Therapists in Anacortes, WA

I have extensive knowledge working with patients with psychosis, substance use, and at high risk of suicide. Focusing on harm reduction, healthy coping skills, and recovery to live the best possible life. With my vast knowledge of the mental health system, I use various modalities toward treatment and don't believe a one size fit all in regard to interventions. I focus on a holistic approach to treatment as you are the expert in your own life. I am here to assist, listen and guide you towards your goals and dreams.

Let's get started, call me so you can start getting relief from your pain, confusion or fear. I provide psychotherapy and counseling for adults, teens, children and couples. A sign that therapy would be helpful is the presence of recurring pain in relationships, lack of intimacy, loss of friendships, work or career dissatisfaction, shame, physical symptoms or lack of meaning in your life.

Preferred contact method is email, please check your junk for my reply! I feel so fortunate to have found a career that I love, and cherish! My practice came about in the form of an epiphany one day, as I sat on the AIDS unit in NYC as a volunteer. As I listened to a man share his story, I realized that he had not been celebrated for his many talents, but had been ostracized for having AIDS. I decided that my philosophy was going to be-"our differences are what make us beautiful, we should all be celebrated for our uniqueness." This is the philosophy I live by daily.

Suffering with emotional pain can leave us feeling disoriented and miserable in the present, and discouraged and afraid about the future. Yet we all have an innate impulse to survive, heal, and recover. You're heeding that impulse right now—all we need to begin your journey of healing is for you to keep heeding it. We'll discover the rest together, one step at a time. Imagine getting to know new parts of yourself and giving them the attention they’ve been yearning for. Hopping out of bed in the morning feeling whole, healthy, and positive. Meeting life’s difficulties with skill and finesse instead of brute force.

I am an experienced licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders, anxiety, depression and relationship issues. I also teach emotion skills classes. I am also a registered dietitian (RD), which enables me to provide nutrition assessment and counseling for persons with eating and weight concerns or eating disorders. I support and guide families through relational conflict, psychiatric illness and loss. I enjoy working with males and female children over age 12, adolescents and adults.

I have over 36 years of broad and rich experience in the mental health field. Anxiety and mood disorders as well as personality disorders are a particular area of specialization for me. I am a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Provider (CSTIP) and specialize also in treatment of Personality Disorders. My clients achieve rapid results through exploration of how their thoughts effect their emotional experiences. My theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness techniques also important to my work with clients. I work with individuals, couples, and families.

*Accepting new clients*- It can be lonely and overwhelming to find ourselves in emotional struggle. The therapeutic relationship is unique and one that I deeply trust. It's instrumental to have a companion and guide as we traverse these unchartered inner landscapes. The pain we feel invites us on a transformative journey from obscurity to clarity. It's so tempting to contract when we are challenged, but it's critical to soften and trust into the process. This movement through our pain rearranges us into an expanded version of ourselves. I bring the qualities of warmth, openness, and curiosity to this transformative work together.

Whether it is situational stressors or more long-term issues that you are dealing with such as a chronic or pervasive mental illness, let me assist you as you walk the path of life. We can identify where there is room for healthy changes and develop a well-rounded supply of coping strategies that are tailored to you specifically to deal with those issues that cannot be changed. As a therapist I believe that each person is an individual with individual needs that must be addressed from their perspectives and abilities. I utilize several evidenced based practices to help you on your journey.

I have been providing psychotherapy and consulting services since 1993 for adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families. My practice is quite diverse and involves the following services: (1) Treatment of PTSD, trauma, bereavement, relationship issues, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, borderline disorder, ADHD, bipolar, conduct disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Asperger’s. (2) Treatment of chronic pain, quality of life issues, and psychology problems due to debilitating or acute illnesses, such as cancer and auto-immune diseases. (3) Personal growth, spiritual development, and wellness counseling. (4) Sports psychology to improve performance and motivation. (5) Cognitive, personality, learning, and pre-surgical assessments.

Awarded Bellevue's Best Mental Health & Counseling Business for 8 consecutive years. Because your life isn't like anyone else's your therapy shouldn't be either. Your therapy is designed to fit your needs, strengths, vulnerabilities, and personality. I offer a flexible array of therapeutic approaches providing both short-term problem-focused therapy and long-term attachment-based therapy. Your therapy is approached holistically because every part of your life and health are important to your well being.

We are all alive and trying to learn something about living; we live the way that we feel. We do this automatically (and whether we know it or not) in relationship: in relating to our self and to others. Therefore, my philosophy is everything is emotional and relational and mindful; everything matters.

I provide a combination of evidence-based and relational therapies to provide individuals, couples, and families the best possible outcomes toward their goals. Combining compassion and information to help people identify the specific obstacles in their lives that hold them back from being satisfied and content in their lives, I help them decide on a plan of action to effect the change in their life that they desire. My goal is to provide you with the tools you need and work together to learn how to effectively implement them and utilize them for life.

Sometimes in life we all need a “companion on the journey,” someone to partner with us and help make sense of our experience, ease our pain, and support our goals. As a therapist, I am committed to providing a safe environment where individuals can identify their strengths, recognize unhelpful patterns, and live into their goals. Working from an integrative, client-centered approach, I seek to support individuals wherever they are on their journey and my approach is holistic, collaborative, and non-judgmental. I value cultural humility and look forward to working with people of all backgrounds, identities, and walks of life.

I am out-of-country 12/14-12/31. I will not be scheduling intakes nor consults during this time. Please include in an inquiry name, number, insurance and availability. I will schedule consults when I return. Thank you! I help busy women, moms, First Responders, those living with chronic illness, and trauma to live fuller lives, process trauma, decrease anxiety and depression, thrive, and find Joy again! I work in CBT, CPT, and ACT therapy protocols for PTSD, anxiety and depression as well as chronic health. I also coach high-performing women to go from burnout to breakthrough in their careers, with less stress.

Do you feel stuck? I am here to help you identify and change patterns that are no longer serving you. By listening to you without judgment, I gain a deep understanding of what is bringing you to therapy, then collaborate with you to identify new ways of thinking and being that will work better for you. Problems I often help with include processing adverse childhood experiences and recognizing how they impact us as adults; changing codependent relationship patterns; understanding the impact of attachment styles on relationships; restructuring negative thoughts; healing from eating disorders; coping with chronic illness; and more.

As a clinical therapist, I help people who are struggling with feelings of anxiety, depression and loss. I teach my clients to practice what I call "the reverse golden rule": treat yourself as you would treat others! We are often so critical of ourselves, while with a friend we would be kind, supportive, compassionate. My 20+ years of experience have given me the tools to work using an eclectic approach that I tailor to each client. I offer a comfortable, safe environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, where you can feel heard, understood and validated.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and Licensed Mental Health Professional in the State of Washington My training primarily comes from my time obtaining my Masters in Science from Seattle Pacific University. While in school I specialized in Narrative therapy as well as various other Post-Modern therapies. I have wide and varied experience ranging from working with clients in elementary schools to clients in jail, and everyone in between. Sometimes I joke that I have seen clients for every part of the DSM, but of course that's not true, I am still missing two diagnoses.

Changing your story from despair to relief for families and businesses impacted by the wide array of dysfunctions and addictions threatening someone you care about can be turned around through strength based intervention services, relapse prevention, recovery protection, family workshops and safe escorts. Don't wonder what to do, don't wish you had done something more effective! Learn about our methods and services for no obligation.