Therapists in Vancouver, WA

I specialize in couples, children, teens and individuals. I believe that everyone can reach an optimum state of health, counseling helps individuals and families reach healthy functioning in their relationships with others. I employ an integrative approach with a strong reliance on cognitive-behavioral aspects, emotion focused therapy, solution focused therapy, as well as some Jungian methods, such as sand tray therapy, and child centered play therapy. Sand Tray Therapy is a form of expressive therapy. This non-verbal method of therapy is often used with children, but can be applied to adults, teens, couples, families as well.

Welcome! People usually find psychotherapy when their old ways of coping no longer work and they get stuck in dysfunctional patterns or relationships. Therapy is a place where you can increase insight into those patterns, develop new tools and have more fulfilling relationships. I am a multi-faceted practitioner who believes in meeting people where they are at, and building on the strengths and resources that you already possess. It is possible to find joy in the darkest of places.

You're overwhelmed by your stress & anxiety, and frankly by emotions in general. Maybe people tell you that you are too sensitive, and you believe them. You hate that you feel so much all of the time. To protect yourself you work hard to "be normal." You try to keep your emotions in check by numbing, or over-doing, or holding yourself back, or isolating. What you don't know, yet, is your sensitivity is your unique gift, and that all of your strategies have served you well in the past, but may need a bit of an update to support you better as life continues to change and you continue to evolve.

You can overcome your emotional difficulties and become your best self. Change the things about yourself that you want to change and move toward becoming the person that you want to be. The secret of making lasting change is to acknowledge and accept that real change takes time and patience. There is no magic wand, change takes work, and commitment. It doesn’t matter where you are, what matters is where you can grow. Begin your journey toward wellness and strength by taking the first step.

Are you LIVING or just EXISTING? Depression, anxiety, fatigue, a sudden inability to manage stress, can erode your quality of life. At Healthy Thoughts Counseling we help guide you toward engaging in LIFE again. In some cases a brain injury can be a precipitating factor to the feelings of emotional disconnection. Brain injuries occur from a blunt trauma to the brain or stroke,residual damage can also occur with the occurrence of frequent severe migraines. Our services are not limited to Brain Injury, we provide marital/relationship counseling. We help you rebuild communication skills necessary to keep the relationship alive.

My name is Alexis Candelier, and I am a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). I was born and raised in the Greater Portland Metro area and returned to the Pacific Northwest 2 years ago after spending years in Los Angeles, CA attending graduate school and practicing in the field of forensic mental health. Prior to completing my education, I was a Military Police Officer serving in the United States Marine Corps (ooh-rah!), so I take pride in being able to serve my fellow first responders and all the Veterans struggling to make it as a “civilian” in these trying and unprecedented times in a culturally competent and supportive manner.

Life's challenges may overwhelm your ability to cope and leave you confused and distressed. As a skilled therapist, I can assist to make this time fruitful rather then just a time to get through. I provide a safe comfortable place to focus on your experience of life. You will receive kindness, respect and genuine caring. My approach is client directed,with compassionate inquiry and creative exploration, using collaborative problem-solving to assist you in restoring your balance and moving in a positive direction; often with deeper insight and a greater capacity for joy and contentment.

Deciding to seek out change and be vulnerable, demands respect and garners a therapist which will meet you where you are at in the change process. I am a therapist that loves to work with anyone with a desire to do something different in their life.

I am excited to have recently moved my practice from Portland to Vancouver, WA and am happy to provide care to clients who live in Washington,Oregon and California. I am able to teach people skills that will transform their relationships. I work with couples and families who really want to make changes in the way they relate to one another, helping them to understand that conflict is normal and natural. I also enjoy helping people who have been traumatized. My seven years at the VA Outpatient Clinic has well prepared me to work with those who have been traumatized, are depressed or are grieving.

Welcome to a therapeutic space where healing is holistic, and the mind-body connection is at the core of transformation. My practice is a sanctuary for those navigating the complexities of life, offering support for a range of challenges including trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, psychosis and existential crisis. In our collaborative journey, I see myself as a partner and guide, empowering you to explore the depths of your own potential for healing. My practice is rooted in the belief that each individual possesses innate ability to heal themselves. Together, we navigate the path towards unlocking the transformative power within

Counseling works best when there is an understanding of your concern and a plan of action for making positive change. I see counseling as a collaborative process; I will work with you to find ways of dealing with challenges that result in improvement for you, your partner, and for your family. My ideal client is curious about how they could live a more fulfilling life. I also enjoy working with reluctant or skeptical clients who may have had a bad experience in counseling before.

In life, we learn to do what we have to in order to survive. Sometimes that means finding skills to escape trauma that don't end up serving us in the long run. I am passionate about helping individuals nourish their mind, body and spirit to overcome trauma, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, addictive behaviors, poor self-image and other mental health struggles. I believe in helping my clients feel empowered to trust their instincts and create coping skills, self love, and a life they don't want to escape from.

If you are seeking guidance, it takes courage and strength. Whether you are struggling to adjust to a life transition, finding it hard to make changes last, or just ready to face your past, you do not have to find your way alone. Your thoughts, feelings and behaviors may feel overwhelming and impossible to understand or connect but I can work with you to create a space for change and help you find relief from the suffering.

I value being real and supportive at the same time. I love what I do as a therapist and believe in being safe, trusting and accepting, no matter what may come! My office is (ever so slightly) cluttered and often gets the term "homey & comfortable" Dogs are welcome as well, due to their positive therapeutic benefit for their people (owners, minders & guardians). I value humor (when appropriate...granted, that's open to interpretation, right??!!) and use it as the situation arises, as in a give-and-take dynamic relationship. Life-long gamer & D&D geek, btw. :)

Sometimes, our trauma responses cause us to not make the changes we wish to see in our lives. Sometimes, it feels like no matter what we do, we're getting further away from our goals. I want to help you process your past so that you can have the future you desire. As a counselor, I help you to understand the patterns that have been present in your life, and how they're currently affecting you. I help you to find the courage, awareness, and strength within yourself to make different choices to get the life you desire.

Counseling has a well-earned reputation for being a messy, frightening process. But you already knew that, and you came here anyway. I've treated a wide variety of struggles and time and time again the one trait I've seen lead to success is the willingness to, as Ms. Frizzle used to say, "take chances, make mistakes and get messy." So, if that's what you're here to do, then let's get to work.

We at Real Life Counseling are a group practice. We believe that everyone deserves counseling tailored to fit their needs. We enjoy the opportunity to teach and advise the people who come to our practice. The goal is to empower people to use their strength and wisdom to overcome their challenges and find solutions.

Currently accepting new clients. Trauma, attachment + identity impact people in different ways. Do you often feel detached or numb? Do you avoid thinking about the past or self-medicate? Are you concerned about your parenting? Do you often find yourself in difficult relationships? Are you concerned about your memory? Do you feel sad or anxious a lot? Are you "stuck" in the same pattern? Do you have trouble trusting people? Are you irritable most of the time? Do you feel like you don't know yourself or your purpose? Do you feel incomplete or want meaning in life? If you answered yes to any-I believe I could be a good fit for you.

I primarily work with people who are working to overcome porn addictions, are struggling with self-worth, or are generally overwhelmed with stress and difficult emotions. I also enjoy working with people who want to integrate their faith into their therapeutic work. I strive to provide a non-judgmental, down-to-earth environment in which to address the issues that may feel embarrassing or shameful to broach, and earnestly want to help you reach your goals, and cheer for and encourage you every step of the way, while teaching tips and tricks that might make the process smother and easier for you. I'd love to meet you!