Dr. Ralph Datema, LMFT
Experienced relationship-focused marriage and family therapist
About Ralph
Dr. Ralph Datema uses a relationship-focused approach rooted in marriage and family therapy.
Background and approach
He brings 45 years of experience and centers sessions on how people relate to themselves and to others. His work aims to help people facing grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship strain.
Dr. Datema is an LMFT licensed in Colorado and works in English.
He prefers a conversational, reflective style that helps people clarify what matters to them. Sessions often include looking at patterns in relationships, exploring how past experiences shape current choices, and trying new ways to communicate.
He adapts the pace to each person and focuses on practical steps that can make daily life easier. Dr.
Datema blends client-centered listening with psychodynamic thinking and mindfulness practices. He also draws on the Gottman Method for relationship work and uses existential questions when people face big life changes.
This mix lets him shift approaches as needs and goals evolve. People come to him for many concerns: intimacy-related issues, parenting strain, stress, anger, bipolar and mood concerns, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD, and workplace or career stress.
He also addresses multicultural concerns, personality disorder patterns, and the effects of prejudice and discrimination in people’s lives. Practical matters are part of his work too.
Sessions may involve coaching skills, short-term solution-focused steps, and longer conversations about values and meaning. He encourages people to set small goals and review progress between visits.
Approach and access in online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and shaping sessions around the person’s needs. It helps when someone needs a space to talk through feelings and decide what matters most. The Gottman Method focuses on relationship skills and practical communication tools to reduce conflict and rebuild trust. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices that can lower stress and improve emotional regulation.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. He will talk with each person about goals, history, and what feels helpful, then try methods that fit. The process is collaborative and may shift over time as goals change and progress is reviewed.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets people see facial cues for relationship work, phone can suit shorter check-ins or lower bandwidth, and chat or text works well for brief coaching, check-ins, or when writing helps organize thoughts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
Also works with
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 45 years
- Licensed
- Colorado
- Languages
- English