Therapists in Ruston, WA

I am an Approved Clinical Supervisor and I offer Individual Psychotherapy, Couples and Family Therapy to help people heal and develop skills for improving relationships and communication, find new ways to cope with stress, depression and anxiety, and create healthier and more adaptive patterns. My treatment approach is psychodynamic and client-centered, offered in a safe, compassionate and supportive environment. Attachment focused therapy can help strengthen bonds by resolving old patterns of interacting, and creating space for healthy, rewarding connections.

Everyone has a unique story to tell. Sometimes the story is full of joy and laughter and sometimes it has challenges and heartbreak. For most of us, it falls somewhere in between. By taking the time to share and understand your story, you are given the opportunity to understand how your past shapes your current existence and how past relationships inevitably impact current ones. By understanding and owning your story, you give yourself the opportunity to choose how you want to go forward. One's past does not have to define one's future.

I love what I do for a living! I have the privilege of walking with people through chaos, change, uncertainty, ambiguity, joy, sadness, anxiety or any other time of discovery life might bring. My greatest joy is seeing people find hope, make meaningful changes in their lives, and simply live a better life. I have worked in many different settings as a therapist including hospitals, community mental health centers, a homeless shelter, and in private practice.

Folks I work with describe me as warm and nonjudgmental, yet assertive and highly engaged. Our work will be an active collaboration - while I will continuously strive to deeply understand your inner experience, I will also point out things in your behavior or thinking that you may not be aware of and offer potential explanations of your challenges as well as practical suggestions about achieving your goals. As you gain more understanding and compassion towards the anxious, depressed, angry, or hurting parts of yourself, you will feel increasingly more grounded and empowered to lead the life that you desire.

—OPEN to NEW in-person & virtual CLIENTS— I have a passion for working with clients to heal the wounds of abuse, other traumas, or narcissism; work through family-of-origin and attachment issues; liberate from the confines of anxiety, panic, phobias, and OCD (or obsessive-compulsive tendencies); repair and/or heal from relational issues; develop effective boundary-drawing; transform self-concept/esteem; and grow to find peace, joy, purpose, and overall wellness.

I strive to create a trusting, safe and empowering environment in order to promote positive change. I believe that our early relationships influence and shape our relationships into adulthood. Exploring these past relationships is essential for change because they contribute to our current life stressors, negative thinking patterns, relationships and our ability to cope with challenges. I incorporate, attachment theory, dialectal behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and psychodynamic therapy in treatment. My desire is to assist you in understanding yourself, and learn tools to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Working with the client to realize ways to a better understanding of their unhealthy thinking patterns.

Exclusively telehealth/virtual. Accepting new clients. I HELP people. Whether your relationship is in turmoil or you are experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, or grief. If it's helping your child with behavior/emotional issues, or any other health/emotional concern. I have 20 years experience helping families and individuals navigate through the storms of life. I can help you do the same. I believe in giving clients (you) practical/useable tools that will help you overcome the worst that life can throw at you and enrich your life when the sailing is smooth. It's time to invest in yourself through the benefits of therapy.

I'm a solution-focused, results-oriented counselor with a passion for helping people in the most efficient yet comprehensive manner possible. My clients and I identify opportunities for growth in all three aspects of mental health: behaviors, thoughts and emotions. I then suggest evidence-based treatment methods to match our specified goals. This often includes lifestyle change, healthy habit formation and cognitive therapy. Most often, I work with clients' present-day experiences, with less focus on the past. Many of my clients tell me that traditional talk therapy has not worked for them, and they want to try something different.

It takes a special kind of courage to ask for help. Whether we have had a hardship sneak up on us, or been wrestling with it for a lifetime, expressing out loud a need for assistance is an act of bravery. I have been working as mental health counselor and psychotherapist since 2014, and in that time I’ve been honored to witness these acts of bravery from adolescents, adults of all ages, and families. I believe that our experiences matter and are worth talking about.

Sometimes in life, we can feel lost, stuck or even desperate. We do the same things over and over again without finding any solutions to our problems. Life often becomes painful when our past experiences have no words to describe them or clarity to bring them to understanding. Using a variety of approaches my clients and I explore their current pain and concerns, while considering the picture of their past experience. With support and compassion we map out a plan to discover ways to become unstuck and move in new directions.

Understanding how our brains function and why we behave a certain way can empower us to make informed choices about our lives, health, and relationships. I am an open and out queer therapist. I support clients in navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, family of origin challenges, identity, disability and chronic illness, grief, substance use and dependence, and life transitions. I work with youth (age 13+) and adults. I am also a young adult breast cancer survivor and provide services to those who are or have been affected by cancer, particularly families impacted by cancer-causing genetic mutations.

I meet clients where they are at in their personal process: your needs guide the counseling session. My depth of experience and explorations underpin my work as a clinician. My goal is for you to feel heard and understood, which allows you to make positive lasting changes. Conditions treated with success in working with younger to older adults include life dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, grief, social isolation, relationship concerns, panic attacks, compulsive and addictive behaviors, and identity struggles. As well, I have additional training in treating women and their families impacted by postpartum depression.

Daytime openings. Is anxiety, procrastination and self-doubt keeping you stuck and unfulfilled? Would you prefer to have more joy, better relationships and be reaching goals? Together we can uncover the barriers to living this more joyous life. I can help you interrupt these negative patterns and become healthier and happier. I provide a caring, unjudgmental and direct approach which is tailored to your needs specifically. I want you to feel proud of yourself and we can make that happen. I also offer walk and talk which combines exercise, talk therapy and outdoor therapy. Get steps and get moving on an improved life.

When our old methods of coping with life's difficulties no longer work, we can find ourselves stuck - in depression, with anxiety, feeling worthless, maybe afraid to even reach out for help. Talking with someone who can assist you in discovering what went wrong and how to heal from it could be invaluable. Each person is unique and has a story to tell. I'll want to hear your story. I strive to provide everyone with a non-judgmental, empathic atmosphere in which you can feel safe to express any experience however painful or shameful it may feel.

I have immediate openings for new clients for individual talk-therapy and EMDR. I know the decision to go to therapy and the process of finding a therapist can be scary and overwhelming- let’s talk about it. I welcome conversation from you about how you’re feeling and what you might be worried about with this process. I use tele-health on a HIPAA secure platform and can meet with any client in Washington State. I offer 20-minute free consultations for potential new clients. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming, trauma-informed, and EMDR trained. I also work with life transitions and faith transitions.

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.