Counseling Practice – Optimal Connections Counseling
At 4365 E Pecos Road, Suite 138, in Gilbert, Arizona 85295, Optimal Connections Counseling provides individual and couples therapy in person and online for clients throughout Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and surrounding Arizona communities. The practice is led by Madelaine Ford, a bilingual therapist who offers sessions in both English and Spanish, and operates under the clinical supervision of Kathryn Tiffany, a master’s-level clinical supervisor.
Individual counseling services address anxiety, depression, perinatal and maternal mental health, emotional well-being for men, intergenerational trauma, grief, stress, and multicultural concerns. Couples counseling covers marriage and premarital counseling, divorce support, communication difficulties, infidelity, blending families, conflict resolution, and intimacy concerns. The practice also offers neurodivergent-affirming counseling designed to address anxiety, shame, masking, depression, and trauma as they appear in neurodivergent clients, providing a non-pathologizing and affirming therapeutic space.
Specialized service areas include perinatal loss and pregnancy grief support, postpartum depression and anxiety treatment, and support for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). A distinctive feature of the practice is a baby-friendly therapy environment that welcomes newborns during sessions, an accommodation specifically designed to reduce the access barriers faced by new mothers who may not have childcare coverage for appointments. This option is described as central to the practice’s commitment to improving access to mental health care for perinatal clients.
Sessions are available Monday through Thursday, 9am to 6pm. Bilingual services in English and Spanish are offered throughout. A free initial consultation is available to prospective clients before beginning any services. The practice can be reached by phone at (602) 675-5346. The website notes 15 years of clinical experience and describes the practice as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for clients regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or neurodiversity status. The practice states its commitment to providing affirming care across all these dimensions as a consistent feature of its clinical environment and intake process. Specific insurance information and year of establishment are not listed on the homepage.