Therapists in Federal Way, WA

Hi and Welcome! Therapy can be a challenging process and I thank you for your courage in stopping by. I find value in collaborating with individuals to reach their self actualization and I believe in person-centered therapy and strength-based therapy to help individuals work towards their mental health stability and well-being.

I completed training in traditional or secular therapeutic approaches to Psychotherapy obtaining a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology. Additionally, I have obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Leadership and Counseling. Finally, I am also Licensed as a Chemical Dependency Professional also known as a Substance Use Disorder Professional.

Therapy sessions with NIO Counseling are a non-judgmental environment and the client is not just another client. The individual or family blazes the trail and we are in the accompanying seat in reaching the goal of therapy, through clinical guidance that encourages all to thrive during and after therapy sessions. There is a focus on family systems theory and the unit's complex interaction as the basis for treatment. Anxiety, stress, fear, isolation, being overwhelmed, being out of control in everyday circumstances, and the feeling of loss or the unknown can be unbundled for a more productive and fulfilling living. Hope is here!

Therapy is where you come to reflect on life decisions and experiences and I am here for you through those moments. I would describe a session as being insightful and meaningful even if it is in subtle ways. We may spend some time talking about your daily life, or big things; some days it may feel like a big breakthrough happened and others, a casual conversation. All the things brought up are important to allow you and I to build a therapeutic relationship and to feel comfortable. Everything that you talk about contributes to your growth, even if it is not tangible yet.

I am here to walk with you as you address the hard stuff that has been keeping you stuck. As a trauma-focused and informed therapist, I know how hard it can be to feel like your past is continually weighing you down, impacting the way you are living your life, and how your make decisions about your future. Our bodies are primed to move forward in our lives based on what has worked in the past. However, the past approaches, patterns, and habits are no longer working for you. It's time to discover what it can be like to leave the past in the past, and to step forward towards the life and relationships that you want.

I enjoy working with children, teens, young adults, parents, families, and groups. In addition, I also act as a consultant to various schools in the King County area. My education and clinical training is focused on providing treatment and assessment services to children, adults, and families presenting with a diverse range of emotional, medical, and neuro-psychological difficulties. Furthermore, I have worked extensively with children on the autism spectrum for over 15 years. I utilize both a Cognitive Behavioral & Family Systems approach in my clinical work.

Offering insight in a safe, accepting environment can be a game changer. In this loud and confusing time we live in it's important to explore your internal resources, acknowledge your own wisdom and develop the skills you lack. That's what we do in my practice. The goal of treatment is to empower you in every way to take control of your life and soar above the obstacles becoming who you were meant to be.

I provide counseling services to all communities and specialize in non-monogamous relationships, individuals who have participated in the erotic trade industry and the kink and queer communities. My goal is to combat stigmas impacting marginalized communities by creating access to mental health resources. These stigmas create barriers to treatment, contribute to a lack of culturally competent therapeutic resources, infringe upon a person's bodily autonomy and contribute to discriminatory incidents.

I thrive when working with clients who are exploring gender identity, neurodivergence, and/or relationship issues. My aim is to create an open, non-judgmental and collaborative space where we can process what's going on in your life. You may be dealing with past trauma, expectations of society, your family, culture, or a religious upbringing. I believe it is imperative to have a space where you can be heard and validated as your authentic self. I utilize a social justice framework that reflects on how systems of oppression impact us. How can we cope while these systems are activating our nervous systems and dimming our spirit?

Don't settle with letting another year go by thinking/wishing there is more to life, love & relationships. This is YOUR year to increase your knowledge and skills as we practice in session how to grow towards your desired goals, meet your/each other's needs more effectively & add meaningfulness to your life & significant relationships! Therapy with a "good-fit" therapist can make a life-enhancing difference! Together, we'll explore creative, personally tailored solutions to what currently distresses you: at home, at work, relational strain, family of-origin challenges and even the possible stress related to current news and events.

I believe that everyone has to cope with life changes, relationship struggles, substance abuse, and other mental health issues and sometimes, finding a successful way to cope with these changes can be hard. I strive to work collaboratively with people who want help to understand the life changes and develop strategies to cope. Therapeutically, I work with clients from a humanistic, client-centered ideology. However, I do not believe there is only one approach to working with someone and instead prefer to collaborate with clients to find an approach that works for them to make counseling a successful experience.

Do you feel like you’re constantly on alert, that you just can’t make things work anymore? It may seem like there’s no one who gets it. Perhaps you grew up having to be “in charge” because your parents weren’t or couldn’t be. Perhaps you’ve had your worldview shattered—by family, by religion, or by extraordinary/anomalous experiences you don’t talk about for fear of being laughed at or even called crazy. It can be exhausting. And it can be scary to reach out to a therapist because you want to make sure you won’t be judged, that they’ll understand, and most of all that they’ll be able to help.

Do you struggle with feeling disconnected from yourself and others? I want you to know that I can help and that you are not alone. I help people find their future and reach their maximum potential. I work with a diverse clientele that includes individuals, couples, adolescents, and families. Counseling is available for relationship problems, conflicts, career and lifestyle changes, life coaching, anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief and loss including pet loss, and low self-esteem. I use a person-centered approach drawing from several different modalities but most importantly is matching the right modality to the client's needs.

Therapy is a vehicle of exploration of your higher self. Clients are encouraged to assess their overall functioning across the life domains to identify their healing/wellness opportunities. Trauma exposures are often stored in the body and can manifest in maladaptive ways such as low self-esteem, shame, anger, interpersonal conflict, impulsivity, stagnation, anxiety, depression, and demoralization. Accordingly, I approach therapy from a collaborative perspective encouraging clients to discover their medicine by honoring their truth and intrinsic value.

I am a mental health counselor who believes therapy is a process in which you will gain greater self-awareness, that can change how you live in the world and relate to others. We all have issues from our past, big and small traumas, being triggered by our current situations that prevent us from living a more meaningful life. Creating healthy connections with the parts of you that are challenging, builds the resources for you to be more authentic and comfortable in your own skin. By doing this, you find your strengths and face your fears.

My clients want change and growth in their lives and/or their relationships, but they often don't know where to start. Or, they might have made the enormous first steps of moving towards change and growth only to feel stuck and unsure of how to move forward. My clients find that within the experience of being truly heard, accepted, validated, and supported, that the door between where they are and the change they want begins to unlock and slowly open. My approach focuses on unlocking and discovering the strengths that we don't always realize we have, on building new coping skills, and on creating new understanding and connections.

**I have a few times available this summer. Please inquire to see if those times may work for you!** Are you feeling 'stuck,' disconnected, or having troubles with stressors in your life? When we're feeling disconnected to those around us it challenges the way we think about ourselves and our world. I invite you, your children, or your whole family to come and reconnect with yourself and/or those around you. Together we can create a peaceful, judgment-free space to explore your thoughts and experiences at your own pace and in your own way.

The first step in the therapy process is building a therapeutic relationship based on trust and compassion. I offer a down to earth approach that recognizes your struggles and your strengths. Growth occurs when we believe that we are truly accepted for who we are right now. When this happens, we are better equipped to see what we may want to hold onto and what we may want to shift. I will think creatively with you as this process unfolds and provide a safe place for you to think, feel and construct meaning of your experiences.

7/15/2024 - Openings for +individual clients+. One of the most important parts of therapy is forming a trusting and compassionate therapeutic relationship. From that, my approach is person-centered. Focusing on an understanding of your feelings, beliefs, thoughts, behaviors, experiences and goals. Providing a safe space for you to explore, process, grow, challenge yourself and make the changes you want. I will walk along side you, providing support, skill building and at times asking the challenging questions that often are left unsaid, make us uncomfortable, and that in the end, help us most to grow into who we want to be.