Therapists in 98119

I believe wholeheartedly in a strengths-focused approach to therapy. We’re so often conditioned to see only what we are doing wrong, while ignoring or dismissing what we’re already doing right. I try to build awareness of innate strengths and to put these to use while working toward change.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Substance Use Disorder (formerly Chemical Dependency) Professional. I am also a Master Addiction Counselor (national certification). I have been practicing since 2004, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services to clients in community mental health agencies in King County. I have two master's degrees from Antioch University-Seattle: Organizational Psychology and Mental Health Counseling. I received my substance use education at Bellevue College.

I have been providing therapy for over 10 years in various settings and with all types of people. From outpatient mental health to residential facilities to the justice system. My experience has allowed me the opportunity to develop a flexibility and an openness in my practice that allows for a unique, personal therapeutic connection. Our sessions will be led by you, and I will act as your guide. I'm informed by the following psychological frameworks, drawn from evidence-based, modalities such as ACT, attachment theory, relational work, as well as mindfulness.

Many LGBTQ+ people have a hard time finding a place to turn when life gets difficult. This leaves us wondering “is there something wrong with me?” I'm a queer therapist who understands the unique support LGBTQ+ folks deserve so you can find confidence and live the life you want.

I enjoy working with individuals and couples, and I specialize in working with those who struggle with anxiety, stress, or depression. These issues are particularly important to me because they can be debilitating, and yet they are often treatable. I use evidence-based practices to help reduce and decrease symptoms. It is truly an honor to walk alongside a client as they deepen their self-awareness, ponder their values and align those values with their goals in life. There is great strength in the human spirit, and it can empower individuals to make meaningful changes through discipline and hard work.

As human beings, we are prone to intense joy, deep sorrow and a wide spectrum of emotions in between. Therapy is a place to learn how to navigate these changing terrains of life. As a therapist, I will come alongside you to listen, reflect, speak to, and bear witness to your particular experiences in life. I believe many personal struggles are relational and that we experience healing through genuine connection with ourselves and others. I'm passionate about helping people move from a life of fear and feeling stuck to a life of freedom, feeling grounded, and developing a growing trust in yourself and others.

My passion is working with individuals who have strong and sometimes even overwhelming emotions. People with a lot of passion and who sometimes struggle to regulate their intensity. Those who might be considered highly sensitive or highly empathic.

Social wounds need social salves. As a client you will be met with empathy and humility and a place of compassion, safety, and connection. I believe the body is built for healing, and you don’t need to be in therapy the rest of your life. There are simple tools for tolerating distress, managing anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and regulating our emotions and nervous system, and together we will find what works for you. Once we have built up your resilience, we can work on creating a life that is affirming, daring, and uniquely yours. My focus is to help individuals heal and energize.

Making lasting changes in your relationships, feeling more connected to your partner and others, and having a safe place to share are all important elements when seeking therapy. I specialize in strengthening communication skills that can lead to increased intimacy and connections. You and your partner may be stuck in repetitive patterns that do not utilize your personal strengths to the fullest potential. Therefore, my approach involves identifying your strengths and proposing a treatment plan that utilizes them. Furthermore, I provide individuals with guidance to enhance life and engage in positive change.

Hi there, I’m Annie! I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate practicing in Seattle, Washington. I feel incredibly lucky to do the work that I do. I specialize in treating anxiety, relational distress, trauma and issues related to self-worth and body image. I’m passionate about helping couples and individuals increase self-awareness, cultivate growth and build healthy, meaningful relationships. I truly believe each of us has the capacity to heal and create sustainable change.

I provide a supportive and safe environment where you can begin to develop a process towards healing. I believe in creating a space where your story is heard, respected, and valued. Therapy can help you find new tools, skills, and knowledge to deal with difficult circumstances in life. Together we will find ways to identify, understand, and work through these challenges in a supportive setting.

I believe that therapy is a collaborative process and that the client steers the direction. Internal motivation and a willingness to ask yourself the difficult questions are essential to success. The beauty is that the power lies in your hands at all times. I am happy to help facilitate the process and smooth the path along your way. I have training in cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (both the original and radically open subsets), holistic health, humanistic approaches, and existential approaches.

Taking the hardest step of asking for help is powerful. You don’t have to do it alone. As a Therapist, my goal is to help you honor all parts of your feelings. There is never a one size fits all solution. My focus ranges from strengths-based, client-centered, solution focused, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness practices and play therapy interventions.

My client population are adolescents ages 16 and up, and adults ages 18 up, of all genders. I have worked with a variety of therapy models, and currently prefer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT); and Exposure Response and Prevention (ERP).

I have no ideal person who might consult me. I try hard to avoid placing people in theories. What matters is the relationship I will have with you. In collaboration, we formulate the therapy goals and how best to achieve them. Each person brings his/her own entrenched detrimental beliefs, that have blocked achieving such complex goals as satisfaction in love and in work. In therapy, I expect those beliefs to be tested. Where I intervene has more to do with fostering resilience, and with the challenging of fears/anxieties that often accompany the sense of incapacity and isolation.

Grief comes in many forms. My clients and I unpack the grief and loss they are facing and together we find a pathway to healing. Often we can feel anxiety, depression, or a sense of reliving a trauma that brought about the loss. This can quickly become a place where we get "stuck in our grief". Our work is designed to help get unstuck, and that takes courage. As a seasoned healthcare professional, I know firsthand how increasing caseloads, unprocessed grief and trauma, and unbending healthcare systems can take a toll on one's ability to function. I support clients in finding more balance and healthy ways to cope as a caregiver.

My therapeutic orientation is best described as a holistic and comprehensive approach to counseling. I find that developing insight about the nature of one's problems within the context of an empathetic and collaborative therapeutic relationship, can lead to healthier relationships and a more satisfying life. I tailor my treatment approach to best fit the needs and desires of my clients. Some of these approaches may include: Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution-Focused, Client-Centered, Mindfulness practices, and Strength-based interventions. My hope is to help people recognize that life is a continual balance between stability and growth through acceptance and actualization.

I am passionate about working with teens and young adults struggling with anxiety or depression. I believe therapy can be helpful for gaining insight and learning skills for coping. I aim to create a relationship built on trust where people feel accepted and challenged to grow in new ways.

Life is full of gains and losses. While our gains make us feel good, our losses help us grow. I believe that in understanding how to accept and heal our losses we can transform our lives most challenging events into acts of personal growth, self-empowerment and change. This change gives us the tools to cope with life, ourselves and others in a more gratifying way.

My work with adults typically focuses on anxiety and stress management, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep disorders, interpersonal relationship issues, and general health and wellness. I believe in taking a collaborative, client-centered approach to developing an individualized treatment plan to help clients achieve their personal therapeutic goals. I would love to speak with you so we can decide together how to best help you move forward.