Cornelius Sheehan, LCSW

I am an experienced attachment-focused therapist working primarily with couples and families.

Hi, I'm Cornelius Sheehan, LCSW. I am the founder and director at Individual & Relationship Counseling Associates – Reno, NV
A practice group dedicated to excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals, Couples, and Families

At Individual & Relationship Counseling Associates, we provide relationship counseling in Reno and across Nevada that helps people restore connection — to themselves and to the people who matter most. Our work is grounded in attachment science and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based approach for creating secure emotional bonds. Whether you’re struggling with relationship issues, emotional distance, anxiety, depression, or past hurt, we help you find your way back to stability, confidence, and closeness.

Our Approach

We believe that healing happens through relationship — both in the relationships we live and within the therapeutic relationship itself. Our approach is rooted in attachment theory, which helps make sense of why emotional disconnection hurts so deeply and what allows us to heal.

Using the framework of emotionally focused therapy for couples, individuals, and families, we help clients identify the negative cycles that keep them stuck, understand the emotions driving those patterns, and learn new ways to respond that build trust and security. The goal isn’t just insight; it’s lasting, lived change in how you experience yourself and others.

We emphasize empathy, collaboration, and presence. We don’t see people as problems to be fixed but as individuals doing their best to navigate life’s complexity. Together, we slow things down and work toward real, sustainable emotional growth.

Who We Help

Our practice offers:

Couples therapy in Reno and online across Nevada for partners wanting to strengthen or repair their bond

Marriage counseling for couples recovering from infidelity, betrayal, or communication breakdown

Individual therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, or self-criticism using Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)

Family therapy, including blended and stepfamilies, drawing on Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and the work of Dr. Patricia Papernow

Premarital counseling through The Securely Attached Marriage Program — a seven-conversation framework based on attachment principles and Sue Johnson’s Hold Me Tight

Our Values

We are dedicated to bringing the best of attachment-based therapy and relationship science into our clinical work. That means ongoing training, supervision, and a continual deepening of skill. Our therapists share a commitment to authenticity, compassion, and respect for each client’s lived experience.

We believe in therapy that is both relational and practical — work that helps you understand your emotions in the moment while also giving you concrete tools to live differently outside of sessions.

Whether you’re seeking therapy for relationship issues, personal growth, or recovery from emotional wounds, our focus remains the same: helping you feel safer, more connected, and more capable of love.

About Cornelius Sheehan, LCSW

Cornelius is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience providing couples therapy and relationship counseling in Reno, NV. He earned his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno and has completed advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

As the founder of Individual & Relationship Counseling Associates, Cornelius leads a small, highly trained team of therapists who share his dedication to high-quality attachment-based therapy. His mission — both as a clinician and a mentor — is to make the science of human connection accessible, practical, and deeply human.

Clients often describe Cornelius as grounded, warm, and clear. His work helps people slow down the emotional storms that lead to distance and conflict, so they can rediscover connection, trust, and hope.

Beyond his clinical work, Cornelius teaches and mentors other therapists through advanced EFT trainings and continuing education programs. His workshops — such as Reclaiming Connection: Attachment-Focused Therapy Across the Recovery Process — focus on integrating attachment theory into therapy across contexts, including addiction recovery and blended-family work. He also leads trainings for clinicians learning Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT).

Our Commitment to Professional Growth

We believe clients benefit most when therapists are also supported and growing. Within our practice, we emphasize supervision, consultation, and a culture of continuous learning. Our therapists pursue advanced training and stay current with research on attachment, neuroscience, and emotional healing.

This dedication ensures that the therapy we offer is compassionate, evidence-based, and responsive to each client’s needs — whether it’s online therapy in Nevada or in-person sessions at our Reno office.

What You Can Expect

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve been trying to manage pain or disconnection alone. From your first contact, we aim to make the process feel safe, straightforward, and human.

In the early sessions, we take time to understand your story, clarify your goals, and begin identifying the emotional patterns that may be holding you back. Together, we work to reshape those moments into opportunities for healing and connection.

Whether you work with Cornelius or one of our associates, you can expect therapy that is collaborative, compassionate, and centered on creating secure emotional bonds — with yourself and with others.

Getting Started

We offer both in-person therapy in Reno and telehealth sessions for Nevada residents. Our team helps new clients connect with the therapist best suited to their needs, and we make scheduling simple and responsive.

If you’re ready to begin, we invite you to reach out. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. The first step is connection — and that’s where healing begins.