Grief Therapists in Bellingham, WA

Difficult life events or trauma may have shaped your past. Whether you are experiencing mood instability or anxiety, life transitions, or grief and loss of a loved one, you are not alone. I offer a kind, compassionate and nonjudgmental space to support people through hard times and self-exploration. Together we will identify what you want and need in your life, right now.

Welcome, I am so happy you are here! Putting yourself first and reaching out for support can be so hard, and change can take a huge leap of faith. You don’t have to navigate life challenges alone, and I would love to support you on your journey. Whether you need intensive services or short-term treatment, together we can create a plan that best fits your needs. My approach to therapy is to meet you where you are, and to recognize that you are the expert of your life. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the most important aspect of therapy, and I strive to create a sense of safety that also fosters growth.

Are you feeling lost, stuck, lonely, overwhelmed, or burnt-out? Do you sometimes catch glimpses of who you would like to be, but have no idea how to get there? Are you tired of fighting with yourself and ready to begin working with yourself to live a life that feels more authentic to you? Whether you are struggling with a life transition, weighed down in grief, grappling with the decision about whether to become a parent, ready to let go of diet culture and body shame, or wanting more happiness and meaning in your life, I'm ready to help you make changes at a pace that feels right to you.

My clients often begin therapy due to anxious and/or depressive symptoms emerging from more complex concerns that challenge their pursuits of meaningful living. They may have difficulties managing stress related to their relationships, work or study, and/or identity. Some struggle with the loss of someone or something important to them. Others may feel rudderless, uncertain about how to steer their life in a more fulfilling direction. In all cases I aim to provide a warm, nonjudgmental, and authentic relationship that encourages growth through the exploration of each client's sense of who they are and who they want to become.

With 23 years of counseling experience, I have found my passion, working with people who have had a significant loss or are making a life changing transition. For the past 10 years I have worked exclusively with grieving people. Witnessing amazing post-traumatic growth through small intentional steps the clients have adapted and integrated into their lives. Working to find strengths which are in each and every one of us in order to help clients heal through growth and acceptance.

Seeking help says a lot about you - that you value your life, your health, and relationships. Perhaps you want to beat depression, manage anxiety, create change in your relationships, or find meaningful work. Or maybe you are suffering a loss, have relocated, or are struggling with chronic health issues. I have a deep passion for counseling, for supporting you in your courageous steps toward fulfillment and well being.

Therapy is creative, gives us focus, loosens the grip of our problems, spins us around, and lifts us up. I have practiced psychology for about 30 years and presently have offices in Bellingham and Renton, WA and Vancouver, BC. I have just opened the office in Bellingham and welcome new clients. I look forward to having the same engaging relationships in Bellingham that I have with clients in the other busy practices. I work eclectically, using methods that personally benefit whoever has come for therapy. Usually there is some aspect of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, because it is so helpful.

I believe that each of us has the capacity to become knowledgeable about what feels workable in day-to-day living and to uncover what personal values we would like to strive for in our life. I am drawn to working with folks who want to discover more about themselves (both strengths and areas of growth), their identity, their relationships, their role in the world, and how to lead a fulfilling, meaningful life. I value the opportunity to think together with clients about how therapy could be most helpful for them. I am well-suited to work with people who are looking for meaningful and measurable change in their life.

Have you experienced a loss that is impacting your quality of life? My focus is to support individuals who are experiencing chronic grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, identity confusion, or developmental adjustments as a result of traumatic events, environmental changes or life transitions. As you engage in a therapeutic trusting relationship, your core strengths, values, insights and resilence will emerge to gain balance. Humans are in a continual process of transformation. When developmental process is interrupted by an event, loss or stuck in the social structures we live in, an opportunity for new growth becomes possible.

As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) my belief is that each one of us is the expert of our own lives and thus has the tools to develop a more sustainable transformation grounded in compassion and self love. Through curiosity and presence of mind, body and spirit we have the ability to rewrite our own stories. I am committed to meeting you where you are at through a client centered and non judgmental approach while offering support and encouragement through your individual journey.~ "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you"- Maya Angelou

You are worthy of love, honor, trust, dignity, and respect. But as trauma and grief accumulate, the harder it is to believe. The time to process past hurts is now. You can create healthy relationships and increase self-esteem. Choosing therapy takes grit and determination. You have these traits! It is an honor to accompany you during this sometimes difficult, but tremendously rewarding journey. I am committed to providing a safe space to allow you to sort through experiences and begin the process of self-actualization. Let's get started....

My goal is to create a safe, person-centered space to engender grace: not trying to fix or cure, always moving towards transformation. Working with hospice for the past 15 years has deepened both my understanding and skills towards honoring and helping individuals and families as they move through many life transitions. If you need help with major changes, trauma, loss, grief, adjustment disorders or are exploring existential crisis, I offer a safe space to continue your journey.

We all need support throughout our lives, and you may be looking for an additional resource to help you process lived experiences, problem-solve, or understand yourself in a deeper way. You may be struggling with anxiety, the challenges of caregiving, work stress and burnout, relationship challenges, or working through grief, loss, or bereavement. You want to engage in healthy coping skills and develop self-care habits to better support the vision you have for your life.

My role as a therapist is to listen, diagnose, and present coping skills and therapeutic techniques. You will be asked to apply these skills to the best of your ability, giving you hope for an improved quality of life. The therapy model I use is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). You will be encouraged to take an active part in your treatment plan. Honesty, trust, patience, and committment are the basics for building a therapeutic relationship with positive results. I will provide a referral counselor for you, if I do not have the expertise for your particular issue.

As a licensed psychotherapist and coach specializing in loss and transition, I support people of all ages before, during and after serious loss by: Providing practical tools for coping with serious illness, death, divorce, retirement and other life transitions, allowing the pain of loss to serve as an opportunity for positive change. Facing loss can remind us of what we value most providing opportunity to consciously make choices that re- affirm these values in all aspects of our lives. Over time, this process of reaffirming and recreating our lives reveals the skills, gifts and talents we bring to the world.

Welcome! Congratulations, you have done the hard, first step of searching for a therapist. I would love to introduce myself and my practice. I am a queer, fat, white woman who works with LGBTQIA+ folx and women around anxiety, depression, grief, fat liberation, spiritual harm, boundaries, LGBTQ issues, relationships and life transitions. I work with both adults and teens. My practice is social justice and disability justice oriented, anti-racist, committed to fat liberation, and sex positive. I am always working to continue to grow in these areas and hope we can create a safe space for you to show up just as you are.

I would love to work with you on the things that hold you back. Reclamation of personal power will be the basis of our work together. We will explore relational systems such as justice and culture, and the role of the self within these systems. By re-imagining yourself as a cherished and sacred part of the whole, you can heal the wounds that have drained your precious energy and afflicted you with false negative narratives. Together, we will find out what your story truly has to tell us, and rewrite it for your benefit!

I believe that something powerful happens when we are seen, heard, and equipped with dignity and support. Counseling is a transformative process that can promote healing, hope, and change as we navigate the challenges that come with being human. I approach therapy through a person-centered, narrative, and family-systems framework. This means that the therapeutic process is centered around your story, your context, and your intersecting identities. I also prioritize trauma-informed care and will work to ensure that you feel safe and empowered during our time together.

We all need support throughout our lives, and you may be looking for an additional resource to help you process lived experiences, problem-solve, or understand yourself in a deeper way. You may be struggling with anxiety, the challenges of caregiving, work stress and burnout, relationship challenges, or working through grief, loss, or bereavement. You want to engage in healthy coping skills and develop self-care habits to better support the vision you have for your life.