It's my job is to walk beside the client at their pace in order to see their world. Using a cognitive-behavioral approach in therapy means clients not only uncover insights about themselves but they also learn about changes needed to reach their desired goals. My clients leave with numerous tools to utilize throughout their lives. People are inspiring creations to me, I love working with people, regardless of their issues, and believe each of us has the power to shape our own future into whatever we desire. Personalized solutions are critical for the success of each individual, couple and family.

There are times when feelings of being overwhelmed, sad, hurt and alone can be too much. People are a sum of their life experiences, lets sort through them together. I have been in social services for over 10 years and my goal is to walk along the difficult pathway to help you reach your destination.

I offer compassion, understanding, and therapeutic guidance through life’s challenges. Throughout life we do the best we can to try to feel better. Unfortunately, ways we have learned to cope or numb pain often lead to confusion, disappointment, and disconnection. Using Internal Family Systems Therapy I facilitate a process of you gaining insight into your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors so you can understand yourself better and begin to release and manage inner turmoil (anxiety and depression). This process can lead to an improved sense of calm, clarity, self-compassion, and connection with others.

I have been a mental health therapist for over 24 years. As a therapist, I have found people want to feel empowered to manage their own life. I work with clients to learn to manage emotions and negative thoughts that are running their lives. I teach clients to learn to respond to people and situations and not to react to them. I am a DialecticaI Behavior Therapist (DBT) . I have also received extensive training in cognitive and behaviors therapies to work with people who experience depression and anxiety. In addition, I completed my dissertation on the attention system and working memory. This makes me qualified to evaluate and help people who experience learning disabilities and problems with their attention and memory.

I believe that everyone has an inner strength and that you are the "expert" of your life. We will work together to find and enhance your strengths and identify areas in your life that you would like to make changes.

Sometimes life can feel overwhelming. Pressures from work, people we care about, negative feelings, and/or physical problems interfere with our ability to be our best. I am here to help you. I will work with you in a sensitive, respectful, and caring way to improve your situation. My goal is to help you build your confidence and resilience, gain a mental edge so you can be your best, and deal with stress. I can also help you improve your relationships, develop a more effective communication style, and eliminate unhealthy habits. I believe life it too short to be miserable.

I believe that seeking a behavioral health specialist is an essential part of wellness as a whole person. Just like if we had a physical health problem we go to the doctor. If we have emotional/mental health concerns then seeing a therapist gets us on the path to healing.

As we travel our journey, there are times that we need extra help and support. Especially, to move through the rough and uncomfortable times. In therapy, I believe it is important to meet people at what stage they are in while making that journey. This allows us to build the right tool box to equip them for success. I have over 15 years of experience working with adults, teenagers, and adolescents. My experience has been around helping individuals with anxiety, depression, parenting, behavior management, trauma, and other life stressors. My specialties are older adolescents (15+), and adults.

**NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS** Depression. Anxiety. Stressful relationships and situations. Dealing with a difficult medical diagnosis. Grief and loss. Communication and relationship issues. Let's face it; sometimes life isn't easy. Therapy can help provide positive coping skills, practical tools, and a safe environment for expressing our feelings and getting support during difficult times in our lives. Life can always improve when we face our obstacles and develop new, positive ways of coping in our most trying situations.

Do you need additional parenting strategies? Are you worried about your child’s emotional well-being? Is your child struggling to cultivate or maintain relationships with their peers? I enjoy working collaboratively with children and parents alike to improve child and family well-being, often finding that working with both provides the best outcomes for everyone. I also enjoy working with teenagers and young adults.

Are you heartbroken? Anxious? Angry? All of the above and more? You are welcome here. You may have a relationship that is falling apart or make the same bad decisions again and again. You may be overwhelmed by an overly critical mind that says you are undeserving, less than, or too much. Perhaps you take care of others and forget to take care of yourself. You long for companionship and have a deep desire to matter, to belong, and to be respected.

*(I am an approved WA State Supervisor and am currently taking on LMHCA supervisees). Life is hard; no one said it would be easy. Nothing that has value comes easily. It seems the things that can bring us lasting joy are the things we have to work to achieve. We are all unique in history. Where we come from, which family, which culture, impacted who we are and who we will or have become.Yet, all of us are the same in that we need human interaction. We come into this world seeking others, touch, interaction. We are neither meant to be or have to be completely alone.

Everyone deserves a safe space to process life's challenges. My goal is to help create that safe space so you can move past obstacles that are preventing you from reaching your full potential. I am most passionate about working with young adults around identity and relationship challenges. Many of us struggle with self image and identity and my desire is to help you work through those challenges. I employ a variety of techniques, and my approach focuses on building a collaborative, empathic, and trusting therapeutic relationship, free of judgement.

Savy Counseling Services LLC is a counseling practice focused on your emotional and mind health. Services are provided in a private caring atmosphere. I work to provide empowerment and understanding during sessions. I provide counseling for children, adolescents, families, couples and adults. I have worked in the field of mental health for 25 years.

CURRENTLY NOT TAKING NEW CLIENTS. Primarily, I see individual adults or teens (14+). LGBTQ+ friendly and experienced in working through unique challenges. I enjoy working with all genders, all sexual orientations, and mono- and polyamorous individuals. Over the past several years, I have gained an interest in working with Highly-Sensitive Persons (HSPs). Challenges with mood (depression, bi-polar, dysthymia), anxiety (panic attacks, general anxiety, PTSD, phobias, OCD), psychosis-related disorders (schizophrenia), grief and loss, relationship concerns, adjusting to life transitions, career, and personal development.

These days, it can feel like life is moving too fast for us to keep up. This is made all the more challenging when we struggle with such things as unhealthy relationships, intense negative feelings, poor self-image, or trauma. You may worry that getting help means enduring an uncomfortable process that may not result in any notable change. I believe that therapy does not have to be painful to be successful, that it can be infused with moments of laughter and insight. It is about determining why we are stuck as well as figuring out how to create and maintain practical positive changes.

You are ready for more-fulfilling relationships and a rewarding life; you're ready for change. If you are looking for a caring, private and confidential environment where you can identify and explore the topics that may be getting in the way of what you want, we might be a great match for one another to complete your therapeutic services. Together, we can begin developing insight and the tools you need to implement life changes and achieve your goals using methods proven to work, called evidence-based practices. While I am not accepting new clients, the clinicians in my practice have openings!

**12/13/19: NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS** Change is hard, talking about change is challenging and making change can be life altering. I believe each person is worth the hard work and is capable of the change that can allow them a new perspective and hope. I am a Child Mental Health Specialist with specialty training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety, depression & trauma. In my 20 years of practice, I have worked extensively with youth experiencing loss, suicidal thoughts & self harm behaviors. I am an International Credentialed Sandtray Therapist and I am working toward becoming a Registered Play Therapist.

As a dual diagnosis/co-occurring psychotherapist, (licensed mental health counselor and licensed substance use disorder professional) my goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges. By applying specific therapeutic approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life and incorporate healthy coping skills.

As a board-certified Couple and Family Psychologist, I focus on relationships and the big picture. If you’re someone who has spent many hours learning about yourself and why you are the way you are, you might be shouldering shame and doubt that seem to drain the color out of your life. You have the insight and skill to move toward commitment and self-respect, but are sometimes too overwhelmed. Instead of just problem-solving, let’s move toward the big picture – the place where you can thrive instead of survive, have nurturing and nourishing relationships, and realize the profound potential in your own/family/romantic/work life.