Therapists in University Place, WA

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.

When I hear the words "ideal client," I immediately think about someone who is willing to change. This is someone who is wanting to work on themselves and is ready to take "personal inventory." Someone who is open, honest, and vulnerable with themselves and their therapist. A client who is willing to engage and participate in the process of bettering themselves. We can work on managing stress, day to day challenges, or learning coping skills. We will work together on a therapeutic approach that is right for you.

Are you are experiencing depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, marital and/or family conflict, grief and loss, trauma, PTSD, self-esteem issues or other mental health concerns? I will help you explore and achieve a deeper understanding of your current situation(s) to better cope and deal with them in a healthy way along with helping you gain a greater self-awareness and the strategies needed to foster and maintain these healthy changes. These strategies involve cognitive and mindfulness learning skills, in part, to change negative thinking and develop skills for living in the here and now.

Hello! How would you like to start towards a path of emotional and mental healing? I would like to be entrusted to be your guide while on that path. To guide you towards autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. As someone with over 10 years of having the privilege of working with individuals who have encountered some element of a mental health crisis. I am very committed, passionate, patient, and flexible as a therapist. I possess the necessary interpersonal skills that inspire a trusting therapeutic relationship.

What is the goal of your marriage or relationship? Relationships are vital to becoming a whole person. At times, connecting with your spouse may feel magical, but every relationship goes through tough seasons. I understand how overwhelming it can feel when distance and resentment is the only thing growing between you. At times, it may feel like the hurt you are experiencing is not worth the effort. Maybe your relationship is still strong, but can stand a bit of tweaking to recapture the zest it once had. Whatever the case, there is always hope!

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? Having trouble dealing with issues from your past? Recovering from a toxic relationship? Finding it difficult to love and accept yourself? We all need support at times. We are not meant to be self-sufficient islands. By reaching out for help, you are taking your power back and confirming that you deserve to be supported and understood. Therapy can be a healing, transformative experience. We can work together to create a healthy plan to help you achieve your treatment goals.

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.

Fourth Dimension Counseling & Coaching is group practice of therapists and coaches who specialize in addiction including alcohol and drug addiction, sex addiction, pornography addiction, love addiction and partner betrayal trauma. All of the therapists and coaches at Fourth Dimension are in long term substance abuse recovery themselves and are experts in the field of addiction. They also have extensive training in couples therapy, infidelity, codependency, family of origin, women's issues, domestic violence, trauma and life transitions. We offer individual, couples and group therapy and coaching for both men and women.

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.

I know life can throw out punches like Muhammad Ali, leaving you feeling drained, overwhelmed, unfulfilled and not wanting to get up for the next round. The daily feeling of worry, tension, self doubt, negative thoughts, make it hard to relax and enjoy the present moment. The deep sense of sadness and loss of interest in the things you used to enjoy feel so heavy. Reaching out can feel overwhelming, uncomfortable and just so damn scary. You are not alone. I am here.

My professional background involves working with couples who have the desire to rebuild their relationships and adults with various struggles, such as substance abuse addictions and co-occurring disorders. Collaboration is a major foundation for my practice, being therapy is a collaborative work that considers life experiences, patterns, relationships, and beliefs that have created and still have an impact on individuals' way of being in the world. I'm committed to figuring out the issues that are bringing my clients to therapy right now and the innate abilities and assets that will enable them to make the desired adjustments.