Karen House
LPC, LPCC
Colorado 25 years in practice
Practical, problem-solving therapy for parents
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
Donald Rincon
LCSW, CSW
Colorado 17 years in practice
Practical, experienced Colorado LCSW for parenting concerns
- Stress, Anxiety
- Anger
- Self esteem
Kelley Sullivan
LCSW
Colorado 19 years in practice English, Spanish
Compassionate clinician focused on daily life changes
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship
- Trauma and abuse