Are you looking to have a meaningful, more fulfilling relationship with your partner or spouse? Maybe your relationship is more complicated, more than two, and you want to talk to someone who understands the complex dynamic you live in. Are you feeling stuck, or looking for someone to help as you move into the next stage of your journey? Maybe you are just looking for a queer affirming counselor. Drawing on the experience and encouragement of someone familiar with your concerns, interested in your values and engaged in your success is not a weakness, it is a healthy human need.

I believe that clients succeed best when they feel respected, heard, and understood. I work to create an open and comfortable place where clients can work through their struggles to better their lives. I will work to empower you to help you become stronger in your life by working through difficulties, helping you to move forward with fulfillment and joy. I work to help you understand what drives you and normalize your emotional experience with empathy and understanding.

Having served in the Yakima Valley for over twenty years, I am experienced working with people who are facing Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, ODD and many other diagnoses. You will not feel like a "diagnosis" in my office however, as I will work with you to develop a customized plan to address your needs and goals. You will be treated with respect and dignity which will allow you the freedom to examine yourself and consider new ways of dealing with problematic patterns and behaviors. Life can be complicated and having the curiosity and courage to try new things is a rewarding way to live.

My role as a counselor is that of a fellow journeyer, coming along side you for a time to collaborate with you and provide assistance. There are times during any journey that we feel lost, unsure, or afraid and would like a companion to help as we find a new direction and path. My goal is to provide a safe space for you to try out new directions and to assist you as you discover your true north.

***Teletherapy - Licensed to provide services to residents in Washington, Florida, & Indiana*** My therapeutic approach is to create a supportive environment in which you will feel valued and understood. Together we will work as a team developing goals and applying solutions so you are able to return to your best. I want offer a safe place to be open and honest without fear and judgment.

Anxiety. Panic. Mood changes. All of these symptoms can have a huge impact on daily life. You may feel out of control or like you are the only one going through something like this. It's hard to know which way is up and the first steps to healing can be the most difficult. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. I can help. Although your symptoms may be similar to what others go through, your course of personal recovery is all yours.

I meet with people who feel hopelessly stuck in a cycle. You may feel numb, anxious, out of control, or disconnected. Perhaps you continue to find yourself in unsatisfying relationships. You’re not sure you’ll ever be able to overcome these difficulties and you’ve felt this way for a very long time. These are some of the common reactions to trauma.

It can be scary to come out to your healthcare professionals, not knowing what kind of response you will receive. When you believe you must explain or defend your identity and culture, it can leave you feeling misunderstood or judged. This is why I have intentionally created an atmosphere where you feel safe and accepted exactly as you are. Since my own coming out, it has been my dream to provide a place of healing for the LGBTQ+ community. I have compassion for you as your counselor and understanding as a fellow queer person. I will respect the experience and expression of your gender, sexual, and romantic identities.

I provide caring, compassionate & open-minded counseling to individuals, couples & families; specializing in Sex Therapy, relational/marital counseling, LGBTQ+ issues & adolescent/family communication & Multiracial/Multicultural counseling. Counseling can be a difficult process & my goal is to help you through that process in the most comfortable & successful way, as it is a lasting investment in an improved sense of self & life. I pride myself on creating & maintaining an open, honest & non-judgemental environment, allowing & supporting personal growth in all areas of your life. As a LMHC, Certified Sex Therapist, Ethnic Minority Mental Health Specialist & KINK Knowledgeable Professional, I enjoy providing therapy & advocacy for those I counsel.

Seeking counseling can be one of the most difficult decisions a person can make. It is also one of the bravest decisions. Day to day life is stressful, and at times, life tosses us a curveball. My goal is to help you identify your strengths, and help you navigate through the stresses and transitions that many people struggle with. You are not alone, and I am so glad that you are here. Some of my areas of focus are on addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, as well as family dynamics.

Are you in search of a counselor that is nonjudgmental, non-confrontational and non-adversarial? I believe it is very important to be in charge of your therapy goals, while still having that person in your corner holding you accountable to your commitments. I will also be an encouraging force towards areas that may be beneficial for your therapeutic journey. Along with seeing individuals for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders I specialize in working with individuals struggling with chemical dependency or abuse. Other issues that counseling may address include negative self image, eating disorders, PTSD, attachment disorder, and trauma.

At Family Essentials Counseling we have the right counselor for you. Check out our website for a detailed information on providers available - FamilyEssentialsCounseling.com including Tele Mental Health for those who struggle to attend counseling in person and areas outside of Spokane.

The therapeutic relationship should be a safe place to breathe. Come catch your breath, and get clear about the growth you're finally ready for. Learn to see your questions, yourself and your relationships in new ways. Curiosity & compassion can turn chaos into insight and paralysis into courage. Use your courage to apply your learning in real time. Try new skills, experiment. You'll know you're doing it right when success and failure are both progress! With skills & perspective your experience of uncertainty can shift from anxiety to excitement. What about you and your world will become possible?

My approach to counseling is to focus on strengths and help to assist with solutions rather than telling my patients what to do. My focus is to address short-term problems as well as long-term psychological well-being. The more you can tell me about what and how you are feeling, the more effectively I will be able to assist you in resolving your personal problems and issues. I believe all individuals are deserving of acceptance, respect, compassion, and understanding, and all children are capable of success in academics, extracurricular activities, and social interactions.

I work with individuals, couples & families in both private and TeleMental (Video/Internet Counseling); helping individuals/families overcome and cope with grief/loss due to death, job loss or divorce. I help individuals process anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, eating and learning disorders, self harming behaviors, anger management, OCD, and ADD/ADHD. I specialize in helping individuals, couples and families to create healthy, functional relationships and lives though a variety of therapies. I am trained in EMDR to process trauma with children, adolescents and adults

Whether you struggle with depression or anxiety, have experienced abuse or other traumas, want help with marital issues or other relationships, have difficulties with family dynamics or parenting, or just need a sounding board and safe place to manage other life struggles; my desire is to help you improve your emotional well-being and overall quality of life. I believe that all people deserve to feel safety, security, love, hope, and a sense of belonging; no matter what they have endured. I have a passion for working with children, adolescents, adults, families and married couples.

Therapy is something you have probably contemplated for awhile. It takes a lot of courage to work on tough issues that are making your life less fulfilling than you have envisioned. People seek counseling for different reasons. It can be something from your past that you feel it is time to work on or help finding your direction and motivation to reach your goals. I work with you to overcome whatever blocks are in the way of living the life you want to live.The important thing is to bring more joy into your life.

I use a strengths based approach, which means I reinforce and build on internal and external strengths, or protective factors, with each of my clients. My goal is always to first try to deeply understand my clients, while empowering them to choose how we will best work together. I invite open and honest conversation, while supporting my clients in accessing all of their different 'parts', or feelings, that need to be experienced and explicitly understood in order to feel better and function optimally.

I specialize in working with individuals and couples who are experiencing relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, substance use, codependency and perfectionism. Problematic behaviors, thoughts and perceptions, have their roots in past relationships or experiences that were emotionally or psychologically damaging. In our work together, I will help you to explore and overcome some of these emotional and psychological barriers.

Often times, life stressors within our significant relationships are what prompt us to seek additional support in the form of therapy. Similarly, when we experience emotional distress, it typically impacts important relationships and environments, including friendships, school and work. It is my goal to help individuals and families explore and solve their relational, emotional and behavioral concerns. My style of therapy is focused on symptom reduction rather than diagnoses or labels, and on improving one's overall health and quality of life.