Relationship Issues Therapists in Tacoma, WA

*Not accepting new clients* To quote Mariah Carey, “Love takes time.” I am a relational therapist, which means our working relationship and your relationships with others are incredibly important to me. Building relationships takes time and trust. Perhaps you have some life experiences that cause you to distrust others and maybe even distrust yourself. Maybe you're feeling anxious or depressed. I want to work with you to heal old hurts, understand current experiences, and help you learn to live and love fully. Reliving the past can be painful, but there is knowledge to gain from it. And maybe, in time, more love for yourself.

Now accepting new clients! I work with individuals, and partnerships to assist with meeting personal and collective goals. It is my intention to support and collaborate to find the best way to address your needs around this process. I work to foster respect for each client and their unique belief and value systems. I work with clients of all ethnicities, gender identities, relationship dynamics, sexual orientations, and religious/spiritual backgrounds.

Utilizing evidence-based interventions, we specialize in helping individuals & couples achieve greater personal growth, manage stress, enhance relationships, and improve their overall health & well being. In addition to relieving distress and helping you break free from unwanted patterns in your relationships with self and others, we also work to help you learn new coping skills and gain greater insight into yourself to prevent future difficulties.

If you're searching for a therapist who just sits, nods his head, and asks: "how do you feel about that?" then we would not be a good match. While that question is important, I focus more on listening closely to your stories, engaging in active dialogue with you. Together we form a common relationship to face and overcome your fears and anxieties. I am firmly committed to a collaborative, participatory, and holistic patient/therapist relationship . As partners, we form a trusting bond to explore the problems that interfere with your ability to live a happy and healthy life.

I meet clients where the are at in their personal process: your needs guide the counseling session. My depth of experience and personal explorations underpin my word as a clinician. My goal is for you to feel heard and understood, which allows you to make positive lasting changes. Conditions treated with success in working with younger to older adults include life dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, grief, social isolation, relationship concerns, panic attacks, compulsive and addictive behaviors and identity struggles. As well, I have additional training in treating women and their families impacted by postpartum depression.

I believe that each person holds unique essence and recipe for happiness within. Feeling confused about the direction of your life, "stuck" in the same patterns, same "mistakes" in spite of the fact that you "know better"? You are not alone. It happens because we can't just think our way out of patterns, blocks, and imprints of traumas. My clients report significant, tangible improvements in the quality of their lives and relationships. While the time it takes for changes to take hold varies, all clients report feeling better after the very first session. Sessions are non-intimidating, compassionate, supportive, and inspiring.

Are you in a relationship that is lacking connection or trust? Are you struggling with sexual concerns in your relationship (s)? Are you an adult who is dealing with conflict in your own family of origin, even though you left home long ago? I can help. I work with intimate relationships and adult individuals in my practice. We focus on healing past hurts and moving forward to achieve a more fulfilling sense of self, connection, and communication.

Are you finding yourself engaged in patterns that used to serve you but are now getting in your way? You’re dealing with a lot–from everything going on in the world around you and your own suffering too. You may be wondering if things can be better - to become your more authentic self. When people are well supported relationally, it creates an expansiveness for living. In our therapeutic relationship , we’ll examine patterns & systems that are keeping you from your full self. Together, we’ll work to make sense of your experiences, identify difficulties & integrate resources to find meaning to live a fuller life.

I am a clinical psychologist licensed in Washington state, and I work with adult individuals and couples confronting a range of psychological, emotional, and behavioral concerns. I believe that as humans, our behavior is largely based on how we perceive the world, and how we perceive the world is dependent on what we have experienced in the past. This can trap people into painful cycles they never consciously chose, that can be very hard to escape. At its best, therapy can be a new kind of experience which provides the opportunity to free yourself or your relationship from the traps of those destructive and deadening patterns.

My therapeutic philosophy rests on the premise that entering into a therapy relationship is a sacred act, and should be treated accordingly. It takes courage to challenge the limiting beliefs accumulated along life's journey, and I hold deep respect for those who are willing to do so. I provide a safe and respectful environment where you can explore the patterns keeping you from living a more authentic life.

Life events sometimes throw us curve balls when we least expect it. Do you now or often experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, divorce, or even post-pandemic returning to work concerns? These are stressors that give us feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness, impacting the ability to function in relationships, occupation, social life, and obtaining educational goals. Does it seem as though you’ve been knocked down once too many times and getting up is a struggle? When in the middle of a struggle words such as “tomorrow” and “feeling better” seem so far away.

I believe that every human being has uniqueness and potential to lead a satisfying life. I have continually sought personal growth and professional training to strengthen my capacity as a therapist. People experience results and growth in working with me, learn to cope with depression, resolve anxieties, improve intimate relationships, increase capacity for self control, develop effective parenting and better understanding of their children, overcome trauma like divorce or abuse, achieve better school performance, social skills, and find peace in their hearts.

*Accepting new clients* I believe that each new day gives us an opportunity to bring us closer to the person we want to be. You may have found yourself feeling stuck, isolated, and overwhelmed. Counseling is an excellent resource that can provide you the support and guidance to work through your challenges.

**I AM UNABLE TO ACCEPT NEW CLIENTS AT THIS TIME** There are times when life can become overwhelming. Depression, anxiety, grief, loss, relationship problems, job related stress and other difficulties can cause one to feel alone and unhappy. It is during these challenging times that therapy can be a positive means of support, insight, and help in finding new ways of dealing with current and/or long-standing struggles and experiences.

Are you frustrated with your relationship ? Do you feel distant from your partner? Is the sex not going so well? Couples Counseling and sex therapy can help you move past barriers and teach you new skills that will enhance your relationship and improve sex life. Together, we can process concerns and work towards creating realistic and sustainable change. My clients include individuals, couples, and other relationship structures.

My intention is to assist individuals and couples to epiphanies and breakthroughs, helping to change their relationships, lives, and work from the inside out. I'm passionate about helping people cultivate power in places small and large throughout their lives — through thoughts, conversations, choices, and life transitions. I listen carefully to the conversations people have with themselves and with significant people in their life. I pay attention to where their thoughts and energy are moving and I translate what I am hearing into a road map of opportunities and choices which lead to having more of what you're wanting.

In seeking support, you have shifted your perspective toward growth and healing. Human beings are social creatures. We need others. We are hurt by others. We heal in relation to others. We all need support during the challenging times life throws our way. You may feel like you have been here before, and that's normal. You have likely tried countless approaches to resolve a conflict and have run out of solutions. Some days and some conversations feel impossible to start. You might call it stress, anxiety, fear, depression, or heaviness, or see those traits in your child or loved one. Whatever its name, your work has begun.

The Confidential Associates staff is highly experienced (over 60 years combined experience) and extensively trained. We stay current with the latest research/evidence-based treatments for such patient concerns as: Depression, Anxiety, Relationship Issues , Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Pre-Marriage Counseling, Communication Problems, Chemical Dependency, Anger, Stress, Self-Esteem, LGBT, Work Stress, Bereavement, Trauma, and Child/Adolescent Behavior Problems. To promote positive changes, we utilize a combination of interview, direction, and education to create a sense of trust and respect. This approach has been found to increase efficiency of the counseling process, which saves treatment time and costs.

I hold Master's degree in Counseling from Seattle University. I work with clients on relationship issues , co-dependency, separation, divorce and co-parenting, anxiety and depression, grief and loss, sexual trauma and major life transitions. It is my belief that the ultimate human need is connection and meaningful relationships. My desire is to help clients clarify feelings, improve communication, and strengthen and deepen connections.