Group Counseling

Group counseling can be an enriching, powerful experience. Through group counseling we can gain support from others, learn lessons from others and the leader, learn to effectively communicate, and practice living in more valued ways. Group can look a few different ways. More information is soon to come to the website about groups that are available. 

Individual Counseling

The majority of first time clients do not know what to expect in counseling and sometimes even hold fearful or pessimistic expectations about it. It is essential that you have your questions answered and that you are able to learn more about what counseling is, what success requires, and you determine whether this is a time in your life you are committed to the process. I would be happy to speak with you about your concerns, my services, and whether we could be a good fit. Contact me at 425-232-1948

I provide individual counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults. I am a generalist, meaning that I have been trained to effectively work with clients presenting with most issues. I especially appreciate working with grief, anxiety disorders, PTSD due to sexual and/or physical abuse, depression, adjustment disorders, phase of life transitions, pain/disability, athletes, academic and athletic performance enhancement, job search self-efficacy, low self-confidence, and men and masculinity issues. 

Depressive Disorders:

Low mood is a part of most people's lives at certain phases or in response to certain triggers. Low or depressed mood can be a part of other diagnostic considerations like whether it is specifically in response to adjustment, grief of a loved one, or other causes like being the victim of abuse, bullying, or neglect. When treating depressive disorders it is first important to determine its cause and diagnose the symptoms as a depressive disorder or another issue like the ones listed above. When treating Major Depressive Disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been found to be an effective treatment. Furthermore, it has been shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with an antidepressant medication is more effective than a medication alone. I am happy to work with your medical provider to ensure collaborative care as you work to reach your goals. 

Anxiety Disorders:

There are a number of anxiety disorders. These fear/arousal based disorders dominate people's lives. Many people cope by just ignoring or avoiding the feared activities/situations/thoughts/objects as long as they can. For example with social anxiety disorder, you may find that you begin to feel especially worried/anxious as you are thinking about or actually engaging with people. You may notice that it is difficult to control this worry and you fear that you may be judged by others for seeming anxious or making a mistake. This may lead to you staying to yourself, which may allow you to survive, although it robs you of the opportunity to thrive; to live; to make and maintain strong connections; and live a meaningful life. Stop living this way.

The idea is that pain and vulnerability in a safe counseling space will help you work through the thoughts and fears that are keeping you from having more social connections and navigating intense emotions. Here is the secret: I want all of my clients to know this: the more you avoid addressing your form of anxiety; the longer it follows you and comes out when you least expect it or at the most inopportune times.

I have experience in working with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Agoraphobia, Separation Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Illness Anxiety. One of the most effective aspects of anxiety disorder treatment is "exposure." Exposure refers to intentionally placing yourself in a position to experience your feared situation or object. This is done in a safe, supportive environment at your pace. Exposure with response prevention is a tool often used in anxiety treatments and it is one we can discuss in your treatment as we help you re-learn the meanings of the physiological arousal that accompany your fears. 

Grief:

Grief is a unique process for each person. Although Kubler-Ross developed the 5 stages of grief and loss (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance) to reflect the stages terminally ill patients navigate, many lay people look to these stages as absolutes for what they should be going through, in-order. This can often lead to people feeling guilty for not grieving right.. Please stop doing this to yourself. We have found that different people grieve differently; there are NO rules! There are helpful themes to consider when working through your grief. 

I am passionate about patiently listening and supporting clients through their feelings exploration. I work to encourage your story telling. You may find yourself increasing your emotional range in this work, allowing yourself to cry, laugh, and love and hopefully we can learn to accept each of these reactions as we honor the deceased or dying person. I look forward to doing this work with you. You do not have to hurt alone.

Trauma Work:

People may develop Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in response to a life threatening situation. Many people experience symptoms in regards to 1) Re-experiencing, 2) Arousal symptoms, and 3) Avoidance. People also start to change their beliefs about self, others, and the world to better adjust and survive after a trauma. This can include developing conflicting or negative beliefs about 1) Safety, 2) Trust, 3) Power and Control, 4) Esteem, and/or 5) Intimacy. Seeking a supportive counselor who has training in trauma therapy could be an important step for your or your loved one. 

I use Cognitive Process Therapy and trauma informed therapy approaches to help clients safely explore their feelings, the impacts traumas have had on their life, and re-write the lessons you have learned under traumatic distress. My background in cognitive behavioral approaches and my emphasis on creating safe spaces and empowering the client are strengths I lean on in this work. 

Phase of Life / Adjustment Disorders Work:

As a psychologist who has worked with age ranges from childhood through late adulthood, I have had the privilege of working with people going through an array of changes in their lives. Research shows us that there are number of experiences in our lives that lead to considerable stress. Things that we may not even consider can impact our success and adjustment in life (e.g.,like school transitions, moving out of the home, graduation, searching for new jobs, starting a family, retirement, death and dying, and many other normal and sometimes positive life experiences). 

Many people for example do not recognize how the developmental stage of new college students, along with a rush of increased freedom and responsibility can impact adjustment on college campuses. Students for example have a unique pressure to adjust and socially adapt to a new environment, navigate substance use considerations, and meanwhile try to figure out how to do well in increasingly demanding classes while also having to wash their dirty socks. Each stage of our life has many wonderful opportunities that, should we not consider, we may be under-prepared and get less out of our lives than we could have otherwise. Unwanted outcomes can lead to stress, impaired self-esteem, and avoidance rather than what we would all hope for like success, gratitude, and a collection of new lessons that will help you develop further into the person you want to be.