Alcohol Use Therapists in Mukilteo, WA

Are you watching porn when you’ve tried to stop? Are you sexually “on” too much or all the time? Pursuing sexual encounters even when it violates your vows or values or it’s getting in the way of your work or other goals? These are sensitive issues and require a safe person to confide in but, if you can relate to this and your contemplating a change - call me - I can help. I’m a CSAT, Certified Sexual Addictions Therapist and I‘ve helped numerous men find their way back to peace with themselves and frequently reconciled relationships.

Life can be challenging. Especially when our thoughts and feelings seem to be in conflict with each other. (Mind vs. Heart) It’s my mission to empower people to recognize how magnificent and unique you are. My motto is: “When we apply love to hurt we heal” I listen to your needs with respect and empathy as we explore heart-centered solutions.

I love working with a wide range of people from young adults to seniors, and work with individuals, couples and families. I am LGBTQIA friendly and love working with diverse populations. I have had various jobs in helping professions for almost twenty years, and since 2012 have counseled adults, families and couples. I love seeing people have renewed hope and vitality in their lives.

I specialize in working with clients that try to manage life's pain with substances and other addictions. Many of my clients want to simply change their using habits and I work to support them weekly in understanding their intentions, feelings and motivations as they make healthy changes to their relationship with alcohol or other drugs. As we well know, many clients suffering from substance use disorders have a myriad of other issues that drive these compulsive coping mechanisms; I am experienced in many co-occuring issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma or grief. Supervisor: T. Christopher Portman PhD.

Looking for answers to difficult questions about addiction and alcoholism? Needing a solid plan for yourself or a family member? Maybe I can help. I have been fully credentialed for thirty years and opened Port Gardner Bay here in Everett twenty years ago. With my time in the field there isn’t anything so difficult that it can’t be addressed. It’s why I am here. Addiction can be a direct path to piles of guilt and shame. We can’t change what’s happened, it’s done. It’s time to stop talking about and it’s time to take action.

“I need to change, but I don’t know how.” If you can relate to this phrase, you aren’t alone. There are so many reasons we stay stuck: Anxiety, fear, trauma, substance use, unsupported ADHD, and unsupportive relationships, and so much more. There is nothing wrong, defective, or broken about you. You’re doing your best with the strategies you’ve learned, and you deserve the opportunity to explore even more in the safety of an understanding and supportive relationship. By better understanding the "why", we begin to also learn the right "how" when it comes to growing and thriving in life and relationships.

What a rough ride it's been over the last several years....a real doozy! There are so many people struggling with feelings of overwhelm, stress, anger/rage, grief, disillusion, lack of trust, lack of safety, hopelessness, loneliness, anxiety....you name it! We all feel it at times but sometimes it gets to be too much for us to handle on our own. We need to process our feelings, be heard, be seen, connect, and find our way through this maze of life. Does this sound like you? NO shame in that. We are human.

A large part of why I have chosen to be a counselor is to simply help those in need. Many people come to therapy wanting relief from life’s challenges, answers to hard questions, or simply to be seen by and connected to another. My hope is that by choosing to engage in therapy, you will be able to experience all the goodness that comes from being respected, valued, and cared for in a truly meaningful way.

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.

Please note: As of April 9, 2024, my practice is full and I'm not currently accepting new clients. I'll update this message as my availability changes. I am a social worker with 15 years of experience helping people create healthy change. I named my practice Many Paths Counseling because I feel there is more than one right way to feel better, find answers, heal from the past, and kindle hope for the future.

I am dually licensed in mental health and addiction issues. This dual licensing provides me with the skills and experience to work with individuals struggling with addiction related issues and mental health issues such as recovery from depression and anxiety. Although I have a license in chemical dependency, a great deal of my client's have come to me seeking support in areas that are not addiction related. My areas of specialty include co-occurring issues, relational issues, female specific issues, ACOA issues, codependency, and depression & anxiety issues, life transitional issues, self-esteem work, and grief and loss issues.

You're struggling with past traumas. Maybe you don't even realize that a lot of your frustration, anxiety and depression and current struggles are linked to past traumas. It can be overwhelming dealing with intense emotions and identify the why behind it to change your life. I would love to work with you and address some of the emotions and struggles that you have been dealing with. Have there been some past events in your life that have fundamentally changed you as a person?

I provide non-judgmental, empathetic, and person-centered approach to therapy. My goal as a licensed counselor will be to develop a collaborative relationship where each client feels empowered to act as an expert in developing healthy coping skills, manage anxiety, depression, navigate difficult life transitions, reduce stress and emotional distress, to enhance communication skills and relationships. In therapy, we can learn to become more aware of our thoughts and actions, of how negative thought patterns and behaviors may be blocking our self-awareness and making us unhappy, and how we can change.

My name is Maggie (Gigi) Ishaq. I am the owner and one of the many therapists here at Balanced Living Therapy. We are a Behavioral Health Agency offering Co-Occurring Services; Mental Health & Substance Use Counseling. We recognize that finding a therapist is a very personal and individual choice. Please visit our website to learn more about us. We are happy to help you find the best fit! Each therapist will offer compassion, understanding, and empathy. We are respectful and non-judgmental. We believe that each person has core value as a human being. Our Interns offer a reduced out of pocket rate or accept our Medicaid plans.