“My therapeutic approaches/techniques are tailored specifically to you, providing you with a higher level of comfort and facilitating change.CHILDREN: Use of play therapy techniques to provide a positive experience and means to openly express themselves.TEENS: An open, accepting, and safe environment for self expression so that together we may address their individual challenges in a positive manner.COUPLES: A neutral and structured atmosphere where each individual may feel comfortable to express and address their concerns. Together we work to introduce new elements into the relationship to resolve conflict and strengthen the relationship bond. I am client/family focused and utilize multiple techniques to provide my clients with a positive therapeutic experience. My strenghts include a strong ability to relate well to those of all ages, flexibility, commitment to change, and being solution oriented.” My practice serves individuals, couples, and specializes in children and families. I use a wide variety of therapeutic techniques to fit your individual needs so that you can successfully meet your goals.

I provide individual and family counseling to all kinds of people with all kinds of struggles, from adolescence through adulthood. I specialize in treatment of anxiety and depression, but I am especially interested in the circumstances that cause them. This can include difficult life transitions, social problems, romantic relationship issues, family conflict, low self-esteem, grief and loss, history of abuse and anger problems--just to name a few. I also work with individuals who have undergone trauma. My goal is to give you some coping skills to help you feel better immediately, while working on the larger issues in need of change. My approach is broad, and combines elements of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal and family systems therapies. Most importantly, I am strengths-based. I design the therapeutic intervention around the unique strengths and needs of each client. I believe that success in counseling is largely about finding the right fit with your therapist. That's why I offer a free hour of consultation, either by phone or in person. If you are under the age of 18, you are welcome to bring a trusted adult.

Imagine having less stress in your life and escaping the negative cycles that hold you back! By engaging in therapy at Renton Family Therapy, you can take a big step toward feeling more satisfied and happy with your life and relationships. I work with teens, adults, and couples that are looking for the next level of success and fulfillment. My approach to counseling is based on Mindfulness Based Therapy, Lifespan Integration, and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, which are all proven techniques that help you take charge of your healing process effectively and quickly. I also offer coaching in Mindfulness and Positive Discipline Parent Education. I am located in downtown Renton.

I will work with you to define your priorities and goals, examine what has interfered in achieving those goals, and strategize how you can more effectively achieve those ambitions. Each person brings a unique set of strengths and problems - I work with my clients to: Overcome Anxiety & Depression Address Past Traumas Champion Life’s Changes Deepen Meaning in Their Life I am trained in Gestalt and other Humanistic interventions as well as Cognitive Behavioral techniques. I also incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) when appropriate.

I have discovered that I work somewhat differently with different people; this is probably because each client is different and has different problems, strengths, needs and goals, and because, in each case, a unique relationship develops between me and the client. In all cases, I place the utmost importance on deeply understanding the client’s experience and on meeting that person with empathy and respect. I believe that people contain the seeds of their own authenticity and development, and that it is the therapist’s job to help the client remove what blocks his or her natural growth. When working with individuals, I use Emotion-Focused Therapy, existential therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy, as well as other techniques. I also pay a lot of attention to people’s histories in order to understand how their past development and experiences might be affecting their current capacity to live well in the present and imagine a future. Finally, I sometimes use Lifespan Integration© therapy to help clients integrate bodily/emotional memories from infancy, childhood and adolescence with their adult capacities for understanding. I find Lifespan Integration to be especially helpful for healing recent trauma gently without re-traumatizing. In couples counseling, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy to help partners deeply reconnect on the level of needs and feelings (as opposed to having that same unproductive argument over and over again). Once couples have learned to communicate in a way that is likely to get their needs met and have had help in healing breaches of trust, they generally find they can solve other problems without therapeutic help. Main Counseling Services: mental health counseling services (sometimes called “therapy” or “psychotherapy”) for individual adults couples counseling for couples in conflict, couples seeking to address specific relationship problems, and couples wishing to enhance their relationships grief counseling, trauma counseling, and treatment for people suffering from anxiety or depression, as well as for those working through identity issues, life transitions, or a variety of other problems counseling for people adjusting to, or coming to terms with, physical disability, sensory disability, chronic illness, life-threatening illness, or terminal illness counseling for family members of people with disabilities and/or illnesses, such as those needing help with caregiver stress counseling for crime victims under Washington State’s Crime Victims Compensation Program.

I work with adults (individuals and coupled) who are having a hard time working with what life is having to offer. My specialty is anxiety and related concerns, though I have extensive experience helping with depression and personal achievement interests. I am accepting new clients now. Call and reserve your session time. I look forward to hearing from you.

My intent in a counseling session is to show up as my whole self, and make space for you to show up as your whole self. I believe that people have an innate ability to heal, and I know that the keys to balance and well being exist inside of you. My work as a therapist is to use the tools and skills that I have learned and those that are inherent in me, to unblock the barriers on your path to health and wholeness. It is my hope, that I may aid you in calling home the lost and wounded parts of yourself and integrate that back into the complete and amazing you. I maintain a commitment to anti-oppression in my practice and my personal life. I hold in my awareness the realities of privilege and oppression and work continuously to seek new information in service of liberation. I abide by the code of ethics of both the State of Washington and the American Counseling Association.