Therapists in Freeland, WA

Navigating life’s pressures can be challenging, especially when compounded with the impact of painful live events, intergenerational trauma, and broken systems. It can be daunting to seek help, particularly when our identities are targeted or misunderstood. My passion is supporting women of Color, queer people of Color, and people with immigrant backgrounds in a safe, affirming and warm therapeutic environment in which you can unpack your life story, learn tools for growth, and forge a path towards healing.

My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe and compassionate space for you to re-connect with your whole self (body included!) as well as your strengths, and to process through emotions and experiences that feel challenging to face and sort through on your own. As a black mixed race person of color myself, my racial identity is a lens through which I see the work and how I show up in the therapeutic space. I have a special interest in processing through grief for those who have experienced loss of any kind. I utilize calm, reflective listening, somatic awareness, social justice and systems focus, and a strengths-based approach.

As an African-American male providing therapy since 2007, I bring a multicultural perspective that has enabled me to work effectively with a wide range of clients. I'm a licensed mental health therapist who mainly works from a Cognitive Behavioral and Humanistic Therapeutic approach to help address many issues in counseling. My belief is that people and families experience different problems and need help to navigate through them by addressing their thoughts, feelings, behaviors and relationships with others. Washington State Approved LICENSED CLINICAL SUPERVISOR.

I truly believe that everyone already has the ability to transform their lives. I’m just a vehicle to help you understand and interpret your experiences in a way that better helps you achieve the things you want. I find that empowering others through their own strengths is the most rewarding thing. As a Black woman with personal experience navigating life in a society as a minority, I feel that it is imperative to incorporate your cultural values and beliefs into the therapeutic process at a level you feel comfortable with.

I work with adolescents and adults with anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, issues of personal identity (race/gender/sexuality orientation), and life transitions (relational/ academic/professional). Navigating into the depths of who we are reveals we are so much more than what we sense at the surface. Having support on our journey can allow us to develop tolerance for our full range of emotions, gain awareness of what we feel in our bodies, discover new insights into past events, expand our ability to discuss fears, increase empathy for ourselves, experience more meaningful relationships.

I am a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst with 30 years of direct experience. I have worked with diverse populations and Washington State endorses me as a Child Mental Health Specialist and Ethnic Minority Mental Health Specialist (Native and African American populations). I hold licenses in multiple states in both mental health as well as chemical dependency. I am the author of multiple Amazon best-sellers including 'Elements of Self-Destruction', 'Borderline Personality Disorder' (co-authored with Jacquie Gunn), and 'Elements of Reparation'. Above all, I am a proud father of two and a husband.

My goal with clients is to assist them in finding their unique path towards feeling better. I assist clients with a number of challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress/trauma, coping, grief, intrusive thoughts, and boundaries. My allyship to diverse communities is essential to my work, and I value my connections with African American, LGBTQ+, kink, polyamory/consensual non-monogamy, & faith-based communities. By understanding who you are as a person, we will uncover what therapy options best suit you.

In my life, I have had many experiences that guided me to the world of social work, such as becoming a teen mom and experiencing the loss of people very close to me. These experiences led me to want to provide support to people in the midst of their own challenges. Maybe you have similar experiences or other mental health challenges, that may include anxiety and depression. You may feel that you have nowhere to turn or unvalidated in your own experiences. I am here to help, in our work together we can find the best ways to meet your individual needs.

Are you LGBTQIA, Straight, Gender Non-Conforming or Cisgender and between the ages of 10-50? Then I want to hear from you. You will receive a very laid back, casual and personable approach to individual therapy. The therapy will be gender affirming and welcoming to all.

I'm passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ and trauma survivors with an approach rooted in the sincere belief that you are the expert on your own life. I use both somatic and cognitive therapies, to assist you in connecting with why and how you react to the world around you.

To say that life is hard is an understatement; what a time to be alive and to be human! Life has an interesting way of "just" happening when we least expect it. Everyone has a story or a burden to bear, some heavier than others. Regardless, seeking a therapist midst those things can add another layer of hardness or stress. My goal as your therapist is to help you find healing. Whether I am the right fit or not, you will leave our consultation one or two ways; ready to dive in together and do the work or help with finding the right therapist.

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.

My approaches are client centered, solution focused and strength based. I utilize processes that are interactive, collaborative and holistic. I honor each clients unique healing journey and guide them through self-compassion and self-care.

Now accepting new clients! It is an honor and a privilege to journey alongside you as we work towards understanding the barriers that are preventing you from meeting your goals. I work to create an authentically safe space where you can explore life's obstacles that are preventing you from meeting your goals. I am here to support you as you journey towards living the life you desire to live.

You are worthy. You are capable. You are not broken. You can get through this. These are phrases that may be hard to believe for all of us at times due to various life experiences, transitions, or circumstances. While partnering with clients I use a mix of approaches, namely cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The best fit therapy approach coupled with a strength-based perspective is used to support you in managing emotional distress, increasing self-respect, developing and maintaining new skill sets for coping, and navigating through life’s challenges.

Many times in our lives we believe that overcoming obstacles is like attempting the impossible. We continue to feel lonely, make the same mistakes, and have the same fears, self- doubts that eventually cause us to believe that life will always be the same. Counseling can assist you in making the changes that you desire in your life. Providing you the opportunity to explore new avenues in which you might not have believed before. This journey may not be easy; however, it is one that can bring out the change you have been longing for.

If you would like to start focusing on yourself instead of others and set healthy boundaries. Trying to find ways to let go of whatever is weighing you down. If you want to understand how your past may influence your present and focus on your future. Ready to break negative family cycles and start building stronger bonds. If anxiety and depression is stealing your joy and you want it back. Began challenging negative social messages and negative patterns of thinking. If you are missing a loved one and need to heal their loss one day at a time. I am here and ready to support you in reaching your goals.

We will explore your own “inner dialogue” and/or “parts,” as well as important narratives (aka the stories you tell yourself about yourself and the world around you). I encourage your evaluation, adaptation and/or complete overhaul of these sometimes unhelpful thoughts and stories in favor of newer, healthier, and more useful ones that we develop together!