Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Olympia, WA

In my work as a therapist, I rely on: compassion, creativity, curiosity, honesty, patience, kindness, and humor. I am fond of working with Internal Family Systems , Narrative Therapy, and with whatever it was Carl Whitaker was up to. I consider my practice to be an invitation to work with people of all: ages, backgrounds, identities and expressions, which in part means I work with kids and teens. My pronouns are typically he/him.

I believe in empowering people to reach their full potential by providing services that are strengths-based, practical, holistic, and focused on promoting long lasting change. I work using a style of fostering trust and authenticity,starting where people want and ending when people feel their life and issues have changed and their happiness enhanced. I believe the relationship in counseling is the core issue in treatment. This is particularly important in working with children and adolescents where no work could be done without building a warm, honest, and caring connection. I believe healing comes through the mind, body, spirit connection.

I work with children, teens, and adults moving through transitionary periods in life. This may look many different ways ranging from struggling to get through the day to feeling like your emotions are too much. My work focuses on creating a safe space in which individuals feel comfortable processing difficult emotions and developing coping skills to help navigate this hectic world we are living in. I believe in taking a person-centered collaborative approach to help clients reach their goals.

Hi. I am a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in adults who experienced early childhood trauma. I believe most humans are fully capable of creating a life they desire if they can return to who they are in the core, wild, soul. I utilize evidence based practices such as EMDR, mindfulness, CBT, DBT, IFS , and ACT in a multiprong approach to address past and present issues, or stuck points, that are repeating unwanted patterns in your daily life. I believe that you are the expert on you and that my job is to provide you with tools and space to practice skills. We're all just humans walking each other walking home.

I specialize in providing affirming and competent therapy to people across a broad spectrum of gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity. I love working with folks who identify across the LGBTQIA2-S++ spectrum, as well as those who have other marginalized and/or non-normative identities and life experiences. My work is trauma-informed and rooted in values of collective liberation, anti-oppression, resilience, and intersectionality. My work is systemically focused, meaning that I work to support you in your growth as a whole self who lives as an interconnected and interdependent being within the unique context of your life.

*Taking Clients Spring 2022* You know yourself, your experiences, and the solutions to any of your concerns better than anyone else. In working with me, my aim is that you gain a deeper self-understanding, along with the confidence and tools to make the changes you want to see in your life. I hope you feel seen and validated in our work, including parts that your'e hesitant to share. You may also find yourself laughing a little in our work together!

I offer you a safe and compassionate environment to explore what you are struggling with. Through our therapeutic relationship I will work collaboratively with you to move toward a greater sense of wellness, balance and meaning in your life and in your relationships. My approach is integrated, and trauma informed. I incorporate the exploration of family systems and culture with your personal narrative, listen to your emotional landscape, and use a variety of somatic, mindfulness approaches to supported embodied change.

My clients seek a therapist who is anti-racist, body-positive, kink and identity-affirming. I specialize in working with survivors of childhood abuse, folks with complex trauma, and queer & trans folks. Often the work is around self-awareness, life patterns, identity development, stress responses, self-image, trauma release and around trans identity. I work primarily within the IFS model of therapy, incorporating attachment, psychodynamic and DBT therapies where approproate. I approach all of the work I do with an anti-pathologizing, harm-reduction and gate-opening lens. I offer Telehealth only, and I do not take insurance.

If you're considering therapy, you're already taking a brave step toward growth and self-discovery. Some areas of focus in my practice include gender identity exploration, adults with ADHD, processing childhood trauma, healing attachment wounds, and improving relationships. My lived and professional experiences have equipped me to connect with those who share these identities.

Accepting New Clients. My goal as a therapist is to help clients navigate their own personal struggles and the world around them. I work primarily with adults, and couples, and use a flexible approach depending on client need. I specialize in first responder trauma, perinatal mental health, and adoption support.

My overall approach is collaborative and client-centered, with a commitment to anti-oppression in every facet of my work. I believe, with warm, respectful, authentic support, every person has the ability to identify inner resources and acquire skills that will empower them to find healing and fulfilling relationships to self and others. My style is compassionate and appropriately direct. While I find exploration of the past useful, I prefer to use the 'here-and-now' to realize and effect change.

I have found the most success with clients in connecting on a more humanistic and casual therapeutic style. Whether you experience severe mental health symptoms or need support meeting your goals, we can work together to create an individualized plan to meet your needs. I believe in unconditional care, personal growth, and mental health management. I strive to be anti-racist and culturally competent. I have been through the system and worked in it; I am able to advocate for your care and help direct you towards wellbeing.