Therapists in Mountlake Terrace, WA

I am passionately committed to helping you with issues of loss, sadness, anger, anxiety, depression, addiction, PTSD, trauma, and relationship problems. I am comfortable working with preteens, teens, young and older adults, couples, and families. I offer you a warm, safe nonjudgmental space in which you and I can work together to discover tools which will enable you to build more authentic joyful connections and intimacy with yourself and within your interpersonal relationships. I draw from a wide variety of theories, techniques, and approaches that will enable you to move deliberately and comfortably towards your goals.

Psychology works because it is a way to help people understand their problems and correct or change so that they can live more healthy or satisfying lives. Many people come for therapy if they are experiencing problems with depression, anxiety or relationship issues. Some other common problems that I help treat are problems with work injuries, sleep, weight, stress, trauma, and sexual problems. These problems can be greatly helped through therapy. I employ an eclectic approach to therapy, meeting each individual’s needs rather than using one form of treatment.

I offer individual and group services to people with different kinds of life circumstances, disabilities and goals. I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor & Certified Rehabilitation Counselor providing evidenced based mental health care and vocational counseling for adolescents and adults. I specialize working with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorders & have since 1996. I enjoy working with individuals facing difficult life circumstances, challenging adjustments, and reconciling past issues. My specialties include working with people with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Learning Disabilities and ADD/ ADHD.

Sonntag Counseling: Providing Hope, Awareness, & Direction. My experience consists of 19 years in academic medical centers, 14 of which was inpatient psychiatric care. I see therapy as a partnership between client and therapist with the goal of teaching skills to help individuals live and behave in ways consistent with their personal values, while also developing psychological flexibility. By recognizing ways in which our attempts to suppress, manage, and control emotional experiences can create challenges and strain relationships, we determine goals and work towards wellness, balance, and a life full of meaning.

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.

I provide psychotherapy and counseling services to adults, adolescents, and couples. In the framework of authentic therapeutic dialogue and connection, I honor the strengths and uniqueness of each client in the context of their life experience, and work to support them in creating the change they seek. My approach is client centered and flexible to best meet the needs of each client and their particular situation while being largely informed by an integration of Gestalt and mindfulness, as well as humanistic and attachment perspectives.

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.

Are you having difficulty in relationships with significant others, friends, or family? Or finding that you are lacking motivation or confidence? Do you feel like your mind is always on the go? Thinking that something needs to change, to get back on track, and feeling like the person you’d like to be? Depression, anxiety, and trauma can play a role in these thoughts and feelings. They can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, confused, run down, and at times even hopeless. If you're experiencing any of these thoughts or feelings, therapy can help you to become the person you want to be!

I have worked with tens of thousands of clients with issues ranging from trauma, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, communication, parenting, work frustrations, suicidality, sudden life change, and more. My goal is for you to experience peace in your life, stop merely coping, and start thriving in the present. I believe in the importance of living in this moment that we’ve been given, and I want you to experience the abundant joy and freedom that comes from God. Don’t wait another day; invest in yourself today. I look forward to working with you to overcome past barriers so you can fully enjoy your life each moment.

Sometimes we struggle to make meaning where life has thrown us a curveball: a death, a divorce, coming out, or even a pandemic. It’s overwhelming trying to bring order to chaos, at times having to impossibly reconcile competing truths. “It gets better” fails to appreciate the acute pain of the moment, only going so far in moving the needle towards hope. In an age where humans are increasingly polarized, buoyed by deeply held beliefs, there remains a need for something more than personal happiness alone. As a relational Therapist, I help clients find sustainable wellness; prioritizing relationship with self and others over ideology.

Our services are designed to help you and the ones you love overcome personal, relationship and family difficulties. Whether you are experiencing challenges in your personal relationships, or struggling with depression, anxiety, stress or addictions, we are here for you. We help you develop skills and insights that can immediately make a positive difference in your life. We know that everybody needs help through tough times. Our Mill Creek Family Services counselors are here for you, helping you get your life back on track.

Having issues with generalized anxiety and substance use in the past, I believe that the people who have been there and recovered are the best guides. The formula I use is applying love to hurt. When we find the root cause of Addiction and mood disorders and treat it with compassion, amazing results can be found. I have proven this when I worked at the first Mental Health Urgent Care. I also have extensive experience with trauma, since I am an abuse survivor. I mix and match 10 different therapy approaches in an effort to treat the whole person. Each person is unique and obtains a treatment plan suited to them.

Therapy is a place to take a deep breath and explore what makes you you. It’s a place to get more deeply connected with yourself through processing past and present feelings and experiences. I work best with motivated individuals who are ready to find more authentic ways of showing up in this world. Through consistent therapy, it is my belief that you and I can identify unwanted behaviors and patterns in your life, and learn how to address them with kindness and compassion. By embracing your personal story without judgement or contempt, therapy will invite you toward deeper healing and wholeness.

I work with children, individuals, couples, and families. I believe that our experiences as individuals are greatly affected by our experiences with the systems that surround us; and navigating our place within those systems can prove difficult when done alone. My goal as a therapist is to provide a space that allows us to heal and strengthen relationship that we have with ourselves and our surrounding systems to create a sense of harmony and construct a life for ourselves that reflects the way that we truly want to live.

I have experience working in various settings including community health clinics, behavioral health organizations, and group private practice. It is enjoyable for me to work with clients of all identities with a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, and stress management as they navigate the difficulties of daily life. I also have specialized experience working with neurodivergent clients in both my personal, professional, and academic endeavors.

In an overly connected world, we sometimes just need to be heard. Meeting with someone who listens deeply can uncover the answers that live within our hearts. The therapeutic process allows you to navigate life's transitions (identity, relationships, career, relocation, retirement, grief and loss) with grace. In time, you can bring your whole self to all of your relationships (intimate, family, friends, colleagues). You can also pursue purposeful action in your education, career, community and spiritual life. Living is the process of enduring change. Building resilience allows us to be enriched by that ongoing change process.

I am often described as warm, open, and that I provide a safe place to explore complex or difficult emotions. I enjoy working with people who are struggling to find the motivation or tools needed to make the changes they hope to see in their lives. I am here to help you learn how to listen to, respond to, and advocate for your values and emotions. I have a passion for working with caregivers, people wanting to develop self-compassion, or integrating their nature-based sptituality into therapy. You deserve to build a life that is fulfilling and beautiful. As your counselor, I want to support you in embracing your favorite self!