Personality Disorders Therapists in Centerville, WA

Do you struggle with building and keeping relationships, staying in the moment, knowing how to stay calm or regulate your emotions, do you get so stressed out, that you say or do things you regret after the fact, do you feel so anxious that it keeps you from doing the things you love doing like being with friends or going to places you love? Do you feel so down in the dumps that you struggle with seemingly basic functions like getting out of bed, showering, or even eating? If so, you might benefit from starting a journey with Eye of A Tiger Therapy.

My goal as a therapist is to be able to offer you hope. There are times in life where we become overwhelmed or confused about how to manage day to day life. It is at those times when we need someone who is empathic, caring , experienced and will truly listen to us. I know everyone has a story and it is important to be heard. I offer you the opportunity to be heard and to heal.

My name is Alexis Candelier, and I am a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). I was born and raised in the Greater Portland Metro area and returned to the Pacific Northwest 2 years ago after spending years in Los Angeles, CA attending graduate school and practicing in the field of forensic mental health. Prior to completing my education, I was a Military Police Officer serving in the United States Marine Corps (ooh-rah!), so I take pride in being able to serve my fellow first responders and all the Veterans struggling to make it as a “civilian” in these trying and unprecedented times in a culturally competent and supportive manner.

My professional life has been dedicated to the easing of psychological suffering, particularly the suffering caused by the ravages of depression, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, and addiction. Our personalities can be badly damaged by early traumas and disrupted early attachments, and our emotional reactions, behaviors, and addictions, large and small, are typically our desperate methods of coping with the pain. By learning new ways of managing our feelings, responding to others, and healing our memories, we can grow and develop towards our best selves.

I have worked in community mental health since 2012. I have a lot of experience working with most disorders in the DSM-5. I have worked with clients that have anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and other disorders. My ideal client is anyone that wants to make a change in their life and is willing to do the work it takes to achieve their goals. I work with clients to do a comprehensive assessment where I supply a diagnosis or diagnoses. From there treatment begins. I use a wide array of treatments. My main mode of therapy is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

I'm passionate about helping my clients break toxic patterns and set healthier boundaries. I specialize in working with the adult children of parents with borderline and narcissistic personality disorders. Additionally, I love to work with clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and OCD. My style is supportive, honest, and direct with a bit of humor sprinkled in. I love being a therapist, but I'm definitely not the perfect therapist for everyone. I'm straightforward, bubbly, and use profanity on occasion to emphasize a point.

Pursuing a better self is a challenging journey. At times, you can feel lost and unsure how to break yourself out of the never-ending cycle. Do you often feel weighed down by challenging life situations, relationship difficulties, mental health, or stress? I can help you work on strategies and inner resources that will allow you to address the root cause of your difficulties and find healing.

There are times when we find life is getting harder to manage and we run out of ways to cope with the challenges. We all need someone who will listen to us and help us find our way back to successfully managing our life.

I have been a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist for 34 years and helping heal families in my private practice for 24. I specialize in many areas such as child abuse, domestic violence, adoption and infertility related issues, grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, communication training and fair fighting techniques. Many clients come for short, solution focused therapy. I welcome everyone, despite gender, age, ethnicity, religion or sexual preference. My goal is to make the client feel welcome from the moment they arrive, until the time they leave with information that can immediately make a difference in their life.

I believe that every client has the potential for health and wellness regardless their situation. I have dealt with many issues including, mood, thoughts, anxiety, attention, eating, gender, sexuality, spirituality, substance use, and compulsive behaviors. I want to meet you where you are. While they may not be ready to make immediate changes, planting the seeds of health and wellness are my ultimate goals. I work with adults and youth at least 11 years old.

I am currently accepting new clients. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with many years of experience treating a wide range of presenting concerns within adults, families, and couples. Some of these presenting concerns include depression, anxiety, OCD, grief, relationship dilemmas, challenges with life transitions, identity development and exploration, and working through past traumas. My areas of specialty include eating disorders and couples work. I see therapy as a collaborative process. Together we will identify and establish your goals for treatment, and work to bring you to where you feel more positively.

You don’t have to be sick to be Building Healthier Relationships (BHR). BHR is about developing a better toolbox to enhance relationships with yourself and others, and to provide a safe, nurturing environment for learning and healing. Life isn’t just a bowl of cherries—it also includes the PITs. In life, the PITs (Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment) provide the seeds for future cherries. While we are all victims at times, healing starts with moving from a victim mentality of blaming others to the survivor mentality of taking responsibility—not for what happened in the past, but for how to go forward.

Accepting New Clients: In my work with clients, the major areas of focus include: issues with relationship conflict, sexual compatibility, infidelity and intimacy. Whether as a couple or as an individual, I work with people to resolve on-going concerns. In my practice, all couples/individuals are welcome regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. It is my belief that compassion and humor are agents of change and healing. I offer a safe and comfortable place for my clients to explore new ways of working on current or on-going problems.

Do you feel overwhelmed by persistent worry, stress, or sadness, or hijacked by past trauma? Or maybe you struggle with shame and low self-esteem, feeling stuck in painful relationships and life circumstances. I strive to be a safe, empathic and non-judgmental listener and source of support. I help clients engage in self-exploration, identify their unique patterns and strengths, develop self-compassion and confidence, face their fears, change their reactions, and experience greater freedom and peace. My clients experience healing from trauma, adverse life events, relationship issues and anxiety.

I consider it my privilege to join individuals and families on their journeys towards wellness! My approach is supportive, collaborative, and often emphasizes development of skills and enhancement of already-present skills (e.g., coping, conflict resolution, parenting). I consider humor an essential ingredient! I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, in a variety of settings such as outpatient, inpatient, and residential, and have prior experience in CPS and adoption services.

Empathetic therapist offering compassion and healing; helping to build resilience through skill building, trauma work, and self-discovery. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to explore and process behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that can lead to isolation, anger, relationship strain, anxiety, panic, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. With a strengths-based approach, empowering clients to reclaim a sense of control and restore self-confidence. Specializing in trauma, religious trauma, borderline personality, anxiety, depression, sexual health, postpartum, LGBTQIA+ support, EMDR, CBT, and DBT trained.

My approach to counseling involves a direct and socratic style, employing various cognitive-behavioral methods to challenge clients and equip them with enduring tools for success. I’m dedicated to helping clients understand that our well-being is intricately linked to our beliefs and choices as we strive to fulfill our fundamental needs for survival, love, importance, and variety. Collaboratively, I work with each client to determine the most effective means of supporting them in meeting these needs through the power of choice.

Through Personal Adjustment Counseling our clients focus on their strengths using a person centered approach. I have experience treating mental health issues with counseling for children, teens and adults. Sessions are available for individuals, couples, families and groups. I provide assistance for children with school related problems. In the area of Vocational Counseling I provide assessments to evaluate skills, personalities, abilities and interests to assist individuals to discover new career paths or adjusting to current career.

Acknowledging a desire for 'something different' serves as the foundation for change and can set into motion holistic, enduring growth. I am invested in helping people alleviate emotional, relational, and psychological pain experienced during the course of life. My belief is that therapy is one approach to healing that works for many. Therefore, I seek to provide quality psychological services to individuals, couples, families, groups, and organizations.