Family Therapy in Black Diamond, WA

Do you continue to get triggered by things that have happened in the past? Do you have negative beliefs about yourself that keep getting reinforced by current experiences? Do you have specific phobias that you would like to address?

I approach therapy from a strengths-based perspective, focusing on assisting individuals and families to find inner strength and make positive life changes. I work with children, teens, adults, and families, utilizing multiple evidence-based approaches. I will support you in creating an environment to help you feel safe and understood, and work with you in setting goals in the areas that are most important to you. I have training and experience in multiple therapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Sand Tray, and other Play therapy Techniques.

Congratulations on taking the step to seek out help for your psychological well-being and thank you for considering Resilience Psychological Associates. Life, at times, simply comes with challenges, and we can best actualize our best selves and happiness by growing our ability to manage our thoughts, emotions, feelings and behavior. Through the use of talk and cognitive behavioral therapy, and other modalities, our work together will be one of intentionality and commitment to developing you and/or your family to be the most resilient possible.

Finding the right therapist can be a daunting process, yet it is one that really matters. It is understandable to feel out of sorts, isolated, or misunderstood when experiencing relationship, family, peer, academic, or workplace stress, during a life transition, or when recovering from trauma. You may also be struggling with a death, the end of a relationship, a relocation from another state or country, an adjustment to a health issue of yourself or a loved one, or being in an environment in which you feel you don't fit. It can be painful to experience these feelings and to try to find a way forward. You don't have to do this alone.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist my approach is systemic and strength-based. I believe in human connection as the most important factor to our own happiness and the health of families and communities. In my work with clients we strive to identify the unique strengths and abilities that will help them cope with life's challenges and build stronger relationships.

Something needs to change, you can feel it! The confusion, loss, and flashes from one emotion to another seem to turn every day upside down. Gratefully, stepping from where you and your loved ones are to where you long to be is so much more possible than you may now realize! Together we can create a better way forward.

Seeing individuals and couples, I focus my work on relationships: relationships of your thoughts to your actions, relationships between people, and relationships between lived experiences and meanings made from those experiences. I practice from a nonpathologizing point of view and integrate your context (social identity, family, work, school, spirituality, social circle, upbringing, etc.) into my conceptualization and treatment of what brings you to therapy.

I am a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with over 20 years experience working with adults, families and adolescents. Areas I work in include depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, relationship, family conflict, parenting, life transitions, anger, grief/loss, stress, and improving communication, confidence and self esteem. Approaches I use include cognitive behavioral (CBT), family systems, and I am a certified EMDR therapist (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). I work in Kent, Federal Way, and Enumclaw.

Life Guide Northwest was founded in 2010 in Portland Oregon by my late father Stevie B. Hoggans. His sole purpose in establishing Life Guide Northwest was to create a treatment agency to support the specific needs of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) community. This level of support was not available in his community, which dealt with socio-economic challenges which manifested into issues such as behavioral health conditions, crime, substance abuse, poverty, and homelessness. Like my father, I am passionate about helping ALL individuals who are struggling to navigate interpersonal challenges.

My lived experience and training merge to create a helpful skillset that has a positive impact on my work. The clients who most benefit from my style of work are people who want to work through family dynamics: past, present, and future. They are wanting to understand deeply who they are by exploring their beliefs and patterns of behavior, in order to choose consciously how they want to move forward in their life. My work has had a particularly positive impact on neurodivergent people.

Everyone needs help sometimes. When it feels like circumstances and life-pressures are causing you to feel sad, hopeless, stuck, and/or afraid, counseling may help you regain emotional traction and move through the challenges of your life. I believe every person has great internal resources/strengths to uncover or discover solutions for life..I specialize in helping couples/families/individuals improve their relationships and also those who experience anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, self-worth, divorce, blended-families, healing from infidelity, parenting, and many other individual and relationship issues. I work from a variety of theories, including Cognitive Behavioral, Solution-Focused, and Gottman Relationship Therapy.

I have over 20 years experience helping high school aged teens (14-18), adults, couples & families. My therapy style is friendly and casual. I believe humor is healing & I use it often. My treatment approach involves talking through the issues/concerns, guiding clients towards personal insights/growth, and giving direct feedback/direction. I also teach theory guided interventions/skills that are effective at creating desired change and reducing negative symptoms. My approach has been refined by my clients. They want to be heard & understood, but they also want to learn & grow. I would like to partner with you to reach your goals.

Counseling provides an opportunity to make positive changes and to find ways to manage, negotiate and overcome some of life's difficult challenges. Therapists partner with you on this journey. My hope is for you to experience relief and happiness. I help you build upon your unique strengths and abilities as well as expand your personal "tool box." I help families improve their functioning and relationships. For individuals, you and I will identify your concerns, discover the unhelpful thoughts and patterns of behaviors which keep you stuck and find ways to have a happier, healthier life. I also specialize in complicated grief.

I know that finding a counselor can be difficult, so I want to give you a sense of who I am and how I approach therapy. This way, you can find out if we are a good fit. You can always call me too if you would like to know more. First of all, counseling is about you. I will do my best to create a safe, supportive, and caring space for us to work together to build the life you want. The primary focus of my therapy practice is teaching unconditional self-love, self-acceptance, and seeking joy in our lives.

Welcome! Are you a young adult needing support? Or a parent needing additional parenting strategies, or guidance to better understand/support your child? Are you worried about your child’s emotional well-being or social skills? 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 have special interests in working with gifted and twice-exceptional (2E) clients and homeschool/online school clients. Lastly I absolutely love working with teenagers and young adults - they make up a large part of my caseload!