Family Therapy in Richland, WA

I am here to help YOU find YOU on this courageous journey of self discovery. Together we can approach your mental health, destructive behaviors, unexpected challenges, and difficult transitions with compassion and hope. We will work to find new solutions to your problems, rediscover a meaningful life, communicate more effectively, and strengthen your connections with others. I believe everyone has the internal resources to walk this path and access deep and lasting change.

We live in a complicated world. The demands of work, home, caregiving, loss, transitions, as well as exposure to troubling events can all take their toll. Many of us need a place to breathe, heal, rejuvenate, and discover a better way forward. Together we can create a safe, confidential, uplifting environment in which to heal, learn and grow.

Accepting patients - Employees of the Richland & Pasco School Districts EAP benefits. I look forward to helping you discover how to live life in harmony with your values. I trust my clients as experts in their own life, and I'm confident our work together will help you identify, resolve, and accept life's challenges. My primary theoretical orientation is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I have 15 years experience as a counselor working with teens, families, individual adults, and children. I am not currently billing insurance companies.

My Counseling Approach is based on a professional, honest, and consistent relationship with my clients. Through Cognitive Therapy clients will learn how to develop coping skills to live and enjoy a better quality of life. Clients will also learn how to accept and embrace life's turning points and become empowered to lead a more positive and productive life.

You’ve noticed your teen is struggling to connect with you, their friends, family, and even with themselves. Maybe you’re concerned they’re harming themselves, using drugs, or engaging in risky behaviors. They may seem like they don’t have any hope or any goals and like their self-confidence is low. You’re worried about what their future will hold.

My Counseling Approach: Motivational techniques by truth and honesty. Be empowered from life lessons. Strive balance in life for peace and harmony. And create life goals to keep moving forward toward a positive direction.

My ideal clients are couples who are highly motivated to heal their marital bond, and who will risk making themselves emotionally vulnerable to each other in order to "get unstuck" and heal. When I meet with individuals, those who benefit the most from my services are likewise heavily motivated to change unhealthy patterns, who come to each session with specific goals and who have an obvious desire to do whatever is necessary to accomplish these goals.

My name is Tamara Booker and I am a Licensed Social Work Associate Independent Clinical and a Child Mental Health Specialist. I primarily provide family therapy in Richland, WA. I am also open to working individually with youth ages 14 and up, as well as parents or caregivers who need additional support. I graduated from Eastern Washington University with my Master's degree in Social Work. In addition to private practice, I work for Lutheran Community Services providing supervision to Youth and Family Peer Support Specialists for the Wraparound with Intensive Services Program.

I work with clients from age 12 to age 65. I prefer to work with one client at a time, but see two clients occasionally (parent/child or partners). I can accommodate three, but I am not a family therapist. I am a good listener, and am direct with questions.

**AS OF 04/23/2024: CURRENTLY ACCEPTING A FEW NEW CLIENTS** Trying to focus on one task at a time can be challenging and sometimes boring. Emotions then take over and you find ways to release that tension in a negative way. During this time, it can cause conflict between family members, peers, and/or significant others. These negative thoughts/actions are easy to express and obvious strengths are pushed to the side. Having someone who has gone through this personally/professionally can provide active solutions, which can help develop a sense of ease and comfort within the family and individual.

As human beings, we live and grow and learn in a complex world. At the core of this complexity are the various relationships that we find ourselves in. Relationships with our selves, family members, friends, and communities. Some of these are chosen by us; others are not. Nevertheless, we often find our deepest meaning and deepest difficulties in these relationships. It is in the complex interplay between ourselves and these relationships that we can find ourselves struggling, even suffering. And yet there are strengths and challenges, weaknesses and limits, hope and pain in the midst of this life.

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.

Are you or your teen experiencing symptoms of Anxiety or Depression? Perhaps there are struggles with daily responsibilities, relationships, communication or low self-esteem? Has your family experienced a life changing event such as a loss or traumatic experience? I specialize in providing the necessary tools that are needed to cope and engage in healthy behaviors. I use strength and evidenced-based orientations to foster growth, change and gain insight. Together we'll identify solutions and work on issues that are important to you and or your family.

My therapeutic method includes using a blend of the current proven treatment modalities including the Strengths Perspective, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in order to meet each clients needs as an individual and in order to empower clients to make changes in their lives. In the 20 years I have been in this field in Tri-Cities, Washington I have seen over 2000 children, adolescents, and adults having spent over 150,000 hours in psychotherapy sessions assisting clients in navigating through difficult situations resulting from divorce, relationship issues, sexual addiction, anger, depression, anxiety, and feelings of discontent.

If you are looking for help with setting boundaries, addressing symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, or hoping to address trauma, I can help! I am LGTBQ+ friendly and some of my most favorite clients are transgender children or adolescents and their families.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Associate Therapist supporting children, adolescents and adults navigating the impact of trauma and life challenges. I focus on creating a safe and nurturing environment, free of judgement and criticism. I believe in the resiliency of people and that every individual is unique in their own experiences. Through curiosity and acceptance, I help my clients gain empowerment and more appreciation for their emotions and assist them in finding their voice by recognizing their strengths and identifying opportunities for growth.

My areas of clinical specialty include: Children, adolescents and adults with emotional and behavioral challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma response or ADHD. Parent training for emotional and behavioral disorders. Comprehensive assessments including neuropsychological testing for ADHD and Learning Disorders across all ages. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) across all age groups including older adults. My training strength lies in doctoral and post doctoral training at Southern Illinois University and University of Maine, respectively, in research established treatments and assessments.

You would do anything for your children, but far too often they seems out of control. Sometimes you secretly worry that you don't have the right tools to help them grow into stable, healthy and happy adults. You wish you could better understand their intense emotions. Whenever you try to reach them, it turns into the same old fight. It's frustrating to see them continue to act in the same way. You are ready to see the joy return to your child's eyes. You want to feel in control again.

The most rewarding and fulfilling times in our lives are the times when we feel respected, connected and heard. Often, we feel that our efforts fall short or we are just unable to communicate our desired intentions, either at work or in our personal or family relationships. Sometimes, we need the help of a professional therapist to improve our self-esteem, become more effective communicators or enhance our relationship dynamics. Ms. Benson specializes in helping her clients achieve understanding and mastery over their issues in a professional, comfortable and caring atmosphere.