Therapists in Kirkland, WA

Carrying the weight of anxiety, grief, disconnection from those around you, maybe even from yourself, can be overwhelming at times. It can be difficult to navigate these things alone. I believe in the power of the therapeutic, client-focused relationship as a catalyst for exploration and healing. My work with clients focuses on guiding people as they process life transitions, challenges and new opportunities. I walk alongside you in making a shift in your mindset to a place aligned with your core values and truth. I maintain a holistic perspective integrating mind, body, and spirit to empower every client in reaching his/her goals.

"The best way out is always through" - Robert Frost. I believe in individualized, client centered care, designed to fit your life and empower you to live your best life. I have over 18 years of experience with a variety of modalities and clinical techniques. I am passionate about providing counseling that best suits the needs of the client. I have experience with diverse populations and persons from every walk of life.

As a counselor, yoga teacher, and wellness coach, I recognize that you are the expert of your own life and walk beside you to find answers and insight. I offer the following specialties: spiritual and cultural exploration, trauma healing, emotion regulation, career counseling, gender and sex identity exploration, stress and anxiety reduction, and mindfulness meditation, death planning and acceptance (among others!). I’m proud to work with clients from all cultural backgrounds, religions, and am LGBTQ-allied.

We all need support throughout our lives, and you may be looking for an additional resource to help you process lived experiences, problem-solve, or understand yourself in a deeper way. You may be struggling with anxiety, the challenges of caregiving, work stress and burnout, relationship challenges, or working through grief, loss, or bereavement. You want to engage in healthy coping skills and develop self-care habits to better support the vision you have for your life.

My approach to counseling is holistic, humanistic and client-centered. I am trained in EMDR and trauma. I work with you and together we create an individualized approach to counseling that supports your goals. My professional background is in Trauma, PTSD, Grief, Loss, Early Parent loss. Anxiety, Depression. CBT, Family Systems Counseling, Narrative Therapy, Restorative Retelling, EFT, Matrix Reprinting, Multicultural Cultural Counseling, Feminist, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Since 2000, I have had the experience of living abroad as an elementary K-8 Certified teacher in Shanghai, China, Chiangmai, and Saudi Arabia.

Engaging in therapy is an act of bravery and self-love. I have immediate in person, telehealth, & weekend availability. I offer a safe and sex positive place where you will feel seen and heard. My approach is collaborative, non-judgmental and gently direct. I work with clients who may be healing from trauma, experiencing grief and loss, exploring their identity, or grappling with anxiety. I tailor each session to the unique needs of my clients. If you suffer from awful panic attacks, I'll give you strategies to tolerate and manage them so you can stop canceling plans at the last minute and gain control over your anxiety

I focus on supporting people through life transitions including divorce, fertility, and grief/loss. I work with people who are experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and blocked creativity. I help my clients explore their identity – who they have been, who they are now, and who they want to be. My style as a therapist is warm, compassionate, and relational. I bring creativity, humor, and depth to my sessions at Self Space and I believe honesty and empathy are the foundation for healing.

Anxiety/depression, PTSD/trauma, peri-post partum issues, fertility struggles, life/work transitions, relationship challenges, and grief counseling are my primary areas of work. I use Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Lifespan Integration to help resolve trauma and painful memories causing your anxiety and depression. I utilize Gottman andEmotionally Focused Therapy in my work with couples.

I believe therapy is a safe place to begin your own personal journey and learning to be present in your life. It allows you to rediscover who you are. I do not believe that people are defined by one experience. Rather, I believe that every individual and their experiences are unique.My hope for my clients is to have a healthy fulfilling life by providing a strength based approach empowering them to make the best choices for their own lives. The goal is to hold a space for clients enabling them to name and set goals, develop skills, build on strengths, and focus on living the life you have wanted to live.

Are you struggling by your current life situation, feeling anxious, depressed, experience difficulties in your relationships? Do you think extra support would help you find your way in the life? Let's walk together through the path of healing. I will help you find your authentic self in the warm, respectful and nonjudgmental environment. I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families. My compassion and empathy emanates radiantly and I highly value the journey, which is life, that everyone is subjectively experiencing.

Do you experience feelings of sadness or hopelessness? Are you having problems in your relationships, at work or with your loved ones, your partner or your children? Perhaps areas of your life no longer seem as satisfying as they once did. I believe that as we navigate the waters of life, we are constantly adjusting to the subtle and profound changes put before us. How we experience those changes, as sadness or hopelessness, loss or opportunity, with sadness or joy determines the course we will follow. How we move forward is unique and personal, yet no one needs to navigate the journey alone.

I am Akila Osakwe, A licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience working with individuals and families. My areas of expertise are Trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavioral issues, family issues, Injuries, parenting support, postpartum and prenatal issues, grief, severe mental illness, couples and family therapy, and co-occurring disorders.

Life is unpredictable with many ups and downs. No matter how much we want life to move in a linear fashion it often goes unplanned causing us to feel off balance. I believe therapy is a safe place to begin your own personal journey and learning to be present in your life. It allows you to rediscover who you are. Therapy is different for every individual and/or couple. I have an EMDR, existential & integrative approach to helping clients create healthy, fulfilling and rewarding lives. I integrate therapeutic styles depending on the best fit for client and situation.

Changes and transitions in our lives can provide opportunities for growth and insight. My approach is tailored to each client's need- whether you have a specific goal or need a supportive space. Everyone has inherent strength that can be drawn upon. Our work together will center around diminishing your struggles and increasing your enjoyment of life.

You desire living life according to your values, goals, passion, and love, but for some reason you feel stuck in love/relationships/sex/career. Through a variety of coaching options, I can help you walk through the changes you want to make to rock your fierce life. Whether you're finally ready to commit to loving relationships but don't know where to start, or you need some coaching to work through ending a marriage, or moving on after loss... I've got you.

I honor the decision to seek counseling and am highly committed to helping each individual discover their own internal strengths and resources. I have over 20 years of experience in the health field, first as an occupational therapist, and then as a clinical psychologist. I integrate a variety of helpful change strategies including Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Emotional Awareness and Expressive therapy (EAET), cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic. I utilize a range of treatment modalities, such as Mindfulness, Lifespan Integration, EMDR, and insight-oriented.

Perhaps you're here because you want things to be different in your life. Less stress, better relationships, better coping skills, or just to be happier. Therapy can be an important step in making your life more manageable, enjoyable and meaningful. My goal is to create a warm, relaxed, and accepting atmosphere where you can meet the challenges of an immediate crisis, or work on long-standing issues you'd like to change.

Welcome everyone to my practice!! I have been working with children, teens, families and couples since 2001 at non-profit agencies and private practice here in the Seattle area . I specialize in relational issues, loss and grief issues, depression, anxiety and fears, and general unhappiness and desire for growth. With my experience and education I have been able to hone my skills to create what I believe to be a positive, caring atmosphere necessary for the growth and change that can occur in a therapy session.

People come to therapy for a variety of reasons: recognizing the need for change in their lives, facing changes difficult to accept, learning how to more effectively communicate or parent, or the need for an unbiased perspective. It can understandably be difficult to reach out for help regarding sensitive issues. I respect the courage it takes to set the intention for change & the effort involved in finding someone you feel comfortable with & can trust. I love this field of study & care about doing my best for my clients. My work with couples, individuals, teens & families, utilizes techniques garnered from 24 years of practice.