Therapists in Puyallup, WA

I am an integrative and culturally sensitive driven therapist who works with teens and adults to unlearn systemic inequalities and process intergenerational trauma, grief, and anxiety, so you can confidently befriend your feelings, navigate life transitions, step into authenticity, and feel more at home in yourself. Often times when we are going through something difficult, it can be hard to see our way out. This may lead to spiraling thoughts, a lost sense of security & safety, thinking "I'm not good enough", consistently feeling on edge, and feeling disconnected from ourselves and others.

Emotional pain distorts our view of the world. The longer our pain lasts, the more unhappy we become. Unlike a well meaning friend or relative, a therapist can consider your concerns from a fresh, objective, perspective. But a therapist will not solve your problems for you; he will guide you by listening, questioning and observing—- so that you can find your own answers when extreme unhappiness, overwhelming anxiety or fear, feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem, sexual problems, and traumatic events interfere with your life or relationships with others.

We all experience speed bumps during our life journey. Though it may seem we are "lost"unsure of I believe the powers we are looking for are inside YOU! One simply needs to be validated, and to strengthen the emotional "muscles" that have grown weak--just as we exercise our bodies and our minds, we must exercise our emotional I truly believe we can not experience long term health unless we pay close attention to our Mind, Body and Spirit--the Emotional; our humanness. when we honor our truths, we will achieve our Authentic Self! I look forward to helping guide you towards your personal, goals. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF YOU

Hello, I am Jennifer R. Trefonas, MS, LMHC, MHP. I was initially licensed in FL in 1992, moved to WA 2002; licensed WA 2001. I ENJOY assisting INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COUPLES, & CHILDREN in overcoming obstacles. I AM ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Contact me for HELP with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, addiction issues, bullying, grief, feeling shamed, taken advantage of, abuse of any kind, trouble at work, getting along with others, HOW TO BE HAPPY and POSITIVE, hypnosis, and most anything! I'm NOT PARANOID, but that is funny,,,:)

***I accept First Choice Health insurance, which frequently contracts with some Kaiser plans. Please call to confirm I am in-network with your plan.*** I approach therapy from an evidence-based perspective by letting you know what the research has shown to be the most effective way of handling whatever problems you’re struggling with. From there, we can work together to adapt that type of therapy to fit your specific needs & life circumstances so we can figure out how to make our sessions most helpful for you. I specialize in CBT, DBT, CPT/PE, Schema Therapy & Mindfulness-based therapies amongst other evidence-based psychotherapies.

Jameela Muhammad owner of The Melanated Therapist is designed for those seeking to rebuild and heal from interpersonal and generational trauma. A focus on Black and Brown adolescents and adults struggling with stress, trauma, interpersonal relationships and life transitions. I hope to engage with individuals to build self-love, empathy and compassion for self, as well as teaching coping strategies to work through obstacles in a holistic and goal oriented way.

As a Native/Indigenous therapist, I work with an understanding that therapy doesn't look the same as the books. I choose to work from a holistic approach, helping treat the whole individual. I make sure to work through a trauma-informed lens, keeping in mind that we all experience trauma differently. Through my private practice work, I aim to work with BIPOC folks like myself and provide a safe, non-judgmental space to help normalize seeking and recieving mental health support in our communities.

I am passionate about being present with individuals as they experience disappointment, pain, despair, and joy in life and relationships. Sometimes, we need help navigating. I believe together we will discover the power and insight already within you. We undergo a process of examining your inner life, dreams, fantasies, and imagination to discover the inspiration that will allow you to live an authentic life. My approach is individually-focused and relationship-driven. Whatever challenges you are facing; that with a bit of goodwill and openness, much can be uncovered in a relatively short period of time.

Therapy Associates of Tacoma strives to make quality counseling an affordable resource. Therapy Associates of Tacoma counselors work collaboratively with individuals, teens, couples, and families to identify and create movement toward your desired goals.

I'm proud of you for taking this step! If you are a person who may be struggling in your day-to-day life due to transitioning, holistic mental or physical health, or who is recognizing that you are (or might be) neurodiverse and want to understand more about yourself and what you can do to improve your life, know that you are not alone. You do not have to take on your journey of self-discovery without support! Wherever you may be, I want to meet you there and work together with you to take each step you want to take towards living the life that is valuable to you.

Attachment and trauma are my specialties. I work with clients that are struggling in their relationships (family, friends, romantic, etc.) and/or struggling with past or recent truama. I aim at helping client's explore their life's journey and see how the past is currently influencing the present. When growing up, we all needed to feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure by are caregivers, but many of our caregivers/parents, being human, fell short of their capacity to do so. I work with clients to help them see how their own family dynamics while growing up has influenced what they experience in the present day.

I offer individual sessions tailored to your unique needs, with a focus on creative solutions that promote healing and growth. Over the last decade and more, I have worked in mental health and behavioral health fields, with the majority of my time working with adults and children with developmental disabilities. I have also experienced my own interesting journey navigating relational trauma, chronic health issues, and learning that I have ADHD at 30 years old. I know first hand many of the struggles disabled and neurodivergent people face and I use this experience to help my clients better their own lives.

One of the biggest challenges is finding the “right” therapist in a sea with many options and approaches. Building a treatment relationship of connection, trust and understanding between each client and myself is of the utmost importance. I am a seasoned psychologist who is committed to being a guide for my clients as they move through the struggles, fears, anxieties and pain that have held them back in their life and their relationships. Over the last three years I have transitioned to working exclusively in an IFS (Internal Family Systems) Therapy model and has been a real game changer in the work I do with clients.

Over the years I have had the privilege to help individuals and families dealing with a range of problems, including trauma, grief and loss, addiction, mood disorders, anxiety, self-esteem and identity issues, and relationship difficulties, to name I few. I also provide psychological assessments for children and adolescents. I particularly specialize in assessing for Autism, learning and intellectual disabilities, and general diagnostic clarification.

I see a wide range of clients, although I specialize in childhood trauma and CPTSD, relationships, anxiety, ADHD, and LGBTQ issues. I work with both couples and individuals, as well as children and adolescents. Therapy focus may include relationship conflict, anxiety control, satisfaction in both your personal life and work, focus and motivation, and building a sense of "feeling whole" or "complete." I've helped countless clients move from a place of feeling stuck and dissatisfied, to one of happiness and flourishing. I also offer specialized care to transgender and questioning clients, including transition-related counseling.

The primary focus of my work is providing diagnostic, neuropsychological, psycho-educational, and psychological assessments and intervention planning for children, adolescents, and families. Assessment services are available to most school-aged children, teenagers, and young adults. I offer psychotherapeutic services to children, adolescents and young adults with social, emotional and behavioral challenges and a wide range of diagnostic issues including (but not limited to): Depression, ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Issues related to Sexual Identity, Autism Spectrum Disorders, OCD, and Tourette's Syndrome. I use evidence-based treatments (including CBT) and incorporate various therapeutic styles in my work with children and families.

I am dedicated to assisting adolescents and adults in overcoming life's challenges. My approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and enriched by my background in progressive school administration and comprehensive sexuality education. I have received positive feedback and outcomes from individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, perfectionism, procrastination/motivation issues, navigating LGBTQ+ identities and experiences, and ADHD.