Experiential Therapy in Burien, WA

My therapy work is rooted in a systemic approach with children, adolescents, couples, and families experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parenting challenges, grief, etc... . Through my own identities and experiences as a 1.5 generation immigrant from the Philippines, being raised in Los Angeles, and as an educator for over 20 years, I understand the impact of harm and losses that carry from generation to generation caused by systems that are not made for us. They surface in our lives and within our relationships.

Hello, I help individuals, couples, or families navigate life's challenges, whether personal, with a partner, family, or peers. I specialize in couples and families regarding relationship complexities. You will find that I am respectful, personable, open, knowledgeable, and humorous in my sessions. All faiths, or lack thereof, are welcome. I am experienced with premarital counseling, grief, loss, trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, bipolar, schizophrenia, autism, and OCD. I enlist my clients' strengths or resources to improve their quality of life!

Our best contact method is via our website and using our inquiry form. We all experience challenges in our lives. Sometimes we feel stuck in unhelpful thought patterns or behaviors. Perhaps you are struggling in with communication in your relationships. Or you have been noticing an inability to focus. There may even be times where you feel like you don't understand who you are. No matter what is bringing you to therapy, you are not broken. We are all shaped by our experiences, and my job is to guide you as we explore these experiences together to try and make sense of them and heal. Let's start your journey today.

Every person, couple and family struggles from time to time. Sometimes, it is hard to get through these rough patches alone. Having a compassionate, supportive and inquisitive individual attending to your concerns provides a safe environment to create positive change. As a marriage and family therapist, I am able to partner with you in this therapeutic framework while exploring your interactions with significant others and society at large. If you are seeking help for your partnership, your family or an issue in your life, let's get started today.

LaDonna specializes in supporting women through life-stage transitions, those who have experienced trauma, couples seeking to develop a meaningful connection in their relationships, those with chronic illness, and helping clients integrate spirituality into the challenges of life. LaDonna enjoys assisting clients in unpacking through collaboration to bring renewed hope, healing, and restoration. This approach then helps clients differentiate between thoughts and feelings, to learn behaviors and skills to overcome life difficulties.

I offer 100% teletherapy for adults (individuals and couples). The foundation of my practice is based on attachment and guided by research and work by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. John Gottman. I am passionate about helping others strengthen and build secure attachments. My work is centered around treating anxiety, depression, women’s issues, self-esteem issues, trauma, grief, and attachment disorders. The treatment modalities I utilize are attachment-based, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), feminist perspective, the Gottman Method, motivational interviewing, and Trauma Focused-CBT to name a few.

Carrying the weight of anxiety, grief, disconnection from those around you, maybe even from yourself, can be overwhelming at times. It can be difficult to navigate these things alone. I believe in the power of the therapeutic, client-focused relationship as a catalyst for exploration and healing. My work with clients focuses on guiding people as they process life transitions, challenges and new opportunities. I walk alongside you in making a shift in your mindset to a place aligned with your core values and truth. I maintain a holistic perspective integrating mind, body, and spirit to empower every client in reaching his/her goals.

Welcome to my page and congratulations on taking the first step towards investing in your well-being. I hope to hear from you. Human experiences such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, family of origin issues, relational issues, trauma, abuse, and neglect can often lead to feelings of being stuck, social isolation, struggles with meaning making and spirituality, unmet needs, lack of self-awareness, incongruence, and hopelessness. Counseling can be an amazing resource in such times because we all deserve to be heard and seen in a safe place.

Life is full of transitions, expected and unexpected, and this can be hard on individuals and families as a whole. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I seek to help you cope, decrease emotional distress, and bring balance and meaning to your current situation. Being a therapist of color has equipped me to be sensitive, open and authentic to issues such as privilege, classism, oppression, racism, as they may relate to emotional pain and suffering. I believe that each person develops unique coping skills to deal with life’s stresses.

I hold a humanistic view of counseling and wellness. I believe everyone is equipped with the potential to heal and fully experience a life well-lived; however, this potential is sometimes stifled by our past hurts, present fears or a feeling of simply being stuck. While diagnostic language is sometimes helpful and appropriate, my therapeutic approach views human suffering through a non-pathologizing lens. I see humanistic, client-centered treatment as a more powerful, humane and effective alternative to the medical model of mental health care.