Relationship Issues Therapists in Seattle, WA

Your decision to enter the process of therapy is an act of trust that I take seriously and respectfully. I've had the privilege of assisting women, men, couples and youth as they work through the variety of experiences and challenges that make us human. Although I was initially trained in psychodynamic and attachment theory, we may incorporate any of several clinical approaches. What suits the client's needs and preferences is key. Together, we create a supportive atmosphere where what matters to the client can be expressed and explored. More satisfying and effective ways of moving forward can be nurtured.

Feeling connected in a highly individualistic society can be incredibly difficult, especially when dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma or PTSD, or grief. Therapy can be a helpful tool to orient us back to a world of belonging and it is my goal to help you find your own unique path toward this. I am passionate about helping individuals and couples heal relationship issues, identity related and women’s/men’s issues, as well as self-esteem issues, and more. I am whole-heartedly supportive of the LGBTQ+ populations, sex workers, and alternative relationship styles such as ENM, polyamory, and friendships.

I love working with people who have come to a place in their lives where they want to make changes. Something is not working and they want to create a life with more joy, freedom, love, and integrity. Perhaps they are struggling with depression and anxiety, traumatic memories, difficult relationships, or grief, or perhaps they simply have the sense that they are not living fully. I work with my clients to establish a trusting relationship where they can speak honestly of the matters that most impact them and the events where they have felt anger, fear, grief, and shame.

Life can hold much goodness, joy, and adventure, however we sometimes find ourselves feeling stuck in painful patterns or feeling lost. Maybe you are finding yourself or your relationships feeling disconnected, unfulfilled, or hopeless. I center my work around building an authentic and trustworthy therapeutic relationship where you can work through your life experiences, past or present, in a space of non-judgment and compassion. I offer individual or couples therapy and specialize in identity development and self-esteem, relationships, trauma, life transitions, and sex/sexuality.

Sometimes life poses challenges, and we need some extra support to get us through. Are you wanting to make improvements in your relationship? Or maybe with yourself? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Depressed? Stuck? Therapists at SCAW bring a diverse range of academic and clinical training to their work with adults, teens, and children. We provide individual, couples counseling, family therapy, and psychological testing.

Are you ready to begin making significant changes in your life? A trained professional can help stand by and guide you; you're not alone. I typically treat depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, adjustment, and relationship issues, but I was educated to work with a broad spectrum of mental health issues. During my training, I received specialized clinical experiences for working with survivors of traumatic events, have felt marginalized by society or their family systems due to their identities, career issues, relationship problems (e.g., loneliness, insecurity, preoccupation, attachment, etc.), and issues with body image and eating.

I provide in-person and virtual talk therapy for individual adults and teens. My clients struggle with interpersonal relationship issues, self-esteem, anxiety and many other life challenges. We all face challenges in life but sometimes we get stuck. We can usually identify patterns that negatively impact our relationships, work, and overall health. I support clients in exploring their unique patterns, creating purposeful solutions, and developing the confidence they need to design a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

My style is warm, genuine and open. Together we will take the time to listen to your inner and outer experience in order to better understand and attend to your unspoken needs, injuries, fears, and uncertainties. I work with individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship issues, relationship breakup, career and workplace issues, life transitions, abandonment, co-dependency, and loss and grief.

Those I work with describe me as receptive and kind, yet extremely engaged and at times even challenging. I am not a passive listener; my therapy work takes the form of an active, two-way dialogue. While my style is warm, informal, and truly nonjudgmental, I believe it is often essential for our default positions to be questioned within a safe context. Good therapy provides the help of someone trained to see and artfully communicate what we sometimes cannot see ourselves. The therapeutic relationship must be compassionate, open-hearted, and enjoyable, yet honest, even when such honesty is challenging.

I hold a deep regard and compassion for each individual and the ways they have learned to survive. I view therapy as a collaborative journey towards integration of self and expansion of the potentials already inherent in you. In line with this, I aim for our work together to be as liberatory as possible. I see you as the expert of your own story and as holding the potential for your own healing. In our time together we can work to uncover what gets in the way of your inherent ability to flourish, be it internal, relational or rooted in the social environment in which we exist.

Therapy offers a unique opportunity to engage you and the stories that have shaped you – to explore with curiosity and kindness, to be seen and heard, to heal and grow. Clients express a growing desire for more beyond familiar experiences that leave them feeling stuck or exhausted. They find that the courage to honestly tend to current hopes and struggles, including their past, to be a significant and meaningful decision. Relationships are deeply impactful in our lives, contributing to our development as well as our wounding; it is relationship that also fosters a foundation for healing and change.

Caught in a seemingly endless loop of arguments with your partner? Feeling like you're constantly walking on eggshells, afraid of triggering another conflict? You're not alone. Many couples experience challenging periods. But these patterns can and do change. I specialize in helping couples break free from their unhelpful conflict cycles, rekindle the spark that brought them together, and cultivate a relationship worth cherishing.

I am a clinical psychologist licensed in Washington state, and I work with both individuals and couples confronting a range of relational, behavioral, and psychological concerns. I approach therapy from an integrative model, focusing on tailoring treatment to each unique situation and history; but I tend to put the most emphasis on lifelong patterns of attachment, emotional experience, unconscious processes, and connection with self, others, and the world. First and foremost, therapy a working relationship, and so attending to the quality of that relationship is always a primary focus with anyone I work with.

My Mental Health Counseling uses Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) to assist individuals and couples in reaching their personal and relationship goals. EFT goes beyond addressing surface issues, targeting the emotional roots of mental health challenges. This method not only uncovers deep-rooted problems but also offers strategies to overcome recurring conflict and disconnection patterns. It empowers clients with the understanding and tools needed for building stronger connections and navigating life with enhanced emotional resilience.

The decision to seek therapy is often born with a profound desire to untangle one’s complex inner world — the emotions, relationships, and behavior that shape our lives. Life is filled with a range of experiences that influence the way we see the world and make meaning of the past. Rooted at the core of every experience is human relationship; relationships reflect pieces of ourselves and shape the complex beings we become. Fragments of our relationships become part of us, influencing and guiding our choices.

Relationships are so beautifully complex. The relationship that was created has the power to be your source of joy or your most painful place in life. Unfortunately, many couples decide to stay in their discomfort as opposed to seeking out help and potentially transforming their lives together. If your relationship hit a roadblock, if you feel hopeless for the future, or if you are seeking greater fulfillment in your relationship, I would love to help you.

I practice what I like to call relationship therapy. This means I work best with people who are psychologically-minded and want to develop a therapeutic relationship with me. Together (key word!) we seek to understand (another key word) the roots of your emotional distress. My belief is that these roots may be hidden or disguised, but never totally beyond one's grasp. Change is always possible.

Desiring to bring connection, healing and vibrancy back into your own life or your relationship? Have you and your partner begun to feel more like roommates than soulmates? Desiring to regain a sense of personal identity and purpose? Change is possible. I work with couples to move them from disconnection to a transformed connection. Individuals from mundane to whole-hearted living.

Clients who feel at home in my practice are seekers, empaths, gifted & successful types ready & willing to create lasting radical change. You crave meaning, fulfillment, integrated awareness & true intimacy with Self. You consistently move towards regulation & safety in relational frameworks through Conscious connection. You value holistic & traditional psychologies. You embody your light & shadow aspects. You believe the science of change, organization & healing requires repair on ALL layers & multiple psycho-spiritual methodologies. Women, Men & Couples struggling, stuck or lost, internally or in relationship, are core clients.