Family Therapy in Shoreline, WA

As a Marriage & Family Therapist I have had the privilege of working with adults, couples, children & families throughout my 15+ year career in the mental health field. I have developed my career by gaining experience in a variety of settings including schools, nonprofit agencies, crisis intervention, group practice & now, currently, private practice. I have helped individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma & issues surrounding their family of origin. I enjoy working with young people on their journey to self-discovery, guiding families through parenthood & facilitating communication for couples in conflict.

I am a licensed independent clinical social worker who specializes in working with youth and young adults. I have experience with trauma (including cPTSD), anxiety, depression, life transitions, and identity formation. My style is warm, humanistic, and collaborative, and I believe in humor as a great tool for healing and connection. I also believe in bringing our authentic selves into the therapy room and love to incorporate hobbies and interests into treatment. As an example, I'm trained in therapeutically-applied roleplaying games (like Dungeons & Dragons).

Childhood is a sacred time yet our children are facing many challenges and choices as they try to navigate growing into the best and healthiest version of themselves. I provide support and a safe place for parents to be real about their hopes and fears and work with children in a way that celebrates their strengths. In our sessions together I will bring over 25 yrs of experience as a counselor serving children and families (outpatient & in schools) and 23 yrs of learning and personal growth raising two children. I have hand-picked each item in my therapy office to help meet the needs of my clients.

Our philosophy is based in healing. Many things can happen in one's life which can derail you from your true purpose and meaning. We see psychotherapy as a means to help you re-identify who you are, what your goals are, and how, by combining principles of your body, spirit, and mind, we can in a collaborative manner, find health for you as you define it. Though it is indeed trite to say, it is also true that life is a journey. I hope that with my 20 years of experience, I can help guide you to your true path.

My passion is in working with children, adolescents and families on issues including emotional challenges, trauma, life transitions, parenting concerns and mood disorders. I also provide therapeutic support to adults experiencing a wide range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and trauma. I see my role as a therapist to guide clients to grow through creating an atmosphere of empathy and attentiveness in a safe and confidential environment. I utilize a variety of therapeutic techniques to meet clients where they are, including motivational interviewing, collaborative problem solving, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness therapy.

I value interpersonal approaches to psychotherapy, using evidenced-based strategies to target specific symptoms. This means that I pay close attention to the relationship I have with my clients and use techniques that have been tested and found to be effective for resolving mental health issues. I am an active therapist and I will openly share my thoughts and recommendations with you throughout our work together. I also adopt a compassionate, non-judgmental view with clients. Together, we can develop new ways for you to cope and help you to resolve the issues that prompted you to seek care.

The therapeutic relationship should be a safe place to breathe. Come catch your breath, and get clear about the growth you're finally ready for. Learn to see your questions, yourself and your relationships in new ways. Curiosity & compassion can turn chaos into insight and paralysis into courage. Use your courage to apply your learning in real time. Try new skills, experiment. You'll know you've got the hang of it when success and failure are both progress! With skills & perspective your experience of uncertainty can shift from anxiety to excitement. What about you and your world will become possible?

I specialize in helping people work toward a better life. When working with individuals or couples, teens or elders, my style is supportive yet direct. My mission is to help my clients (both individuals and couples) develop life skills and solve problems –- thereby improving their lives and their relationships. We can best accomplish this via a nurturing, active, and goal-oriented counseling process. As we develop a trusting and collaborative relationship, I will help you work through many issues, including relationship and marital problems, anxiety, depression and anger - as well as personality patterns and work-related issues.

I take the mysticism out of therapy. We both know that not everything is "about your mother." Figuring out why you are the way you are can be interesting and even enlightening, but it's worthless if you're still experiencing the same emotional pain. You have the ability to make changes in your life. Things don't have to stay the same.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Substance Use Disorder Professional specializing in therapy with adolescents, couples, families and adults of all ages. Through a safe and encouraging environment, I work collaboratively with clients to identify goals, develop insight, and create lasting change in their lives. My counseling approach is client-centered, integrative, and rooted in building a rapport of trust, connectedness, and mutual respect with my clients. Through a safe and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment, I work collaboratively to identify goals for therapy at a pace that feels most comfortable to you.

I believe that we all have tremendous potential for healing and improving our relationships with ourselves and those around us. From the time we are born, we are met with messages from society at large, the families we grow up in, and the systems and institutions we interact with that inform how we see ourselves. But what if some of that information is flawed? Figuring out our own truth can be incredibly challenging when we have been working with bad facts. I provide my clients with a non-judgmental space to see themselves with clear eyes, and increase safety, harmony and understanding in their relationships, to reach their goals.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who is passionate about helping people access their own inner wisdom to create more peaceful and fulfilling relationships with their bodies and minds. I approach therapy from a person-centered, strengths-based and bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective that is grounded in social justice, Health at Every Size®, and intersectional feminism. I view the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative journey, acknowledging that you are the expert of you and you have unique strengths that have helped you navigate the world.

Just like every client is different, every therapist is different, and it's important to find someone who you like working with. We could be a good fit if it's important to you that you can talk to your therapist about anything and not feel judged. We might be a good match if you are someone who is willing to try new things, as a lot of therapy is thinking about things in a different way. Also we might be a good match if you enjoy humor in your sessions. Therapy shouldn't be all miserable. I aim for 25% miserable, tops.

I will be on maternity leave April 2024-August 2024 and looking forward to returning to office in September. Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, worried, or out-of-control? Do you seek joy and empowerment? Are you noticing that your child is experiencing challenges socially and emotionally? I am so glad you have found your way here today. I support children and adults to explore emotions, self-discover, and heal. You will find meaning, recognize unhealthy patterns, and also personal strengths. I believe our life experiences impact our lives and relationships, but they do not have to determine the rest of our lives.