Self Esteem Therapists in Lake Tapps, WA

Hi, I'm Wendy and I provide counseling to children, adolescents, adults, and Seniors. I use a strength based integrative approach that sees each person as unique. I pull from a variety of models including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Mindfulness, Humanistic, Sports, and Positive Psychology. I work with many challenges individuals face addressing emotional, behavioral, and social needs; such as anxiety, depression, domestic violence, attachment disorders, ADHD, and more. I want to help you become empowered by further discovering your inner strength, beauty, purpose, and passion.

The first step to healing is recognizing that you need support reaching your desired emotional and mental wellness. Choosing a therapist you can connect with is critical to successful treatment. When working with clients, I use a non-judgmental collaborative approach while receiving authentic validation of life struggles and also encouraging clients to move toward change and healing. My expertise includes helping client process loss, navigating through life stressors, and adjusting to life transitions.

I am a father, a husband, Lakota, gay, cisgender, a believer in the immense beauty of nature & strength of the human spirit, and a person committed to helping make our world a better place. I know well what it means to live in depression, to find oneself spiraling out of control and into mania, to attempt self-defeating “self-medicating,” and to eventually look around at a life in tatters. These experiences make me a stronger, more empathetic therapist, and I know I have been tremendously lucky to discover and be able to pursue my passions – to find true meaning in how I move through the world. I want to help others do the same.

I understand that relationships and connections with others can sometimes be difficult. My purpose is to help clients explore their frustrations and help them make meaningful connections with their natural supports. Communication and trust are important qualities to me as a therapist and in all aspects of life. They are the foundation of my work and drive therapy towards healing and positive outcomes. .

My goal with clients is to assist them in finding their unique path towards feeling better. I assist clients with a number of challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress/trauma, coping, grief, intrusive thoughts, and boundaries. My allyship to diverse communities is essential to my work, and I value my connections with African American, LGBTQ+, kink, polyamory/consensual non-monogamy, & faith-based communities. By understanding who you are as a person, we will uncover what therapy options best suit you.

Whether it is to self or others, Amanda believes that a sense of connection is where individuals thrive best. She focusses on cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual aspects that impact everyone’s relationship to self and others.  Amanda brings a warm and accepting approach where individuals feel safe and understood. She works from a strengths-based perspective allowing individuals and families capitalize on already existing skillsets to further their journey in healing and evolving.

My therapeutic approach is evidenced based. We will identify your goals and work on empowering you to overcome obstacles that may be in your way. The therapeutic experience will develop more effective personal skills to improve every aspect of you're life. I have worked in the helping profession since 2010, serving adults and teens in several different roles. I have experience working with daily stressors, beginning college life, emotion regulation skills, stress, and negative self-talk.

Owing my story and loving myself through the process is one of the greatest things that I have done. My passion is to help you define your story, start your journey of self-love, and become your holistic self without limitations. I will meet you where you are emotionally and cognitively and work with you through a multi-cultural lens.

Life is hard sometimes. Sometimes things happen to us that are beyond our control. Sometimes we just have thoughts and feelings that won't go away. Sometimes we end up hurting those around us because we don't know what else to do or how not to react to our thoughts and feelings. Whether your goals are to reduce anxiety, depression, process trauma, strengthen your relationships all to live your best life.

In our present lives, due to the high levels of stress, so many individuals of every age are suffering with their mental health. Our mental health is a vital part in living a quality life. The first step is always the most difficult in anything we do, especially when it comes to letting others know we need help. That first step towards positive mental health involves the realization, that you may need another person to come along side of you, to assist in leading the way forward.

There are times in our lives when we experience emotional distress which makes meeting our everyday responsibilities challenging or interferes with our happiness. Emotional distress may be due to a transition such as a job loss or even a new profession, the loss of a loved one or the birth of a newborn, a relationship breakup or the start of a new relationship, or it could be trauma you have experienced now manifesting itself as emotional distress in your life. There are times when we can handle the negative emotions we experience such as sadness, emptiness, loneliness, or anxiousness and other times we may need some help.

I am passionate queer ally and an advocate for change. I am a licensed mental health counselor associate and hold the credential for Substance Use Disorder Professional. Advocacy is my passion. I consider myself an expert in trauma treatment and the field of addiction & recovery. I have flexible hours using a virtual setting to accommodate work schedules and allow counseling to be your priority. I work with children, teenagers, and young adults.

As far as others can tell, you’re rocking this thing called life. But, on the inside, you’re struggling with feelings like inadequacy, shame, and overwhelm because despite how hard you work to keep it together, keeping it together is feeling more and more out of your reach. You’re feeling stuck, and it’s taking a toll on other areas of your life, like your relationships, your work, or your health. You’re less connected to your friends and loved ones, you’re always tired, it’s hard to concentrate or focus, and you find yourself feeling anxious or down. You’re tired of keeping this to yourself, and it’s time for a change.

You feel overwhelmed and stuck…with disordered eating, self-criticism, traumatic memories, or ADHD paralysis. You’re someone who is insightful and motivated but still find yourself trapped in harmful patterns, feeling out of control and unsure about what to do next. Your life might feel like it's slipping away from your envisioned path with losses in relationships, opportunities, and joy overshadowed by these struggles. But you’re ready for something different. You’re ready to uncover and heal from old wounds. Most of all, you’re ready to reclaim your power from harmful patterns. Together we can work toward this!

I am also certified as a Mental Health Counselor in Taiwan (Certification# 002153), specializing in emotional distress, family conflicts, trauma, stress, self-exploration, adapting to life, personal relationships, etc., and provide services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Through various medium, such as Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Play Therapy, clients are assisted to understand and express their inner thoughts, hence manage and improve perplexity triggered by emotions and life.