Therapists in Rainier Valley, Seattle, WA

I work with parents and caregivers who are motivated to improve relationships and restore harmony to their lives. Do you wish your kid(s) would just cooperate? Are you tired of yelling, using bribery and/or punishment? Perhaps you've tried one or more of the popular parenting approaches, but without lasting success. Parenting children and adolescents is hard work, but it can also be fun and rewarding. I help parents who love their children, to like their children.

I have spots open! Are you finding yourself engaged in patterns that used to serve you but are now getting in your way? You’re dealing with a lot–from everything going on in the world around you and your own suffering too. You may be wondering if things can be better - to become your more authentic self. When people are well supported relationally, it creates an expansiveness for living. In our therapeutic relationship, we’ll examine patterns & systems that are keeping you from your full self. Together, we’ll work to make sense of your experiences, identify difficulties & integrate resources to find meaning to live a fuller life.

Are you creative? In transition? Depressed? Different? Parenting? Re-discovering YOU? Are you wanting to make changes in your life or to heal from old wounds? Do you want to develop self-compassion? Do you want to learn how to be present for your life, to learn mindfulness to help you through the tough times? If so, let’s see if we can create a compassionate, interactive and authentic therapeutic relationship to work collaboratively towards healing. In therapy, I can help you identify your goals, look at what is and isn't working for you, explore your stories, emotions, and experiences (past and present), develop new skills, and embrace your learning styles and talents. I also provide consultation and supervision to therapists.

I am an artist/poet turned therapist. My method is to slowly build a therapeutic relationship, uncover strengths, and move toward client-identified treatment goals. I support clients to externalize problematic narratives or inner states they are stuck in through creative mediums. Once clients are resourced and can see, and then interact with their patterns and parts they make changes. Together we discover and incorporate parts of the self that had to go underground due to trauma or oppression. Clients emerge from their work, whole and empowered.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington. I love having the opportunity to form meaningful connections with my clients. I have worked with individuals, couples, and families from birth to age 65. I have experience working with trauma, attachment, addiction, depression, anxiety, psychosis, mood disorders, relationship issues, phase of life issues, women’s issues, grief and loss, OCD, ADHD, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

UPDATE: I have room for 2-3 new clients that can pay out of pocket (I hate writing this, but it's the reality for therapists in the world of managed care).However, I am also diversifying my career and and am open to many clients as a trauma writing mentor/editor and more. Writing through healing is at least of equal value to psychotherapy. If you are interested in these services, visit me at www.elihastings.com) - I would be so delighted to work in tandem with other therapists, so please do consider if your clients might benefit!

Changes in relationships and life circumstances can bring about challenging feelings. I see folx for individual, couples, and sex therapy to help people navigate: high couples conflict, communication issues, trauma, anxiety, avoidance, trust issues, shame, infidelity/betrayal, desire discrepancy, erectile dysfunction, sexual avoidance and more. My clients usually begin therapy feeling stuck and fed up of where they are and are looking to learn, change, and transition to a place where they are satisfied in their relationships and have greater clarity, confidence, and peace within themselves.

I believe that humans are inherently relational. When our basic needs for love and safety are left unmet, we can experience loneliness, low self-worth, and mistrust in relationships. My focus in therapy is to highlight the cycles of pain you may find yourself and/or your relationship in, and to assist you in building greater self-awareness, sustainable coping strategies and ways of relating to others. I am passionate about helping my clients to develop greater self-compassion and deeper connections in their relationships.

My approach is tailored to meet your goals and may include helping you solve your problems, develop your strengths, and provide skills to increase your daily life effectiveness. Often, this process involves giving attention to the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and experiences that hinder living a balanced and meaningful life. My deliverance when working with clients is client-centered, collaborative, and non-judgmental.

I believe that every individual has the ability to make change, heal and grow. I will create a supportive environment where you will be heard, new skills can be learned and also practiced. My treatment methods are grounded in evidence-based models, while allowing for the flexibility to individualize to best meet your needs. I want to make therapy work for you and know that no approach is perfect for everyone. I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure, Mindfulness techniques and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Together we will decide what works for you.

Something feels unsatisfying right now. You may or may not know what it is that feels off or why you feel that way. You want to understand what's going on so you can live a fulfilling life.

I envision our work together to as a collaborative process of exploration, discovery, and progress. You bring to this process your unique perspectives, experiences, memories, worldview, and energy for growth. I bring extensive training and experience in psychological processes, assessment, life span development, understanding of how people change, and a genuine interest in helping you. Together, we will set goals and explore thoughts, feelings, experiences, and perceptions to further your personal development and psychological well-being. You will find me patient, attuned to your experience, and truly interest in understanding your perspective.

My therapeutic approach is relational, liberatory, collaborative and strengths based. I work with folks who are navigating life transitions, identity, gender and sexuality exploration of self/loved ones, chronic illness, workplace challenges, survivors of trauma, and those who want to understand how to make adaptations in their lives to support their neurodiversity. I am a queer, white, jewish, neurodiverse, 2nd gen american, parent, who lives with chronic illness. My ideologies are grounded in: social justice, fostering resilience, Black Feminist theory, Queer theory, a HAES model, and trauma informed practice.

Do you ever feel weighed down by societal expectations, like nobody understands you? Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by a big life change, such as starting college or adapting to life with a disability? Let’s talk about it!

I wish to serve people of color and other marginalized groups who are in need of healing and need assistance processing grief, loss, frustration and exhaustion from life's trials and adversities. I would love to work with individuals, couples and families who are ready to step into their power and reclaim their voice. I personally understand that being a person of color poses many challenges in this country and seeking help from clinicians who don't look like you or talk like you makes it far more difficult. I see you and I'm here for you.

I love helping people with anxiety, including panic, stress, social anxiety, OCD, and posttraumatic stress. I also help with issues that often come with anxiety, including insomnia, depression, alcohol/substance use, pain, and a desire for resilience. I primarily offer cognitive-behavioral therapies with good scientific backing, and I combine non-judgmental support + practical skills. Finding a therapist who is a good "fit” is important, so I offer a free 20-minute phone consult to help you decide if my approach is a good match for you. Apart from therapy, I offer professional coaching to help people do well + feel well at work.

I imagine that you are looking for a safe and trusting place to explore some of the issues that lead you to seek therapy. You may be seeking a non-pathologizing framework to help you focus inward and acknowledge how the burdens from the past might be playing a role in your current life. You may also be seeking a place to explore the meaning of your life and who you are at the core. I seek to offer a space for you to access a deeper understanding of yourself.

As people, we have not always been given the opportunity to address the intricacies of our mental health. We need to remind ourselves that we deserve to have a voice and tend to the vulnerable parts of who we are and what we experience in our lives. I focus my work on the lived experiences of my clients as I aim to decolonize therapy with a justice-oriented and strengths-based approach. I work with individuals to develop positive tools and resources to help improve their relational and individual wellbeing.

For over three decades I have been supporting individuals through challenging transitions in their lives.