Therapists in Anacortes, WA

I am a compassionate Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate and Substance Use Disorder Professional, holding a Master of Education degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Seattle University. For over 6 years, I have passionately supported teens and adults, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, in navigating trauma treatment and recovery. My approach is rooted in cultural sensitivity, empathy, and a deep understanding of psychology and spirituality, fostering meaningful connections with my clients. My therapeutic toolbox includes modalities like CBT, DBT, EFT, & IFS.

In this time of unprecedented loss and stress due to COVID-19 and other world events such as accelerating climate change, I can help you deal with anxiety and depression. My orientation is transpersonal as I see physical and emotional issues as doorways to transformation and spiritual awakening. In my psychotherapy practice, people have achieved new levels of personal freedom and self-esteem. Together, we can enrich your quality of life and enhance your creativity. Integrative healing encompasses body, mind & spirit. We all deserve to be happy in our bodies and our lives. I work also with couples to resolve relationship issues.

I meet with individuals, couples, families, and run groups. I generally work with folks who complain of depression, anxiety, grief and loss, stress management, anger management, trauma/PTSD, interpersonal conflict, parenting challenges, spiritual challenges, frustration tolerance, and some health challenges to include nicotine addiction. I also provide in-home nursing-aid care, DD respite care, and tutoring. A client is encouraged to boldly explore their own thoughts and emotions in a safe, warm and collaborative therapeutic environment and find new solutions, skills, insight and awareness around life's challenges, both within the person and the persons' life experience

As a Transpersonal Psychotherapist, and fundamentally client-centered, I believe in an inherent tendency and ability for people to grow and learn about themselves and the world around them. I also believe each one of us has an inner wisdom to tap into. A client is encouraged to boldly explore their own thoughts and emotions in a safe, warm and collaborative therapeutic environment and find new solutions, skills, insight and awareness around life's challenges, both within the person and the persons' life experience. I meet you where you are at, conforming my therapeutic approach to your presenting needs.

Accepting new clients as of 03/14/23 for in-person and online sessions. Over the last 35 years, as a therapist, community social justice advocate/ activist and educator and as a Pastor; I have witnessed pain and healing occur around a number of life issues, a diverse level of formats and from a variety of different perspectives. Through stories, symbols and skills, we’ll work together to both uncover and anchor new learnings. You’ll have the opportunity to explore and engage your specific and unique gifts, challenges, vulnerabilities and strengths.

My practice is Buddhist psychotherapy which uses deep inquiry, self awareness and meditation. My goals for therapy are, first, to alleviate suffering and second to deal with symptoms. Then we can address personal growth and existential issues. Most of the work is done in the present moment and is little dependent on our past. The work usually goes quickly and very directly... but sometimes we need to go slow. A typical successful series might be 10-12 meetings. Spiritual matters are usually an important area of concern...What's really important? Is our behavior congruent with those values? So, tell me about that...

Dr. Carr uses a unique blend of Cognitive-Behavioral, Gestalt, Integral, Primal, Transpersonal & Family Coaching techniques to focus on natural growth & healing thus expanding the common central emphasis on disorders & symptom reduction. Clients change as they heal their pain, get emotionally nourished, recognize what is toxic and become authentically themselves.

I graduated from a M.S. mental health counseling program at Eastern Washington University in 1995, got certified and ran a private practice in Seattle from 1995 through 2003. I worked in an outpatient community clinic, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, at retreat centers, and at a college counseling center until starting work on a PhD in Religious Studies and Psychology. I worked, studied, and lived in Europe, East Asia, and Africa before teaching 10 years at San Jose State University, so I am comfortable and confident working with very different sorts of people and I want everyone and anyone to feel welcome and at ease in my care.

UPDATE: I have room for 2-3 new clients that can pay out of pocket (I hate writing this, but it's the reality for therapists in the world of managed care).However, I am also diversifying my career and and am open to many clients as a trauma writing mentor/editor and more. Writing through healing is at least of equal value to psychotherapy. If you are interested in these services, visit me at www.elihastings.com) - I would be so delighted to work in tandem with other therapists, so please do consider if your clients might benefit!

Deep inside of you is the awareness of what you need to heal. I help facilitate and unearth that inner wisdom with individuals, couples, and groups. Together, we'll practice tuning into your own unique embodied awareness. From there, we can translate that increased clarity into tangible action that aligns with your greatest, most authentic wellbeing. Our bodies exist within larger systems — many of which can disconnect us from ourselves and each other. We'll look together at the messages we've internalized from these systems in order to unearth the ones that are no longer helpful.

I've over 20 years experience helping couples and individuals with relationship issues, depression, sexual issues, including porn and sex addiction, and stress management. I have a holistic approach, helping clients examine what they do from when they awake to when they go to bed - what is helpful for their growth and well-being and what would be a better way to handle the challenges of their lives. Life is very challenging. It can be a hard school. Give yourself the gift of receiving compassionate, straightforward guidance.

I work with people who struggle with mood disorders. Often when people struggle with their relationships and experiences, or have been diagnosed with a mental health problem, a kind of fracture occurs between themselves and their real experience. Together we host the best expression of your authenticity--in spite of the labels that would diminish your unique experience. We discover meaning and make decisions about what you want.

I believe in the innate power each of us possesses to heal. Beginning with a gentle exploration of your story, your sense awareness and your feeling world, I seek to find a mutually agreed upon place to begin deeper work together. I hold close to embodiment (breath/gesture/sensation); creativity (playfulness/curiosity/possibility); and compassion (non-judgment/empathy/connection): all these are pathways to ground and support your healing process. I have found that depth of relationship itself is a healer, so I strive for a REAL, courageous relationship with my clients- capable of sustaining vulnerability, fierceness and deep transformations.

I have been providing psychotherapy and consulting services since 1993 for adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families. My practice is quite diverse and involves the following services: (1) Treatment of PTSD, trauma, bereavement, relationship issues, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, borderline disorder, ADHD, bipolar, conduct disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Asperger’s. (2) Treatment of chronic pain, quality of life issues, and psychology problems due to debilitating or acute illnesses, such as cancer and auto-immune diseases. (3) Personal growth, spiritual development, and wellness counseling. (4) Sports psychology to improve performance and motivation. (5) Cognitive, personality, learning, and pre-surgical assessments.

I specialize neuromodulation therapies. My emphasis is on the interaction of our relationship, the integration of brain, mind and body. What brings you to search for a skilled professional to be present to your inquiry? An inquiry perhaps ignited by an ineffable experience, invoking you to reshape your life, or perhaps an inner call to open deeper connectivity and understanding beyond the multitude of daily cyber interactions? What do you require most to navigate your life through the labyrinth of work, relationships and community? I am available to explore your questions with you, and to support you to awaken to your own potential.

I practice Non-dual therapy, also known as non-dual counseling or non-dual psychology, which is a form of therapy that focuses on helping individuals to recognize and understand the true nature of their being and to cultivate a sense of inner peace and well-being. Non-dual therapy typically involves exploring and questioning the individual's thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions about other people and situations and helping them to develop a deeper understanding of their true nature and the interconnectedness of all things. This can involve meditation, mindfulness, self-inquiry, and more traditional forms of psychotherapy.

Specific Issues Addressed in Private Sessions Overeating, Weight loss, Smoking, Gambling, Compulsive Habits, Workaholism, Worrying, Fears & Phobias, Traumas & PTSD, Panic Attacks, Stress Management, Pain Control, Painfree Child Birth, Family Counseling, Couples Counseling – Intimacy in Relationships, Counseling for children & teens, Self-confidence, Depression, Professional Success, Harmony at Work, Intuition, Creativity, End Addictive Patterns, Improvement in Athletic Performance, Improvement in Academic Performance, Asthma & Allergies, Auto-immune Disorders, Insomnia, and more ..

The current focus is on time-effective cognitive-behavioral, psychosomatic and depth psychology approaches individually tailored for each patient.