Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Bellingham, WA

Hello, My approach is based in being present with you and incorporating different approaches based on you. Some of the main approaches I use are mindfulness and somatic awareness, neuroscience, Internal Family Systems, and the exploration of attachment and relationships, in culture, family, friends and yourself. My intention in our work is to offer you a space of presence and inquiry to support you in your goals and to move toward a greater sense of wellness and balance in your life and in your relationships.

The path to healing is not one-size-fits-all or linear. Regardless of who you are, we're all out here just trying to be human. The decision to seek help is not an easy one, but my calling is to make the process feel safe, approachable, and welcomed. My goal is to be your mirror and witness to your story. I hope to create a collaborative and safe space to address your needs, achieve your goals, and bring peace and contentment to your whole self.

Finding a therapist can feel a lot like swiping through dating apps trying to find the right fit. You want to work with someone who gets you and is thoughtful and easy to talk to. That's how I work. I work with individuals and couples in a warm, attachment based approach. I'm here to help you heal old patterns, vent, or whatever you need. We can figure out the traps you fall into, cry, and laugh for 50 minutes. I'm not here to judge you or tell you how to live your life, just to support you in living authentically.

As an adult child of asian immigrants, you are probably aware of what it's like to operate based on a sense of responsibility to others, to suppress your own anger and to not be able to easily connect with your feelings, desires and needs. I offer you an opportunity to heal your wounds in a deeply compassionate and trauma informed way, including healing from racial, systemic and historical trauma. I welcome and affirming of all identities, particularly QTBIPOC folx. Whether you feel stuck in your painful patterns or are looking to find more fulfilling ways to be in relationships, I can meet you where you are.

Finding a therapist who respects us is crucial. Having another person who understands us is a basic human need. At times what we do and think do not create a happy life. We may feel isolated, focus on the "negative" and find ourselves feeling wretched. We may turn to substance use or other behaviors to cope with discomfort. You and I will discuss your unique situation, what your behaviors and thoughts may be doing for you, and how they may be hindering your sense of wellbeing. We'll explore how to achieve comfort, acceptance and happiness. I look forward to nurturing your confidence, your strength and your wisdom.

Accepting New Clients. As a sex and relationship therapist, I bring a somatic perspective to sessions: highlighting the nervous system, locating feelings in the body, and developing skills for increased pleasure and embodiment. My primary focus is relationships, including relationship to others, community, self, the body, and the natural world. I believe that connecting with ourselves leads to a deeper connection with others, and I practice both individual and relational therapy. In session, I invite deeper conversations around sexuality and gender, which are foundational aspects of who we are and how we express ourselves.

I believe that something powerful happens when we are seen, heard, and equipped with dignity and support. Counseling is a transformative process that can promote healing, hope, and change as we navigate the challenges that come with being human. I approach therapy through a person-centered, narrative, and family-systems framework. This means that the therapeutic process is centered around your story, your context, and your intersecting identities. I also prioritize trauma-informed care and will work to ensure that you feel safe and empowered during our time together.

I am a depth centered trauma psychotherapist that specializes in healing from trauma, anxieties, and abuse. I utilize somatic, psychoanalytic, Internal Family Systems, and person centered models as we work through all the ways we feel not ok. I specialize in ERP and DBT for anxiety disorders. Together we will explore your life and stories and create space to deepen your connection to your inner world, give meaning to past experiences, transform thinking patterns, calm and quiet the anxieties of your body and mind, and explore new styles of being and relating.

Current openings! I'm queer and I specialize in supporting LGBTQ+ and nonmonogamous adults around trauma, family of origin issues, gender affirming care, and anxiety, including OCD. Before therapy, many of my clients think: Being in my head is stressful- there are things I'm fearful of talking about, or even thinking about. My past is still affecting me. Setting boundaries can be really hard. Sometimes I have nightmares or flashbacks of things I've been through. If that sounds like you, I can help. Therapy can be a safe, non-judgmental space to make sense of your experiences and create meaningful change in your life.

Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious or disconnected? You’re not alone. Each and everyone of us has our own stories and lived experiences of pain, trauma, disconnection. Life’s challenges can be overwhelming and it is crucial to have the support you need to navigate life. My approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and body-led. Healing is a journey, and I will meet you on the path exactly where you are with compassion and non-judgement. Together I join with you on the path toward your healing and fulfillment and together we embrace the messiness of the human experience where you are free to explore what is alive for you.

As a licensed counselor in Washington state helping clients learn how to understand and bring more clarity to their mental, emotional, and physical, challenges. My work focuses on understanding more about how each persons unique life experiences have brought you where you are today. Working with transformative modalities such as EMDR I currently offer many ways to process and find greater relaxation, ease and deep lasting healing. Through my own personal life work, journey and engagement in the field of mind body, somatic and transformational practices, I offer a deep understanding of the depths of being human, here now.

Healing and growth can take place when we can truly be present with the challenges in our life. To heal and move beyond our suffering we must undertake an honest process of self-examination. Baby steps may be required. Everyone has the key to their own healing somewhere within, for within all of us there is a knowing and a creativity that has the answers to our struggles. It is my job to be a compassionate safe support assisting you in finding your own answers and joining you on your journey to find the solutions that are within you. I work at King Health Associates under the guidance of a Clinical Supervisor.

At times we all find ourselves in periods of growth that can be challenging and confusing. Growth and change can be difficult but if troubling obstacles are removed, one can move towards a healthier, creative, vibrant life with a new sense of meaning and purpose. I tend to look at symptoms individuals are struggling with as guides showing the changes one needs to make in order to develop into their authentic, creative self. The work I do with client’s is often symbolic and includes dream work, creative expression, deep conversation, lessons from nature, and a deep relational connection that can foster authentic experience.

Do you feel anxious, depressed, confused, alone or misunderstood? Are you having difficulty communicating within your relationships, going through a big life transition or feeling pain and constriction from past traumas? During these times it is helpful to have someone listen and support you without judgement within a safe place. Everyone has a personal history that makes them unique with both strengths and vulnerabilities. I know the courage and perseverance it takes to face and feel the pain as well as embrace your gifts, strengths and light.

I work with all races, sexualities, genders, religious leanings and world views. I locate myself in the world as a queer, gender expansive, white person from a Scandinavian family, who is always exploring the dynamics of gender, the effects of the social systems that surround us and trying to understand it all through creative expression and exploration. I hope to bring a playful, creative and body-based approach to explore your therapeutic goals in a setting that works best for your lifestyle.

In our sessions, I invite you to explore the incredible wisdom within your own body and the sensations it holds. By tuning into your felt-sense, we can navigate through current challenges and traumas with a gentle and curious approach. Embracing this journey of self-discovery, we'll create a space for release, recognition, and a sense of safety as we move forward. Each session will be centered around your unique experiences, combining a body-based perspective with the narratives we explore in talk therapy. If there's anything specific you're curious about or would like to share, I'm here to support you on this transformative path.

I specialize in facilitating the transformation of acute, complex and developmental trauma through honing and honoring intuition and connection with body, mind and spirit. The way back from emotional overwhelm occurs through reconnecting to our vital self, community and awakening or deepening our connection with the more than human world. Together we will work to identify the root causes of negative behaviors and beliefs, while learning to regulate the nervous system and rewire the brain for maximum vitality and coherence.

Do you have a health issue such as ongoing illness, chronic pain or autoimmune disease that makes it challenging to live fully? Are you starting to think about some changes in your life? Are you questioning yourself about your career, or relationships? I work with adults who are struggling with life transitions due to a change in their life or health situation and want support in adjusting to change, so they’re looking for a therapist who understands their situation and partners in developing a personalized therapy experience. I have specialized training in integrative approaches and have innovated new therapy modalities.

My practice focuses on perinatal mental health and eating disorder recovery, as well as ongoing psychotherapy. I aim to help you gain a more cohesive sense of self so you can live authentically. I foster a therapeutic space that is safe and open, where you are able to talk about whatever you want without fear of judgment.