Grief counselors and therapists in Bellingham, WA

You can’t break out of a cage you’re still trying to decorate. I’ve been many people’s 4th/5th/8th/9th therapist and been told they felt like something finally clicked for them. I care about it clicking. My approach is based on self-compassion and living an integrated life. Even if you’re motivated to change, it’s still hard because negative events can shape beliefs about the world and ourselves that we often don’t even realize we hold. So we start with self-compassion, and then work on trying to bring our actions into alignment with our goals. I’ve been a therapist for over a decade now, and I promise – self-compassion is the move.

My commitment to you as your therapist is to help promote a feeling of autonomy, relatedness and competence to where you can live life more freely with meaning and purpose. I have a career experience in a variety of professional therapy work-related duties and environments, tele-health, inpatient / outpatient atmospheres, and a variation of other different professional roles of counseling positions over the past 30 years.

I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Gonzaga University. My professional background has largely been in community behavioral health, where I've spent years working with individuals experiencing serious mental illness as well as people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life stress. I've worked across different parts of the behavioral health system - including clinical and leadership roles - which has given me a broad understanding of how mental health challenges show up in real life, not just in theory.

Because of that experience, I approach therapy from a holistic and systems-oriented perspective. Our mental health is shaped by far more than what's happening internally. Relationships, work stress, family dynamics, physical health, and the larger systems we interact with every day can all play a role in how we feel and function.

My style tends to be warm, collaborative, and often a little humorous. Therapy is important work, but it doesn't have to feel overly stiff or clinical. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable being honest about what's going on while also gaining insight, perspective, and practical ways to move forward.

“Warm, practical, and empowering therapy to help you move beyond anxiety and into lasting change.”

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC- NY & WA), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC -CT), and and a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor – Master Level (CASAC – M) with 13 years of experience. I specialize in substance use, anger management, depression, anxiety, and behavior issues.