Grief counselors and therapists in Yakima, WA

I am a licensed mental health counselor and substance use disorder profession in the state of Washington with over 35 years of experience working in various community clinics, treatment centers, hospitals and private practice. I am also a geriatric mental health specialist. I have worked with hundreds of people with a wide variety of concerns, including addiction/recovery, depression and anxiety, PTSD, stress management, LGBTQ-related issues, family systems, codependency, self-esteem, relationships of all types, grief and loss, and issues related to abuse and trauma.

I specialize in helping my clients navigate challenging situations. From substance use disorders to grief, I've supported my clients in fostering effective communication and emotional expression. Sharing feelings openly and honestly is crucial for your well-being. Remember, transformation takes time, but there is always hope with hard work. You can move towards a more connected and hopeful future.

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 Dr. Sean Burson, a licensed therapist in Washington and Idaho. My background includes work in hospice care, ministry, and military settings, which has shaped how I listen and care for people. I bring a grounded, compassionate presence and value building real trust with my clients. I believe our stories deeply shape who we are, and therapy can help us understand and rewrite them with intention and hope.

I work with individual adults and certain families who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, sad, lonely, sensitive, anxious, or defeated. If you're feeling heavy by everything going on, or feeling frantic, or having conflict in your relationships or are just feeling lost in any way, I would love to see if I can help! I also work with family units going through transition or strain, such as conflict between a parent and their adult child, or supporting parents who are experiencing difficult things with their child or teen.

I have a lot of experience helping people through loss, whether it's a breakup, losing a job, or a loved one - including loss of a pet, which is a specialty of mine. I have special interest in supporting other therapists, and also community organizers and activists who are engaged in social justice work. Many of my clients are trans or NB, and others are gay, lesbian, or queer. Poly and kink affirming.

I offer telehealth services to clients in California, Idaho, Washington, or Virginia.

You may be here because something in your life feels heavy, overwhelming, or out of balance. You deserve a space where you feel safe, supported, and truly seen. My holistic approach looks at the whole person—mind, body, emotions, and spirit—so we can understand what’s happening beneath the surface and help you move forward with more clarity and ease. In our work together, I’ll give you practical tools to navigate stress, anxiety, grief, or major life transitions. We’ll focus on reframing self-defeating thoughts, building self-esteem, and practicing mindful compassion so you can feel more grounded and empowered in your daily life.

With over 30 years as a Transformational Therapist, I draw from Breathwork, Guided Imagery, Stress-Release techniques, Centering practices, Energy Work, Therapeutic Movement, and Pattern Interrupts. For those open to it, I also offer Medicine Wheel work and Sacred Card readings for deeper insight.

Clients often say they feel comforted by my warm, intuitive style—maybe helped by the calm, steady presence I’ve learned from my beloved cats. If you’re ready for gentle, supportive, whole-person healing, I’d love to work with you. You can book time with my directly through my profile on Headway or give me a call.

As a board certified psychotherapist, I believe prioritizing mental health is key to happiness and stability in life. Seeking help can be one of the hardest parts, so congratulations on taking that step! I’ve been practicing for 10 years, I work with a plethora of inter-generational clients aged 21-90 who are struggling with anxiety and depression and trauma.

As a chaplain, I take a psycho-spiritual approach and work with clients assisting with intercultural issues, blended family dynamics, religiosity challenges and grief & loss.