Grief Therapists in Lake Forest Park, WA

Everyone has the capacity to change no matter what their present difficulty, and adversity can offer a new chance for growth. I am an experienced, non-judgmental clinical therapist devoted to helping my clients improve their quality of life.

I am a licensed Marriage (Couple) and Family Therapist and an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor with over 30 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families from a broad range of ethnic, cultural, physical health, gender, socio-economic and sexual diversity. My experience includes many persons and families challenged by high conflict and multiple interlaced problems. I have extensive experience helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and the impact of grief, trauma and challenging relationships and/or a family member's chemical dependency.

I believe that when you have compassion for yourself, a better understanding of your motivations, and a safe place to process your feelings, you can make positive changes and reclaim your mental and physical health. I was trained as a therapist and a dietitian. My training and experience equips me to help you achieve your health goals.

I am passionate about supporting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate life's challenges and transitions. My practice focuses on helping clients develop effective coping strategies to overcome challenges related to anxiety, depression, relationships, and family dynamics. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, my primary areas of focus include: distress related to attachment, identity, and adjustment issues, as well as communication difficulties, relationship concerns, healing from traumatic experiences, and family dynamics.

Former Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, once wrote, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” As a mental health therapist associate from South Texas, I realize that therapy goes beyond the diagnosis realm and into a wider space of understanding, attunement, and healing. Renowned physician, Gabor Mate asserted that healing does not rely on getting rid of the pain but in increasing one’s capacity to be resilient to it. I honor you as a human, with many parts and crevices that showcase your authentic self. My approach is geared toward helping you feel seen, heard, and empowered; Be Here Now.

While my initial focus was concerns of young people through early adulthood, over the years I have extended my range, and presently work with all ages and development. I deal with problems from normal developmental issues to serious psychological disorders. My interests also include developmental disabilities, parenting, and the special concerns of very able individuals. I work with individuals, families, and groups. As appropriate, I employ a variety of treatment modalities, including behavioral, cognitive, and insight-oriented, with emphasis on understanding clearly clients' needs, collecting useful information, and coming up with positively-oriented plans that fit them as well as being most likely to work.

The problems and desires you bring to therapy are invitations to heal and grow. I'll help you respond to those invitations with creativity, vitality, and hope. Jung wrote that "The greatest and most important problems in life can never be solved, only outgrown." Such problems, he continued, "fade when confronted with a new and stronger life urge." I'll help you find those new, stronger, deeper, more authentic parts of yourself, and bring them to life.

In psychotherapy much depends upon the rapport. You must feel comfortable with the therapist and hopeful about the therapy. When you feel this way, therapy is more likely to be helpful to you. I have been practicing clinical psychology since 1977. I focus on the interplay between our internal world and our relations with others. Not restricted to one approach, I integrate a range of useful change strategies including interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral. Psychotherapy is both an educational process and an interpersonal process. Each person’s experience is unique. I have special interest in eating disorders, relationship disturbances, depression, and stress.

Are you tired of diet culture ruling your food choices and body image? I collaborate with clients on rebuilding safe relationships with their bodies. I am a weight-neutral, Health At Every Size (HAES), and Intuitive Eating provider that specializes in Binge Eating Disorder and Orthorexia. I also enjoy supporting women with anxiety and chronic health conditions. As a holistic therapist grounded in feminist and systems theories, I identify and treat underlying concerns rather than masking symptoms. I aim to create a courageous space for you to explore and reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit.

I have over 20 years of experience working as a mental health counselor in the State of Washington. My areas of expertise include individual, couple, and family therapy. My specialties are PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Also, I have been facilitating different groups for 20 years and a DBT group for 9 years. All of the clients who have committed themself to this DBT class have learned some specific DBT skills that they can apply in their daily lives when they feel depressed or anxious.

I view therapy as a collaborative relationship. By providing a respectful, judgment-free atmosphere, I hope you will feel comfortable sharing the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are concerning to you. Through this cooperative and supportive process, my goal is that you will better understand and have compassion for yourself. It is my privilege to work with couples, individuals, families and clients in nontraditional relationships to help navigate life's challenges. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy and I use a variety of techniques from biological, psychosocial, sexual and spiritual perspectives.

Limited appts avail: Families are facing difficult feelings in these unprecedented times, challenging their sense of wellness & in creating safety resilience & peace. Adjusting to new situations within one's life includes finding coping skills to lessen the impact on your mental & physical well-being. I offer support to children, teens, adults & parents as they navigate their feelings, relationships, and place within their community, school & family. I promote the balance of mind, body & spirit utilizing compassionate holistic interventions, honoring inner strength, individuality & respecting multiculturalism.

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.

I believe that every human being has the right to move towards their hopes and dreams to achieve the best quality of life and all it has to offer.

*Full and not taking clients at this time*Welcome! I am a licensed mental health counselor. My practice area of focus is on women and caregivers. Issues I work with include life transitions, relationship dynamics, parenting, pregnancy and postpartum. I often work with caregivers and individuals who may identify with patterns of being emotionally sensitive and highly attuned to others. Clients who come to me are motivated to learn more about themselves and to notice repeating patterns and dynamics in their life. The therapy frameworks I turn to most often include psychodynamic, existential and mindfulness approaches.