About Me

Communication breakdowns that destroy relationships - whether between couples, family members, or in therapeutic settings - often stem from deeper patterns that most practitioners miss. Corey Petersen brings a unique combination of advanced communication research and clinical expertise to help practitioners understand how language shapes therapeutic outcomes and relationship healing.

With a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas and dual master's degrees in Professional Communication and Marriage and Family Studies, Dr. Petersen represents a rare fusion of academic rigor and clinical practice. His doctoral research on "Finding a Therapist That 'Speaks Your Language'" explores how therapists' communication patterns influence client engagement and treatment success - insights that directly inform his training for mental health professionals. His decade of teaching experience across communication and psychology courses gives him exceptional skill in translating complex concepts into practical applications.

Dr. Petersen's expertise spans couple and family therapy, neurodivergent-affirming approaches, chronic pain and illness, self-harm, anxiety, and cultural humility. His approach combines evidence-based therapeutic interventions with sophisticated understanding of how communication patterns either facilitate or hinder therapeutic progress. He specialises in helping clinicians recognise when their own communication style creates barriers to client connection and provides specific techniques for adapting language to match clients' communication preferences.

What sets his training apart is communication precision. Petersen doesn't just teach therapy techniques - he shows practitioners how the specific words, timing, and delivery of interventions can dramatically alter client responses. His research background gives him evidence-based insights into why certain therapeutic communications succeed while others fail, even with similar content.

For your practice, expect to gain specific skills in therapeutic communication, tools for working with neurodivergent clients, and frameworks for addressing chronic pain and medical challenges in therapy. His methods particularly benefit clinicians who want to improve their therapeutic presence or work more effectively with clients who have communication differences.

Quick Win: Petersen's "communication matching" technique teaches clinicians to identify clients' preferred communication patterns in the first session and adjust their therapeutic language accordingly - often doubling client engagement and treatment compliance.

Qualifications

• Ph.D., Communication Studies, University of Kansas, 2023
• M.S., Marriage and Family Studies, Friends University
• M.A., Professional Communication, Southern Utah University
• B.S., Psychology, Southern Utah University
• B.S., Strategic Communication, Southern Utah University
• Licensed Clinical Marriage & Family Therapist (Kansas)
• Clinical Hypnotherapist
• 10+ years teaching experience in Communication and Psychology

Teaching & Roles

• Owner, Communication and Connection Therapy, Overland Park, KS, 2013–present
• Doctoral Candidate & Graduate Instructor, University of Kansas, 2017–2022
• Academic Coach, Instructional Connections, LLC, 2015–2018
• Adjunct Teacher & Lecturer, Communication and Psychology courses (10 years)

Featured Training

• GoodTherapy webinars: "Ethical Considerations of Therapy Without a Presenting Problem" (2025)
• "Strengthening Relationships in the Face of Medical Challenges" (2024)
• "Navigating Blended Family Dynamics" (2024)

Specialised Expertise

• Communication theory applied to therapeutic practice
• Neurodivergent-affirming therapeutic approaches
• Chronic pain and illness in couple/family systems
• Self-harm assessment and intervention
• Cultural humility in therapeutic relationships
• Organisational communication principles in family therapy

Ready to transform how you communicate with clients? Discover how Dr. Petersen's research-backed communication methods can enhance your therapeutic effectiveness and deepen client connections across diverse populations.