I believe everyone has a right to live a calm, happy and fulfilled life. For some, that is easier said than done. For those who are having a more challenging time finding the life they want, counseling may be the right choice to help guide those who are ready for change. I work with teens, adults, couples and families who are struggling with life's challenges. I offer researched based systems, therapies and support for the individual, as well as resources for the entire family, to help bring function and joy to their lives.

I am experienced working with children, adults, couples, and families. Many times, people who call me are in distress, having tried what feels like everything, and they often feel frustrated and overwhelmed by their situation. My goal is to help individuals identify patterns of dysfunction that create problems for them. I work within the framework of an individual’s gifts and challenges to develop a strong relationship that allows for open communication and honesty. My strengths-based approach allows individuals to feel they have a voice and builds upon the good that is already taking place within their life and relationships.

Angry? Scared? Worried? Confused and or ashamed? I work with people who have lost HOPE and people in unusually difficult circumstances. Hope empowers people to CHANGE. I also understand that change involves risk, so I respect that some changes are not easy. By exploring and sometimes adjusting the underlying beliefs, values, and emotions that drive your reactions and behaviors, I think you'll be able to achieve your best changes. You can find hope. You can LIVE again.

I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who specializes in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression and addictions, including sexual compulsivity. My focus is working with adolescents and their families, couples, and men going through difficult transitions. I believe that you should have the quality of life that you want and deserve and I can help you identify and remove the obstacles that are preventing you from having a fulfilling and satisfying life.

My goal as a therapist is to assist you in finding practical solutions to your life problems, and to help you take positive steps to experience a more fulfilling life. You will come away from our time together with useful tools which will empower you to enjoy your life and your relationships to the fullest degree.

I enjoy working with people experiencing difficulty in all elements of life. I look through the lens of family systems which means I incorporate family dynamics and looking at generational patterns to learn more about what is presently impacting the clients ability to function optimally. I specialize in working with families all together to support change longevity. I particularly enjoy working with clients suffering from anxiety, depression, or facing relationship difficulty. I use many methods to help people process their stress and trauma including art, movement, talk, and practicing alternative ways to navigate the world.

Greetings and welcome. I'm Dr. Karen Beth Acheson, Ph.D., and I have over 20 years of experience bringing warmth, compassion, and a sense of humor to help empower people to make healthy changes in their lives. My primary focus is adult psychotherapy. My style is down-to-earth; I draw from humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral & mindfulness-based therapies. My specialty areas include: Depression; Bipolar (manic) Depression; Anxiety; Trauma (including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder); and Emotional/Sexual/physical Abuse. Also, I am now blending my lifelong passion for animals, including a B.S. in Animal Science, with

** I am currently taking new Video clients from anywhere in Washington!!*** I believe that good therapy is a journey that I accompany my clients on. I feel that each person is unique and the course of therapy is tailored to their needs and comfort level. My ideal client wants something different, better or more in their life and they are ready to work for it. I use both traditional therapeutic styles and hypnotherapy to help my clients find the change they are looking for. I am honored to work with my clients on depression, anxiety, stress, medical noncompliance, health issues, abuse, anger, trauma and other life issues.

With a holistic and integrative approach, I provide evaluation and assessment services in various areas, such as behavioral, emotional, personality, cognitive, and memory domains.

First, I believe it is my duty to be able to actively listen to my client, obtain a good understanding of where they are and where they want to go. Together, we will move you and/or your team or organization in the desired direction to reach your goals. As a young man growing up in North Chicago, I quickly learned that life is full of rewards and upsets, if I allowed it to happen. At 3 months old, I was abandoned by my mother, left inside of a garbage can in an alley waiting to die. However, life had other plans for me. A passerby heard my faint cries and pulled me from the garbage can. Later, I was adopted but went on to experience years of physical and emotional abuse by my adopted mother. At the age of 12, I ran away from home and was placed in foster care. I was adopted again, but I experienced more mental and physical abuse. I dropped out of the 9th grade and began running away again. At the age of 16, the authorities declared me an emancipated teenager. With a story like mine, you would probably think there was no hope for finding happiness or for finding quality of life. However, I have learned to use my negative experiences as a testimony to reach out and help 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

No matter what a person is put through in life, the power to transform is infinite.

Therapy Rocks! This is what I was meant to do. I specialize in treating men's trauma, all types of addiction, ADHD, relationships, and career satisfaction. My main tools consist of my own personality, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), and interpersonal process. I want my clients to know me, know that they have an advocate, and see themselves get traction.

Today is your first step on the pathway to change and together we will make the transformation you are seeking in your life. Pathway to Change is unique in that we offer several licensed marriage and family therapists to choose from who can work collaboratively with you to accomplish the change you want to see. With over 35 years of combined therapy experience each therapist offers a different approach within the therapeutic relationship. Pathway to Change offers locations in both Puyallup and Tacoma.

-TEMPORARILY NOT TAKING NEW PATIENTS- Life and relationships can be overwhelming. Oftentimes, in spite of our best efforts, we find ourselves ineffective with the tools we have. Identifying and understanding your underlying tendencies, which frequently stem from hurtful relationships, is foundational for making peace and moving forward with more effective tools. We want to love and be loved. Before we can do this, we need to be love-able, in other words- healthy enough to express and accept love while maintaining healthy boundaries.

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.

If you or your teen are living with anxiety, you’ve likely tried every coping skill you can think of to manage the pain, but they don’t seem to be working the same anymore. You’re spending more and more time avoiding the things that make you feel anxious and missing out on living your life. You find you can’t leave the house without checking to make sure you have what you need to survive the day. Your family and friends don't understand why you can’t just “get over it,” but your anxiety and worry about what might happen keeps your paralyzed. You can’t seem to stop the thoughts and or engaging in behaviors you know aren't rational.

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.

I have a passion for the transformative capabilities of the therapeutic relationship. I specialize in utilizing mindfulness techniques to help my clients connect to their own innate ability to heal and grow. I have experience with and enjoy working with diverse clients from many different backgrounds facing all kinds of challenges and believe in the client’s role as the expert in their life and experiences. Consideration of intersecting identities and social justice are paramount in my treatment planning and I welcome the opportunity to support clients who have challenges around these issues.

I have worked in community mental health since 2012. I have a lot of experience working with most disorders in the DSM-5. I have worked with clients that have anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and other disorders. My ideal client is anyone that wants to make a change in their life and is willing to do the work it takes to achieve their goals. I work with clients to do a comprehensive assessment where I supply a diagnosis or diagnoses. From there treatment begins. I use a wide array of treatments. My main mode of therapy is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).