These days, we're all huddling under COVID's shadow of uncertainty. You may be feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and less tolerant than 'before'. You didn't used to feel so disorganized, disoriented, and discouraged in pre-virus days. Perhaps some symptom you'd forgotten about or pushed aside feels newly offensive. I am a psychoanalytic therapist and my ideal client is ready, curious, persistent, possibly angry, sad, and frightened, but willing to wonder with me about the mind's mysteries and its capacities to tilt, stymie, support, inspire, and surprise you. Is the unconscious friend or foe? Might now be a time to investigate?

I am a licensed psychotherapist in the state of Washington. I work with adults, couples and teens who are at a place in their life where they are wanting or needing to make a change, but sometimes not sure how to go about it. My approach encourages clients to take responsibility for their lives but also helps to uncover what obstacles have gotten in the way of them feeling powerful, happy, and in charge of their direction in life.

***I am not currently taking on new clients. https://pugetpsychotherapy.com/ for available clinicians. I offer therapy for adults and have professional experience with a variety of populations. I bring my heart to our sessions and you can expect an approach that demonstrates dignity, compassion, and genuine care. I approach therapy with respect for the unique experiences of each person. My intention is to help create awareness of yourself and your capabilities, allowing for greater personal freedom. While I rely heavily on training and professional experience, I also believe that each person is the greatest expert about themselves.

People can get stuck in painful emotional states and relationship patterns, for all kinds of reasons. I help people with chronic emotional pain, depression, anxiety, and the aftereffects of trauma and abuse. I focus on helping people work through sources of pain, and build their capacities for a satisfying life. In couples counseling, I help partners hear and understand each other in new ways, and create the space they need to thrive as both individuals and as partners in a relationship.

We all have an image of our best self. This is the person we'd be if we just weren't so tired, so anxious, so angry or so depressed. I think about my work as the process of helping people to become who they already know they are - or could be. Our work together is to find out why you feel those things in the first place so you can move past them and start feeling happier, more productive and more connected to the life you want.

My clients are high achievers by nature. They often come to me because they are climbing the corporate ladder, entering their first job out of college, or making career transitions. Many are experiencing anxiety and imposter syndrome, or even depression. Some examples of issues I specialize in: first generation college graduates struggling with imposter syndrome, new team managers and leaders adjusting to their new roles, and individuals wanting to improve work-life balance. While I do facilitate the therapy process, my clients drive the sessions. Together, our therapeutic endeavor is to help you achieve your goals.

I specialize in helping men and women overcome debilitating anxiety, depression, and developmental trauma. I also work with individuals struggling with infertility, feeling secure during pregnancy and postpartum, and working through the challenges that come up with parenting. I'm interested in coming to know you, your hopes and dreams, and the obstacles that keep getting in the way. I believe in the innate capacity to heal and the growth that comes from exploring what hurts in a caring relationship.

I provide psychotherapy services to older adolescents and adults seeking help for a variety of emotional and personal difficulties. In addition, my area of expertise is in helping people cope with medical problems such as diabetes, cancer, and chronic pain. I also specialize in working with those dealing with end of life issues as well as grief/bereavement.

I believe that individuals and couples seek counseling and therapy for one primary reason: a desire for something to be different in their lives. Thus, I focus on helping people (1) identify differences they are seeking in their lives and relationships and then (2) developing the skills and internal capacities to make these differences a reality. For some, this involves changing ineffective behavior patterns; for others, it means treatment for depression, anxiety or other emotional/psychological blocks that hamper living a full and engaged life. What do you want to be different for yourself in your life?

I believe a commitment to therapy is a commitment to oneself. It is very powerful to commit to grow and change in ways that increase a sense of personal satisfaction with one's life. I work with individuals who want to resolve issues of unrest, dissatisfaction or distress that recur in their lives. I believe as clients learn to increase their trust in themselves they can better trust others and better direct their lives.This work involves coming to a better understanding of the influence of past experiences, as well as present influences, and may include exploring deeper spiritual isssues.

I have experience providing individual, couples and group psychotherapy in private practice and University settings with adults between the ages of 17-65 since 2004. I have expertise regarding relationship & family dynamics, life transitions & identity, mood & anxiety, and stress & trauma. My approach to counseling is dynamic, collaborative, & Humanistic. I enjoy supporting people to learn new ways to relate through self-awareness and experiential exercises. I work with individuals to reduce symptoms that impact life, work, and relationships and encourage growth by exploring untapped potential and enhancing overall functioning.

*Please note: I am currently full and not able to take any new clients at this time.* I work with individuals who are going through transitions, or who have become unhappy or dissatisfied with some aspect of their lives. I believe that people are doing the best they can, but that we get stuck in old ways of relating to ourselves and others that hold us back from having the life and relationships that we want. Some of my specialties include working with anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma, and people who identify as LGBTQIA and/or BIPOC.

We are learning that T/trauma is at the root a majority of suffering. With this, the possibility for healing, freedom, growth grows. Seeking support is the most courageous and resilient action you can take. The stigma about "therapy" being for people that are somehow "weak" or "broken" is rapidly falling apart in light of the truth that weakness and brokenness more often stem from the choice to not seek support. The myths and stigmas surrounding healing ("therapy") are rapidly deteriorating as many come to see that a more joyful life is possible.

I believe that healthy and fulfilling relationships are the beginning to change in all other areas of life. My goal is for us to understand the core struggles you are facing, and to provide you with proven tools that lead to change in yourself and in the relationships that matter the most. If you struggle with depression, anxiety, loneliness, anger, or substance addiction, understanding and changing patterns is the beginning to healing. I have created a safe, accepting place for you to discuss what is happening in your life so that together we can work to make the changes you desire to see so that your life feels better.

Since the pandemic hit I have shifted to exclusively online video and phone therapy sessions and I find that these modalities work really well. I can help youth in adolescence up to elder-aged adults do the hard work necessary. I intend to be a witness and a companion while listening to you and your story. I am fascinated by the experience of severe anxiety and have had success treating it. I have a lot of experience to bring to bear particularly on the experience of US Military veterans who have been through war and combat trauma. I am especially interested in working with veterans with military sexual trauma.

My practice focuses on counseling for depression, anxiety, life's transitions and low self esteem.I believe therapy is an opportunity to take a step towards ones self and that the role of therapy is to bring relief during difficult times and to build strength, stamina, acceptance and the skills necessary to remain engaged with the world around us. I have experience working with young adults looking for independence from their families of origin as well as parents creating new lives for themselves. I offer pre and post commitment counseling for couples facing the challenge of staying connected.

I see adults and teenagers who are struggling with social issues, adjusting to new environments, family conflicts, experiencing a crisis, or just going through a tough time. I specialize in helping people explore and work through issues and questions around gender and sexuality. I work with people to help them to heal and gain a better understanding of themselves and their lives.

As a board-certified psychoanalyst social worker, I help individuals work through depression and anxiety, traumas, personality disorders, and general problems in living. The conflicts or stuck feelings that bring a person to therapy tell us about internal experiences that need to be acknowledged and understood. Our problems are often the result of patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that can be addressed in therapy.

I work with adults who come to therapy with a variety of concerns, including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, problems with relationships, sexual trauma, family-of-origin issues, struggles with self-esteem, inhibitions and fears, childhood trauma, phobias, social anxieties, and separation issues. I work with individuals in both short- and long-term therapy, meeting varying frequencies, depending upon the goals of therapy.

Are your relationships not as fulfilling as you'd like? Are you feeling depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or less hopeful? I provide individual, couple, and family therapy and can help you with these issues and more. As we work together, I help create a context where hope can prevail, where intention has more power than reaction, where options for overcoming challenges and achieving goals are discovered, and where new connections are created.