Therapists in Anacortes, WA

••Immediate openings•• You may be feeling unfulfilled or overwhelmed, or maybe you are beating yourself up with thoughts that you are a failure and to blame for where you are now. You’ve been stuck like this for some time and it’s hard to imagine things changing. Many of my clients are people who are ‘new’ to therapy, although they are not new to pain. Whether you have experienced neglect or abuse, are navigating major life changes or grieving a loss, or just struggling managing your emotions, I work with people who feel unworthy of love or struggle to feel compassion for themselves.

My goal is to provide support and guide those who are ready to take the journey of a life well lived. I work with adolescents and adults facing an array of concerns including: ADHD, anxiety, chronic illness, communication barriers, compassion fatigue, depression, grief and loss, imposter syndrome, personal goals and development, professional growth, PTSD, racial identity issues, relationship challenges, self-esteem, spirituality/energy and various forms of trauma. You will be the driving force throughout our time together and with commitment and consistency, I believe you will achieve everything you hope and envision for yourself.

I am accepting new clients mornings and early afternoons most weekdays. My ideal clients are those who have felt excluded or judged because of their gender, illness status, diversity, sexual orientation, or religion. I believe everyone has the right to live their individual best lives, regardless of barriers they may face.

Accepting new clients and most insurances. Offering telehealth and in-person. Are you struggling with change or transition? Changes throughout our lives can challenge our sense of who we are and where we ended up. After years of struggle and pain, how did everyone else matter and not you? They say that change is the only constant, but for most, change sweeps into our lives creating crisis, relationship problems, grief, loss, trauma, depression or anxiety. Do the same hurdles keep stopping you from getting on with the life you always imagined? It can be stressful and overwhelming to navigate everything you have had to deal with.

Why go to therapy? You might seek therapy when experiencing emotional pain or stress, even confusion about a situation or about yourself. Life challenges can pile up and seem overwhelming. Worry can interfere with relationships, work, and sleep. One goal of therapy is to relieve stress and every session should offer greater understanding of issues and relief in some way. Maybe you feel all alone with your concerns—it’s normal to feel that way. Therapy offers a place of understanding and acceptance, a place to be heard, and for you to feel safe with all of your feelings and thoughts, even those that you might feel are strange.

5.2024 - Accepting waitlist clients. Are you here because you feel overwhelmed, stressed, sad, or overly anxious? Perhaps you have experienced a major change in your life that makes the day-to-day harder than it ever was before. My gentle approach can assist with issues of depression, stress, and anxiety as a compassionate, non-judgmental, and trauma-informed psychodynamically oriented therapist, helping you bring back joy into your relationships and your life. Our work together will guide you to sort through challenges and obstacles to find a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction in your life.

If you are here that means you are probably seeking support for something in your life that feels difficult, overwhelming, confusing, or painful. My work is to offer you a safe, kind, and accepting space for you to further explore your internal and external realities. Together we will be curious about your unique life experience, the impact of your experience, the struggles and conflicts you may be facing, and what you need to thrive. I believe therapy is the process of uncovering who you were meant to be before the world told you who you should be and wounded you with its expectations and cruelty.

I honor the decision to seek counseling and am highly committed to helping each individual discover their own internal strengths and resources. I have over 20 years of experience in the health field, first as an occupational therapist, and then as a clinical psychologist. I integrate a variety of helpful change strategies including Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Emotional Awareness and Expressive therapy (EAET), cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic. I utilize a range of treatment modalities, such as Mindfulness, Lifespan Integration, EMDR, and insight-oriented.

Are you suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, in need of an autism evaluation? I provide autism evaluations, as well as psychotherapy and EMDR therapy, individual counseling to teens and adults in the general population, as well as those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. You will be treated gently and with respect, and with faith that positive change is a natural outcome of a good therapeutic relationship and the application of appropriate therapeutic theories and me

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.

“There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet.” - Matt Haig. So very often, we find ourselves facing the word "should". Who I "should" be, where in life I "should" be, what I "should" be able to do. Whether you are just learning who you are for the first time, or are in a place of transition in your life, the process can be very difficult and can often leave us feeling isolated, alone, misunderstood, and in the need of support.

Was it difficult to click on this page? Well you did it and if that is your accomplishment for the day then that is one step closer towards healing. It is my belief that healing is a series of small, humble steps leading to transformation. Pain takes many forms, headaches, chronic physical pain, the pain from loss, the pain from one's limitations after a serious diagnosis, the pain from abuse and the pain from the love that you didn't receive. These experiences teaches us some harsh lessons that keep us safe, but they can also keep us trapped.

I work with youth, age 13+, and adults across the lifespan. I'm passionate about LGBTQIA+ and gender affirming mental health therapy, I support folks in navigating and exploring relationship to self and others (sex and body positive, ethical non-monogamy and poly affirming), anxiety, depression, trauma, family of origin, disability, chronic-illness, grief, substance use, life transitions and challenges. I have an intersectional, anti-oppressive approach to therapy— highlighting how our relationship to ourselves, community, environment, and historical legacies impact and affect each other.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. As humans, we all struggle with coping sometimes. Coping could be more challenging because of chronic illness, pain, neurodiversity, anxiety, and depression. My fellow zebras may be familiar with the saying coined by Theodore Woodward, “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras,” which is commonly taught to doctors. This saying often results in individuals feeling invalidated and questioning their symptoms. Invalidation and lack of support can leave individuals feeling isolated. As a therapist, I aim to assist my clients with building coping mechanisms and providing emotional support.

*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.

I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Washington State. I have expertise in working with adolescents and adults experiencing change, behavioral health concerns, grief, chronic illness, pain, and disabilities.