individual and couples therapy
My passion is helping people move beyond life’s challenges by promoting self-understanding, learning how our minds work, and cultivating healthy relationships.
I’m a therapist in private practice in Seattle and Washington State. I created this site to share a little about myself so that you can consider working with me to develop yourself and your relationships.
Why you may have arrived here…
In the modern world, it’s easy to get pulled down in so many different ways – difficulties with our relationships, our minds, our bodies, our work, our cultures. Our relationships can sour into patterns of negativity. There may be specific traumas that haunt us. We sometimes get the sense that we are capable of a better life, but we’re not sure how to get there. We get stuck. We have stress from our careers, families, and health.
My role…
I help people conceptualize and achieve change.
We work to reconnect you with positive emotions and to find paths of personal growth.
Together, we build lives worth living – lives worth loving.
Therapy, counseling, coaching…
These things are deeply personal and utterly unique for each person. I draw from a wide range of evidence-based techniques and systems, crafting a process for you, your life, and your goals.
In our work together, we might
- learn about the common patterns that people get stuck in (I provide high-quality information about mental health unlike what is often presented on social media)
- develop skills and resilience
- build strategies to improve communication and relationships
- define well-being in your life
- apply a scientific perspective to understand what’s going on in your experience
- confront toxic aspects of our culture
- consider what science has revealed about how our minds work to help us get a more realistic perspective on ourselves, other people, and the world
- revisit events and people from your past
About
My Background
For more than 25 years, I’ve studied the human experience and the science how our minds work – and I’m still learning new things every day. We can apply these ideas to help us understand what’s happening in your life and to create a path forward.
More about me… Education, Qualifications, Trainings, etc.
My original training was as a cognitive scientist. I conducted research on the patterns of human thinking, such as memory, decision-making, and planning. I also taught university-level courses in cognitive psychology. Later, I worked with design teams in the tech industry as a researcher, helping to incorporate the perspectives of real users into the design process.
Ultimately, I became a therapist, with the goal of applying these ideas from psychology to help people live their best lives. This background gives me a deep focus on wellness and positivity and strengths, which is a strong contrast with a conventional disorder-centered model that many therapists have been trained with.
Education
Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Washington
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwest University
B.A. in Psychology, minor in Neuroscience from Miami University
Trainings
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for mood and depression
Integrative Relationship Therapy
Relational Life Couples Therapy
Anxiety: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches
ADHD: non-pharmacological approaches
Anger Management: mindfulness-based tools
Trauma: Somatic approaches
Grief and Loss
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) and Trauma
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Emotional Eating, Dieting, Bingeing, and Body Image
Mindfulness
Polyvagal Theory
License
Mental Health Counselor Associate in Washington State (LMHCA)
My Approach
Therapy is built on the premise that we need insight and self-awareness to heal and to grow, and this is especially true when we are dealing with difficult circumstances. From this expanded understanding of ourselves and other people, we can move to action and lasting change.
More about my approach…
The research into the effectiveness of psychotherapy strongly suggests that there is no single method that is “best” or appropriate for all people in all situations. That’s part of why I’m a lifetime learner, and I’m constantly expanding my knowledge and skills. I’m as flexible as I can be so that I can meet you where you are.
As a foundation, I use a wellness-based approach that helps us to appreciate strengths, to establish positivity, and to place focus on the values and goals of your life. I prefer for us to put energy into moving toward these things, rather than moving away from certain things. This emphasis helps us to grow in directions that are fulfilling and meaningful – that embody our best potentials and aspirations. My approach is in contrast to the disorder-centered and problem-focused approach of conventional psychology, that often leave people ruminating on what’s wrong and what’s missing from their lives.
At some times we need to explore ourselves, our relationships, and our past in order to uncover patterns and motivations – to conceptualize what’s really going on. At other times we know the direction we want to move in, but we need help to figure out how to get started or to keep up the momentum. We can apply a variety of techniques, strategies, and tools in different situations to help you move toward a rich and meaningful life.
Our Culture
Our culture has a way of covertly implanting its expectations into us. I work with people to actively consider whether these are the expectations that we want to have for ourselves. We often have to recognize our cultural influences and appreciate what they have given us. This then empowers us to move beyond that influence to live our best life.
Services
Individuals
These sessions help you conceptualize what’s happening in your life such as mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to trauma and relationship issues. I utilize evidence-based treatments to help you build resiliency, develop healthy coping skills, and live a meaningful life..
Couples
These sessions help partners deepen their connection, improve communication, and resolve conflicts. We identify patterns that may be causing distress and provide tools to help build a stronger, healthier relationship.
Families
These sessions help families build stronger relationships, improve communication, and resolve conflicts. Every family has unique strengths, and I work with families to identify those strengths and build on them to create a more positive and supportive family environment.
Contact
Call or send me a message to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation.
My goal is to help you take the next step that’s best for you: I can share what the research shows about effective therapy, and I have a few tips for choosing a therapist. Mainly, we’ll talk about what brings you to therapy and explore if we’re a good fit.
call or text 206.880.3952