Therapists in Washington

“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” ~ Roy T. Bennett It can be very difficult to take the first step to seek counseling. My intent the moment you walk through the (virtual) door is for you to feel safe, cared for, listened to, and above all, understood. I am not here to judge or condemn. We all have our stuff. Life gets messy. Life can be complicated. We all need help. I am a people person, which means you have value, simply because you are. I am empathetic, I listen, I am real, and I can help. My strengths are to first earn your trust, so you can feel heard and understood, and then to build self-esteem and confidence back into your life, utilizing real life skills that can help you with what you need. I believe we are put here on this earth to take care of each other. I have the education, extensive training, background, tools, and strategies to help you get your life back on track. But, more importantly, you are taking the first step toward healing. I honor your bravery in taking this step, thank you for trusting me in this process. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I am a family and marriage therapist trained clinician that holds a license in mental health counseling. I have worked with a variety of clients in different settings that present with a wide range of concerns, to include depression, anxiety, relationship issues, legal issues, substance use, OCD, and ADHD. I also helped many people who have experienced post traumatic trauma related to the military, as well as PTSD not associated with the military. My therapy style tends to be more direct. I don't believe in stigmatizing labels and I believe everyone can overcome whatever concerns they seek to improve. My approach combines CBT, DBT, and Solution Focused treatment with other modalities as needed. I will work with you to determine your goals and a treatment plan to ensure the goals set by you are met. Now in particular presents with challenging times that have magnified mental health needs, but also opened new opportunities for people to seek help. It is brave and empowering to take that first step to improve ones self. I look forward to working with you!

Welcome to my Therapy Room. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working in Mental Health. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including refugees, geriatric, chronic mental illness, relationship issues, and trauma. I have had special training in diagnosing Adults on the Autism Spectrum using the ADOS 2. I have had training in sex therapy and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy as well. I can supervise other therapists/students in WA state and discuss cases with colleagues as required per your code of ethics. My therapy style is person centered and solution focused. I believe you already have answers within you but may need someone to shine a flashlight on parts that may be hidden or buried. I will tailor our dialogue to meet your unique and specific needs. I am an introvert and will be more of a listener and guider. My style is not as interactive and upbeat as compared to an extroverted therapist. I am straightforward and go straight to the work in most cases, rather than spending lengthy time on small talk. I am part of the LGBTQ+ community. I came to this country as a refugee in the 1980s and am a survivor of trauma. Age is important to clients so I will disclose I am in the 40s age range. My hobbies, include hiking, board games, reading, drinking tea and playing with cats. A little explanation on how I use different therapies: Somatic- helping you locate the feeling in the body and describing it based on a feeling meditation that originates from Eastern philosophies (this is a common technique used by therapists in recent years) CBT- working on thought distortions. Specifically, I like to teach a session on 12 common thought distortions and help you identify how they show up for you. ACT- working on seeing things can be both this way and that way, it's not black and white. We add the word "and" rather than "or" to your view of the world. AEDP- exploring how anxiety is really a cover for other emotions such as disappointment, rage, fear etc. Compassionate Inquiry- identifying how the emotional flashbacks (aka triggers) you are experiencing now are related to things that took place in the past. Awareness leads to initiation and we work on no longer letting these patterns take control of your life. Therapist self disclosure with personal stories that relate to yours is necessary. (this goes against some older styles where therapists didn't self-disclose) Motivational Interviewing- looking at how your goals don't match your current behaviors. Regular talk therapy and venting is great too- it helps me reflect back your patterns to you. For instance if you say a certain phrase frequently I will point this out to you. Poetry- I enjoy mixing in poetry when it pertains to certain issues and especially if you are a writer/poet. Shadow Work- exploring your unconscious patterns and stored memories and how they affect your way of thinking. Please take advantage of the journal feature. If you share it with me I may comment and we can discuss highlights during our sessions. I am ok with you having to multitask/snack/cook/text as long as you are dressed appropriately and engage in therapy. While we try our best to have a professional setting, sometimes working from home entails apartment noises, and a less than perfect setting. I may eat a snack or use my standing desk and exercise my feet for health reasons. If you are here for relationship struggles I will ask you and your significant other to take the Gottman Relationship Checkup which will cost $39 per couple. It will give us a comprehensive map of areas to focus on. Please do not pay for this test before you see me, the one that therapists use is very different than the one people get when they self-refer. My sessions are 30 to 45 minutes. We can see how the session is flowing and the stopping point will occur naturally for each session. However the minimum is 30 minutes. I can't accept less than that due to financial reasons. Betterhelp is great because you have an unlimited chat service available 24/7 and when you schedule sessions, you can choose between phone, video and chatroom (livechat). So if you had a video session booked but it turns out you are at the doctor's office- we can quickly make it a livechat or if you are driving we can make it a phone call. It's easy to switch on my end. I look forward to meeting you!

I am licensed in Washington with 18 years of professional work experience. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). I obtained my Master's Degree in 2005 in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and my Bachelor's Degree from St. Martin's University in 2001. I have spent over 10 years working in the community mental health system whereby I earned both my Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS) and Mental Health Professional (MHP) designations. I utilize a client-centered approach to therapy, emphasizing the individual strength and resources of each client, in addition to a systemic theoretical focus, which is a theoretical orientation that acknowledges the complex interaction between individuals and their World around them. I utilize a wide range of treatment approaches, choosing the most effective for the issue involved, which include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), insight-oriented therapy models, and narrative & experiential therapies. I primarily work from an experiential theoretical orientation, which emphasizes the importance of understanding, embracing, and coming to terms with one's feelings. I work with individuals, children, adolescents, couples, and families. I believe the therapeutic relationship is paramount to change. The primary areas of treatment that I focus on include depression, anxiety, stress, relationships/marriage issues, trauma, anger management, communication issues, and life transitions. I enjoy helping others become motivated, increase positive self-esteem, and exude confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Washington state as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and in Texas as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. I have over 15 years of professional work experience in a variety of settings to include both inpatient and outpatient facilities. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and other issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey. Brenda

I am licensed in Washington with 44 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Washington with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & intimacy related issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

My pronouns are he/him. My approach to counseling is as a partner to walk with someone towards a place of healing. I utilize a trauma informed, person centered approach to help others realize their potential and work closely with them, on the path of their choosing, to help them achieve their goals. I find that it is vital to the counseling relationship that we honor the unique experiences of all individuals and recognize the strengths that have brought them this far. I have personal experience with addiction and recovery that I believe enhances my ability to connect with others who are struggling. I specialize in working with individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQUIA2S+ community, those who are experiencing issues related to addiction, those who have experienced varying degrees of trauma, and those seeking gender affirming counseling and support. My primary therapeutic approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Solution Focused Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I understand that treatment is not "one-size fits all" and believe that in order to achieve long lasting change we must develop a plan of care together.

Hello, My name is Brandi Sewell and I am Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas. It takes a lot of courage to decide to go to therapy, so I commend you for showing up for yourself! I believe that a lot of my client’s success is attributed to their willingness to process through and confront uncomfortable habits/situations. One of my greatest priorities and passion is to ensure that your mental and emotional health needs are met. I look forward to working with you, Brandi Sewell, M.A. LPC

I am licensed in Washington with 16 years of therapy experience. I focus on helping clients with stress management, anxiety disorders, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and self-confidence, and depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story, and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey. I utilize evidence-based treatment practices that have shown to be consistently effective in treating mental health conditions.