Therapists in Gig Harbor, WA

As a mental health therapist specializing in children, adolescents, and families, my journey in supporting young individuals began at the age of fifteen. This early start allowed me to cultivate an understanding of the unique challenges that children and adolescents face, setting the foundation for my passion and commitment to making a positive impact in their lives. I have accumulated valuable experience providing mental health support within schools, particularly in special education programs focused on addressing behavioral needs.

Are you feeling like you or your loved one should be getting more out of life than you have been? Sometimes we need a compassionate, objective person to help us sort out problems, regain perspective and enjoy life and our relationships again. It is important for you to feel a connection with your therapist and to sense that the therapist has your best interests at heart. I work from a solution-focused, experiential perspective, building on the power of the therapeutic relationship and clients' personal strengths to support lasting change while working with couples, families, individuals, and children.

Everyone has a unique story to tell. Sometimes the story is full of joy and laughter and sometimes it has challenges and heartbreak. For most of us, it falls somewhere in between. By taking the time to share and understand your story, you are given the opportunity to understand how your past shapes your current existence and how past relationships inevitably impact current ones. By understanding and owning your story, you give yourself the opportunity to choose how you want to go forward. One's past does not have to define one's future.

If you’re frequently anxious or overwhelmed, if there are difficult events from your life continuing to invade your life in memories or nightmares, if you’re experiencing chronic pain, if you’re feeling depressed, irritable, stuck, or alone, I can help. You may have tried everything you can think of to start feeling better and nothing seems to fully address your struggles. I’m so glad you’re here. There is hope. If you don’t believe that yet, that’s ok, I am holding it for you until you can.

My style of therapy is warm, accepting, and compassionate. After having trained extensively and been witness to countless stories of transformation, I can say with certainty that healing is absolutely possible. This is an invitation to break free from painful experiences, beliefs, and thought patterns that keep you from living the life you want, and leave you feeling hopeless or weary. I am guided by the belief that what you need to heal is already within you. Together, we will discover your internal source of strength and wisdom.

Oftentimes we seek out therapy because components in our lives are causing us significant distress and disrupt our ability to function effectively and feel happiness. I ask clients who come into therapy to bring with them an open attitude, a willingness to explore their life perspectives and their relationships with others, that they may experience true change and healing. This journey towards emotional maturity often involves a certain amount of discomfort and pain before the healing and change can occur. I provide a warm, trusting, safe space to assist people so that they may continue that journey.

Have you recently experienced the death of a loved one, the end of a marriage or relationship, or a significant life transition that has you wondering how life will ever feel normal again? Grief shows up in many ways in life, and it looks different for everyone. But one thing is always true: grief changes us. Maybe you’re in survival mode: fighting just to stay above water in the day to day. Or perhaps you feel like you don’t recognize yourself: more angry, less motivated, or experiencing emotions that feel completely foreign. Your grief may be so overwhelming that you don’t even know what you feel.

Feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed? You work hard to be competent on the outside, maintaining control, holding your life together. Yet you know something is off on the inside. You want to be free. Free from the worry, anxiety and the patterns you keep finding yourself living over and over. You don't need to live your life this way any longer. Is this type of freedom even possible? Yes. Yes it is. You do not have to walk this path alone any longer. You have tried everything you can think of to help you sleep, help you cope, stop the flashbacks. Some of your strategies worked, but they are not enough.

I believe change occurs in the context of connection, compassion, and self-discovery wherein your whole authentic self can be nurtured and fully understood. To support you in your healing and growth, I bring a warm and collaborative approach, valuing the relationship and working together towards a path of healing and change.

Seeking counseling can be one of the most difficult decisions a person can make. It is also one of the bravest decisions. Day to day life is stressful, and at times, life tosses us a curveball. My goal is to help you identify your strengths, and help you navigate through the stresses and transitions that many people struggle with. You are not alone, and I am so glad that you are here. Some of my areas of focus are on addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, family dynamics as well as parent coaching.

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? Having trouble dealing with issues from your past? Recovering from a toxic relationship? Finding it difficult to love and accept yourself? We all need support at times. We are not meant to be self-sufficient islands. By reaching out for help, you are taking your power back and confirming that you deserve to be supported and understood. Therapy can be a healing, transformative experience. We can work together to create a healthy plan to help you achieve your treatment goals.

I will work collaboratively with you in therapy so you can work through any challenges you may be facing and achieve your goals. Whether you are experiencing a new problem, or have been struggling with something for a while, together we will work to find your inner strengths, overcome past or present challenges, and improve the quality of your life. I am a warm and compassionate therapist who provides a safe, caring, and non-judgmental environment. My goal is for you to feel more hopeful and confident, and to live the life you desire.

Accepting new Clients I believe in the importance of establishing a client/therapist relationship based on mutual respect and integrity. My focus and goal in my work is to help navigate through the personal process of growth and change done through my approach of aligning to provide hope and healing. I use a strength based, client centered and cognitive/behavioral approach to help develop techniques and coping skills.The heart of my holistic approach is centered on truly hearing your story with compassion and supporting you in your healing journey. My ideal client is one who is motivated to seek change and willing to take the steps.

At the core of my treatment philosophy is the belief that families heal when movement occurs and people begin to step out of their comfort zones to unlock their potential and capacity for growth. Often there is underlying pain and/or trauma that needs to be addressed in order for the system to recover and break the cycle. Whether the results of the family dysfunction is abuse, addiction, estrangement, divorce, suicide, broken communication paths, or some other behavior, treatment can provide relief.

I'm very experienced working with minority communities including working with women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ clients. Minority groups, and couples, particularly those at the intersections of gender, race, and sexual orientation, are often underrepresented in fields of work such as business, tech, and entrepreneurship. I believe therapy should be a safe and non-judgmental space that empowers individuals to be able to push their own limits and views of themselves, in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. Being able to embrace oneself and each other is one of the strongest things a person can learn to do.

Updated April'24. Accepting new clients on wait-list 1-3 months. Please message to waitlist. I enjoy working with adults, children/adolescents, and families. I believe that counseling needs to be a safe and brave space to process hard topics. I value choices, respect, culture, education, balance, and curiosity in my work which inclines towards acceptance-commitment, attachment, compassionate, trauma-informed, and brain-based approaches. Trained in EMDR and Brainspotting. DBT certified. Asia Pacific Cultural Center referral resource. Pending VA/medicare credentialing. Fuji is my therapy pup in-training and attends some sessions.

My trauma-informed approach invites a space of safety, warmth, and authenticity where we navigate issues and process emotions together to enhance resiliency, trust, and self-worth. It is my hope that therapy and our therapeutic alliance will provide you with opportunity for healing, empowerment, and re-authoring of life stories for positive change and growth toward personal fulfillment. I have experience working with individuals, couples, and families seeking to process through various struggles and difficulties using evidence-based treatments.

We provide individual/group therapy and education services to support children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families from all cultures, backgrounds, and abilities.

Are you looking for someone that you connect with, provides compassion and support, and helps you process through your concerns? It can be hard to find the right therapist for you. My hope is that you would feel safe, understood and accepted in counseling. I work collaboratively with clients to help them manage concerns in their life. My therapeutic approach is client-centered, putting your needs first and providing you the tools you need to find healing.