Existential Therapists in Seattle, WA

I specialize in the treatment of trauma. If you are seeking therapy with the goal of moving beyond your past, I can help. You may find yourself responding in the same ways to the same triggers despite your best efforts to change. Together, we will gain insight into these patterns and develop a plan to create lasting improvements in your life. I believe everyone is deserving of support in their pursuit of wellness. I am here to assist you in your efforts toward meaningful change–whether that entails processing traumatic experiences, managing depression and anxiety, or you’re simply ready to take life in a new direction.

I specialize in spirituality, existential anxiety, identity, and grief and loss, in both teens and adults. I incorporate creative and dramatic expression in my work, including storytelling, role exploration, imagination, embodiment, spontaneity, and play. I support clients processing religious trauma; doubting, questioning, or exploring a faith; and entering or leaving a faith tradition. I help people navigate questions of meaning and purpose, and I work with them to deepen their experience of personal and cultural identity. When clients encounter loss and step into grief, I share in holding space for every stage of that pain.

Welcome. Are you looking for more joy and better relationships? My training has taught me to help people examine and describe the life they have, identifying areas in which they are "stuck," and reconnect to the life-goals that motivated them. Sometimes this stuckness has to do with certain feelings, sometimes it is about past traumas, often it shows up as repeating patterns in significant relationships, and sometimes it manifests as a malaise in which a direction in life seems impossible to find.

Hello! My name is Barbara and I am a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) in the state of Washington, with over 20 years of experience in the mental health and social work fields. I want to help you navigate your emotional journey towards well-being and personal growth. You may have felt like a "black sheep"- different from others, neurodivergent, unconventional, outside the norm, quirky, on the edge, or even a bit rebellious. Or you may be someone who has followed a more direct route in the past, and now find yourself dealing with the twists and turns of life transitions. I am here to help guide you on your unique path.

For me, “psychotherapy has to do with…people playing together.” My therapeutic approach is grounded in practicality, metaphor, and paradox. Whether you want to examine your relationship to archetypes and epic tales, investigate the mundane and extraordinary beauty in doing the dishes, or delve into your style of relating to another being: bring all of it - it is welcome and deserving of your attention. Fundamentally, I am fascinated by people - our stories, our journeys and our capacities for grace and awe.

*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.

Welcome to counseling; to be helpful lets regain access to inner wisdom for self advocacy through review of your strength base building practices by use of expressive arts therapy (life has been your stage), explore dreams (Adlerian therapies), explore play& traumas to connect with your inner child/teen or find your inner parent, track sensations with the mind, body and spirit for grounding purposes in our sessions. Welcome and thank you for adding me to your search!

I am a queer, sex-positive therapist with a passion for helping folks find greater ease, possibility, and liberation in their lives. Life and relationships are not one-size-fits-all; I help my clients to discover their own authentic truth and desires in the realms of sexuality, relationships, identity, work, creativity, spirituality, and more. I support my clients- individuals, couples, and polycules- in finding their own unique joy, fulfillment, and authentic path.

In seeking support, you have shifted your perspective toward growth and healing. Human beings are social creatures. We need others. We are hurt by others. We heal in relation to others. We all need support during the challenging times life throws our way. You may feel like you have been here before, and that's normal. You have likely tried countless approaches to resolve a conflict and have run out of solutions. Some days and some conversations feel impossible to start. You might call it stress, anxiety, fear, depression, or heaviness, or see those traits in your child or loved one. Whatever its name, your work has begun.

Emotions are often like water. They slip through our fingers, overwhelm us in crashes, ebb & flow like waves. Therapy can be a place to explore the depths of our emotional experiences, building our capacity to hold them, and our ability to learn from them. My training in existential phenomenological psychology provides my grounding, meaning your experience is central to our sessions. I approach therapy with an integrative practice, mixing theories and modalities to find the right tools for each person I work with. I will ask what has and hasn't worked for you in the past, and individualize our time together to meet your needs.

Are you struggling to live the life you want? Are you feeling sad, anxious, angry, or frustrated with your current situation? If so, I'd love to help! Through our work together, you can lead a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. I work hard to create a compassionate and safe environment that fosters personal growth and lasting change. During therapy, I challenge clients through open and active dialogue and observations. At times, I also find a hugely important part of my work involves helping clients accept what they cannot change to free themselves from being stuck in the past.

I believe the beauty in each of us is contained in both light and shadow, and strive to hold compassionate loving-kindness for all aspects of the paradoxical nature of being human. Together we will explore existing strengths, while encouraging growth, and holistic wellness. I am currently providing tele-mental health only, which means we will meet via a HIPAA compliant teleconferencing platform. Tele-mental health has benefits and draw backs; please visit my website, or contact me, for questions and additional information. www.spiracounseling.com

By fostering deep and genuine connections with my clients, I help them develop deeper and more genuine connections with themselves. By clarifying what’s true for you—your needs, desires, conflicts, and dreams—the next step for you to take becomes clearer and less effortful. Together, we will resolve the stressors, conflicts, and adversities that weigh you down in order to find your flow—a way of being that’s more natural, enjoyable, and true to you. No matter how alone you’re feeling, how daunting the challenges you're facing, or how long a particular issue has been draining you, we’ll face it head on and find our way through.

Therapy offers an opportunity for discovery, self-reflection, and ultimately transformation. I approach the therapeutic process with curiosity, genuineness, and compassion. Theoretically speaking, I draw from cognitive-behavioral and existential perspectives to help conceptualize your life journey and challenges. My overall style is warm and direct while honoring and recognizing the expertise you bring on your life to the counseling process.

I work with adult individuals of all ages and genders dealing with a range of issues. I especially love working with anxiety, existential concerns, grief, identity challenges, and struggles with family and relationships. I enjoy helping clients navigate life transitions and make meaning out of painful or challenging experiences. I view therapy as a collaborative process and I take a relational, client-centered approach.

I provide non-judgmental care for Sexual and Gender Outsiders. *NOTE* I do NOT return phone calls without a Voicemail message requesting a return call and letting me know if it is safe to leave a message. My additional clinical specialties involve working with the chronically ill and high-achieving clients who struggle with impostor syndrome and perfectionism. I am currently accepting new clients.

I work with adults who deal with anxiety, depression, social anxiety, identity formation, grief and loss, relationship issues, and life transitions. My goal is to help you make more intentional decisions about how you live, using your inherent strengths rather than letting outside factors determine your behavior. I am passionate about guiding you through this process, uncovering your true power, and letting your personal growth inspire and drive your progress. I also have a particular specialty and interest in working with artists.

I provide psychotherapy to individuals and families to promote growth and empowerment through supportive listening, mindfulness, and examination of past experiences, allowing clients to cultivate insight and bring about lasting change. I use a collaborative and dynamic approach that incorporates multiple theoretical approaches and techniques to meet both individual and family needs and preferences. I believe that insight alone does not bring about change; rather, we must do something different to become something different. I offer compassion, humor, honesty, and straightforward feedback while I empower individuals and families to explore their own goals and work toward growth and healing.

Welcome! As a counselor I am committed to creating a safe space for healing and growth where clients can share their stories. I work with adults (18 and up) who have difficulties related to anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma/PTSD, and identity. Additionally, I specialize in navigating multicultural issues. I am also passionate about women's issues, particularly women's health and the impact it can have on wellness. I am a board certified Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.