Therapists in Eastsound, WA

I am passionately committed to helping you with issues of loss, sadness, anger, anxiety, depression, addiction, PTSD, trauma, and relationship problems. I am comfortable working with preteens, teens, young and older adults, couples, and families. I offer you a warm, safe nonjudgmental space in which you and I can work together to discover tools which will enable you to build more authentic joyful connections and intimacy with yourself and within your interpersonal relationships. I draw from a wide variety of theories, techniques, and approaches that will enable you to move deliberately and comfortably towards your goals.

My approach to counseling is holistic, humanistic and client-centered. I am trained in EMDR and trauma. I work with you and together we create an individualized approach to counseling that supports your goals. My professional background is in Trauma, PTSD, Grief, Loss, Early Parent loss. Anxiety, Depression. CBT, Family Systems Counseling, Narrative Therapy, Restorative Retelling, EFT, Matrix Reprinting, Multicultural Cultural Counseling, Feminist, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Since 2000, I have had the experience of living abroad as an elementary K-8 Certified teacher in Shanghai, China, Chiangmai, and Saudi Arabia.

**Virtual Therapy**&" In Office" In this unique time of uncertainty there are many moments of anxiety and uncertainty. Don't do it alone! If you are struggling please reach out & get the support you need to navigate this time. I've been helping others for 35+ years. I'm a Clinical Psychologist trained in many different modalities. My life experience combined with my training & education has equipped me to serve a variety of people. I work effectively with people challenged by traumatic memories, anxiety, depression, social fears, relationship problem or low self-esteem. I have a strong interest in the spiritual dimensions of growth.

We are committed to restoring you to your best. Using an individualized, client-centered approach, we work with you to identify strengths and deepen relationships for sustainable and holistic change. At Cascades Wellness Center, our team offers extensive experience as well as a holistic approach to mental health and wellness. Through awareness, compassion, and acceptance, we work with our clients to return you to the life you want and deserve. For us, therapy is not about fixing what is wrong, but about recapturing your capacities to increase your overall health, well-being, and sense of connection in the world.

As your therapist, my goal is to provide you with a warm and welcoming environment where you are free to explore the areas of your life you wish to improve for holistic healing - physical, emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual. I offer a warm and empathetic environment as I use a person-centered approach that allows me to understand you through your own unique experiences and walk alongside you on this journey to achieve your personal goals. My primary focus is in child, individual, and couples/family counseling as well as working with neurodivergent populations using neurodiversity-affirming language and approach.

Life is a difficult and confusing journey for all of us. Occasionally we get "stuck" along the path. Sometimes that growth is blocked because of issues, patterns and behaviors from the past which affect the way we feel, do or react in the present. If you are experiencing issues such as depression, anxiety, stress and relationship concerns. I can offer you: a combination of heart, skill, and understanding to help you find your own solutions to these problems that face you. Through the use of solution-oriented, emotionally focused, and reality based techniques, can help you and your relationships overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

As a specialist in Rehabilitation Psychology, I most often work closely with patients who are managing complex social and medical situations. I build trust and connect with patients about their concerns, fears, and hopes. Most clients are striving to feel more connected to their community and building meaning in their lives. We can all improve in these areas and the science of psychology offers wonderful tools to accomplish these goals. I believe strongly in the power of human resilience in the face of adversity.

My passion is people and the therapeutic effect of authentic human connection. It's from a socially safe platform that we begin to really heal. By exploring the lens we're used to, we make space for new perspectives. Learning how you're wired creates opportunity make decisions about what you think, how you feel and what you can and are willing to do about it in order to connect to the self and heal. My clinical lens is rooted in the understanding of and respect for the gut-brain/heart-immune-mind axis, making my approach truly holistic. People deserve to be fed while learning to fish and I love treating people, not diseases.

I am a marriage and family therapist that helps individuals and couples navigate the challenges of modern life. We explore how roles in family, relational, social, and cultural networks influence the whole person. The client is the expert on their story and my role is to help translate that narrative through our combined knowledge. Clients I work with often feel they have all the outside elements for a happy life, but still struggle with stress, relational problems, self-esteem, and work issues. Something is missing or preventing fulfillment and it is our collaborative efforts that help us discover and remove those barriers.

Sara Elkington MA, LMHC is a licensed mental health therapist currently building a practice in Tacoma, Washington. She has specialized in working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, dissociative symptoms, post-trauma reactions, intimate partner abuse recovery, ADHD-related concerns, and those living with a life-changing medical condition or chronic illness. She firmly believes in the power of therapy to promote self-growth and resilience. Sara is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and judgment-free space for her clients to explore their experiences and foster healing.

Life is unpredictable with many ups and downs. No matter how much we want life to move in a linear fashion it often goes unplanned causing us to feel off balance. I believe therapy is a safe place to begin your own personal journey and learning to be present in your life. It allows you to rediscover who you are. Therapy is different for every individual and/or couple. I have an EMDR, existential & integrative approach to helping clients create healthy, fulfilling and rewarding lives. I integrate therapeutic styles depending on the best fit for client and situation.

We can work together on: Trauma; Grief and loss; Multicultural issues; Anxiety/Depression; Relationship issues; Life transitions; Social stress. I am here to support you and invite you to this safe space where you are free to explore yourself without judgment. The foundation of my client-centered approach is founded on the idea that you are the expert on your own life, experiences, and emotions. In our sessions, I provide a compassionate and empathetic environment where you can feel safe and understood. We work collaboratively, focusing on your unique needs, goals, and values.

The current focus is on time-effective cognitive-behavioral, psychosomatic and depth psychology approaches individually tailored for each patient.

In a world that can often feel heavy with forces pushing and pulling us downward in so many directions it can feel all too easy to lose track of your true self. Feeling confused and asking how did I get here? Or why me? Or, I just want to get back to myself, but I don’t even know who I am anymore. You are not alone and there is a way. I work with individuals who struggle with these same questions. Questions that arise from the struggles with trauma, anxiety, depression, attention, autism, and others. My counseling services focus on addressing the integrated person.

Restoring balance and healing our self-limiting beliefs really is possible. Often, our life stressors point to where we need to heal. I am passionate about working with adults who are motivated for that change. I work with Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and other therapies to treat anxiety/depression, grief and loss, PTSD, past traumas or current triggers, interpersonal conflict, attachment differences and more.

I work with a wide range of clients, many of whom share similar challenges—work and organizational stress, health concerns, grief and loss; or are experiencing other difficulties, such as PTSD and other traumas (including compassion fatigue), depression, or anxiety. My approach is person-centered, focusing on you, the client, and the moment-to-moment engagement, discovering insights together. I can help you discover insights into barriers, and the constructive solutions to overcoming those barriers. Each person has the right to live a life free of negative thoughts and experiences—a life of healthy well-being.

Clients who work with me feel empowered and reassured on their first visit, and they continue with me, because they notice changes happening. For the past 20 years, I've worked in private and group practices, providing counseling and other services to people from many different walks of life. I help people re-evaluate, become closer to a loved one, process difficult decisions or transitions and grieve significant losses. I enjoy helping people become more truthful about themselves and live with integrity. I fiercely protect the privacy and confidentiality of my clients and provide a private, safe setting for our work together.

Are you experiencing distressing symptoms from unresolved childhood trauma? You may be experiencing PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, behavioral addictions, or substance use. Perhaps you are going through a major life change or crisis & experiencing trauma triggers that are now wreaking havoc in your life & in significant relationships. I work with those who have experienced trauma at some time in their life. Together, we'll explore how & where the trauma became dysfunctionally stored & we will also explore those Parts that are desperately trying to protect the Self from further distress or pain.

Hello! Since 2007, I have helped couples & families with communication and connection, using coaching, mediation & reconciliation. I also assist individuals recover from depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction & ADHD/ADD, with support through transitions such as divorce, loss, abuse recovery & existential or spiritual awakening. My style is flexible and tailored to your preferences, balancing compassion with real results. You'll learn skills that re-connect you with your wise inner guidance, creating steady, calm confidence & energizing you to make smart, bold moves towards your life, career & creative goals.