Therapists in Mukilteo, WA

I am Nichole Speaks, a compassionate Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate who acknowledges the courage and vulnerability it takes to seek therapy. Consequently, I endeavor to create a secure and nurturing environment, encouraging you to openly explore your thoughts, emotions, and obstacles. Recognizing the power of connection and collaboration, I work alongside you to craft customized strategies that align precisely with your unique aspirations and requirements. I have a special interest, training and experience working with those experiencing substance use disorders, grief and loss, end of life, co-occurring and adolescents.

I work with those who struggle with anger. Often times the anger is brought on by unmet expectations and merely a symptom of deeper issues under the surface. It's my job to metaphorically stand in a place you can not see, and point you in the right direction as to the cause of what is contributing to the anger. By doing so, you can receive insight that will enrich your life and change it for the better.

I offer a unique, holistic approach to transformational healing and growth through a weaving of shamanism, psychotherapy, and coaching. I am direct, compassionate, and intuitive in working with clients, offering deep integrity, fortitude, and over 3 decades of shamanic practice supporting journeys of healing, personal mastery, and authenticity. The transformational work of embodying who you truly are and why you are here is a beautiful, challenging journey of embracing and integrating all of who you are with deep compassion and fierce love. A journey I invite you to take and am honored to support.

All matters that bring us to counseling inevitably result in dissatisfying relationships. I work to address both the problem that brings you to counseling and the inevitable relational strain. We will work together to help you find relief from emotional and relational pain and dissatisfaction, and we will work to give you hope for a more meaningful and satisfying life.

Life's stressors can be overwhelming. Therapy shows us new ways of being and engaging through practicing adaptive skills and mindfulness. I help my clients uncover connections between past experiences that shape their current ways of coping. This leads to the ability to recognize inner strengths, identify and embrace discomfort, and cultivate self-compassion to find peace and true connection. With empathetic listening in a safe environment, I strive to be my client’s ally. I use cognitive and somatic modalities to connect mind and body and tailor my approach to your needs, even using humor when appropriate!

*Currently accepting new patients* Hi, there! I'm Ian. If you are feeling down, anxious, or stuck or are struggling in your relationships, I would like to help. I believe that meaningful personal connection—feeling understood, accepted, & loved—is at the heart of well-being, so my desire is to provide a genuine, warm, & safe presence in which my clients feel comfortable sharing their stories & exploring how their past has shaped them & their experience of the present. Though I use a psychodynamic approach, I tailor my approach to meet my clients' needs, integrating techniques from various approaches like CBT, gestalt, & mindfulness.

I have over 20 years of experience working as a mental health counselor in the State of Washington. My areas of expertise include individual, couple, and family therapy. My specialties are PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Also, I have been facilitating different groups for 20 years and a DBT group for 9 years. All of the clients who have committed themself to this DBT class have learned some specific DBT skills that they can apply in their daily lives when they feel depressed or anxious.

There are many reasons you might seek psychotherapy: to renew your self-confidence, relieve stress and anxiety, heal from trauma, conquer obstacles, and improve your capacity to manage feelings and fears; to heal old wounds, make sense of current and past relationships, or resolve repeated disappointments. No matter the issue, I believe that insight-based psychotherapy can help you to better understand yourself, break old patterns, and give you more options to create the more fulfilling life you deserve.

*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.

You need to feel like you can be fully yourself. To be able to set boundaries, thrive, and be healthy in your relationships. Therapy is for someone like you - a regular person, struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder... who sometimes doesn’t like how you feel about yourself or your relationships. Given the social pressures and systemic influences in your life, these feelings become more complex and painful with time. You don’t need someone to solve everything, fix you, or expect you to be happy, but you long to be authentic and vulnerable with yourself and for others to feel they can be the same with you.

The goal of treatment is to provide outpatient mental health services, which eliminate or substantially reduce communication and/or social/ cultural barriers. My treatment encourages the involvement of natural support systems available to individuals and families. The goal is the client should live in the community as least restrictively as possible an environment, with minimal Dependance on public safety and acute care resources. To enable patients to establish or maintain appropriate residences and or to advert crisis and re-hospitalization or more restrictive levels of care. The client has the right to refuse treatment.

I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, mood swings, and PTSD. My approach is strengths-based and collaborative. I work with clients to enhance personal strengths while offering additional tools found in cognitive-behavioral treatments and DBT mindfulness-based skills. When indicated, I incorporate EMDR to treat PTSD; reduce anxiety and depression symptoms; and strengthen coping skills including spiritual resources. For clients seeking insight into how early relationships may be impacting their current relationships and well-being, I offer exploration in an accepting, interactive therapy relationship.

With over 15 years of experience in mental health, I help individuals and couples discover, create, and sustain the positive changes they seek in their lives. I specialize in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and trauma. However, I have worked with many mental health issues over the years and frequently work with stress, addiction, motivation, intimacy issues, family conflict, life changes/adjustments, grief, communication issues, emotional regulation, parenting, self-esteem, and personal growth and discovery. I have extensive experience working with adults, teens, couples and families.

As your therapist, I will explore your concerns and assist you in uncovering deeper issues that might be hindering or influencing your relationships and your worldview. “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.” -- Dr. Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, existentialist, and founder of Logotherapy (concept based on the premise that the primary motivational force of an individual is to find a meaning in life).

My goal is to create a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental space in an effort to empower my clients so they can begin to heal and work towards personal growth. I believe in providing compassionate care for all of life's experiences to everyone. I enjoy working with individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. I hold certifications as a lactation educator and postpartum doula in addition to my counseling license.

Are you looking for joy, inner peace, and healing? When you are suffering- from depression, loss, failing relationships, an unfulfilling job, anxiety, or any hardships in life- the journey can be lonely, scary, and painful. You might be asking yourself: Why am I always on edge? In these times of pain, fear, and darkness, I want to help you. There is always hope. Peace, joy and healing can be found. It would be an honor to help you find it.

Often, life leaves us confused, lonely, deeply disappointed, or even speechless. I want to create a courageous space for and with you to make meaning of your experience in this world. Together we will listen deeply to what brings you to therapy, paying attention to places you feel stuck or burdened. My desire is to meet you where you are and help you understand where you have come from. My privilege is to bear witness to your unique story through curiosity, compassion, and my developing clinical insight. Your unique needs will shape our direction.