Therapists in Mercer Island, WA

Are you wondering if psychotherapy may help? Many, many clients have discovered that speaking to another about their stresses and symptoms, in a safe and non-judgemental place, alleviates their anxiety or depression. This is because it is easy to feel overwhelmed alone by the many difficult feelings and confusing thoughts and because another mind and heart can clear the way for deeper understanding, support and healing. I encourage you to take the step to call.

Healing, growth, and change. Are you wondering if these common outcomes of therapy are actually possible for you, or if therapy works at all? Maybe you have a different set of questions. Can someone really help me overcome this dark depression or intense anxiety? Am I the only one feeling like this? Can our relationship rebound after this betrayal? What's wrong with me/him/her/us? Will I ever be free of this addiction? Why can't they just be happy for me? Questions like these are worthy to ask and it takes courage to seek the answers.

I am available to help you heal, navigate relationships and transitions, and discover why you may face the same challenges again and again. If you feel trapped, uneasy or stalled in making decisions, I can help. The stresses of life squeeze our ability to think clearly and feel at the same time. As a result, our emotions rule us, resulting in depression, anxiety, anger, and relationship difficulties. I use evidence based practices, such as ACT and DBT to help clients regulate their emotions and reach their goals.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist. Passion for my work, empathy, and excellence in clinical training (several years at University of Pennsylvania) allow me to provide effective, lasting results. I use an integrative, eclectic approach combining psychodynamic and interpersonal therapies to help adolescents and adults gain insight and work through varied life concerns. I see symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and relationship conflict as opportunities for change and personal growth.

I am an Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist with 18 years of experience specializing in relationship counseling and trauma, i.e. helping individuals heal from the wounds of a difficult childhood.

Life is a constant battle and we do what we can to power through every day. We can't control everything that comes our way but we can learn to control how to process our environment in a way that is more constructive and less overwhelming. Is stress permeating your days? Are the smallest things causing anxiety? Do you feel easily attacked, targeted, on the defensive? When something bad happens around you, do you usually believe you are partially to blame? Difficult jobs, heavy workload, relationship struggles, family issues, and more concerns can be eased with talking it out in a safe and judgment-free space.

Feelings illuminate needs & needs require action. There is a unique connection between your emotions & your feelings. Is healing, growth & change possible for me? Can someone really help me overcome this dark depression or intense anxiety? Is it possible to find my voice? How can I recover from disordered eating? Will I ever be free of this addiction? Am I the only one feeling like this? Can our relationship rebound after this betrayal? What's wrong with me/him/her/them/us? Questions like these are worthy of asking and it takes courage to seek and find the answers.

“Loving ourselves through the process of owning our story is the bravest thing we will ever do” Brene Brown. My clients are those who are ready and willing to take ownership of their story in a way that feels authentic and empowering. This story ownership often involves self identity work, discovering or reclaiming values, setting boundaries/interpersonal work, learning how to both accept emotions and take action, self compassion, and learning to "come home" to yourself. Common issues I support are anxiety, depression, relationships, pregnancy and postpartum, life transitions, ADHD, perfectionism, and family of origin issues.

If you’re tired of recycling the same argument, walking on eggshells with each other or don’t know how to repair your relationship, I can help you get to the root of your disconnection. I help distressed, disconnected couples remember what it's like to be sexy best friends instead of roommates. Together, we will identify your entrenched ways of arguing so that both of you can break these patterns by learning how to clearly state how you’re feeling to your partner and in turn, listen deeply. I'll help you pay close attention to each other, so that you both feel a little more held each time we meet.

Hi. I believe couples and individuals have more stacked against their thriving than ever before. Technology inundates us with messages that create unreasonable expectations and stress around personal relationships, parenting, living, and mental health. If modern life sometimes leaves you feeling unfulfilled, confused or anxious, you’re in good company. Most folks go to therapy for a simple reason: they want a smoother life. While I don’t promise to make life easier, I do create a supportive environment focussed on helping you develop tools to overcome relationship and behavioral patterns that might be holding you back.

Over time we develop patterns of behavior that may have once supported us through a difficult time, but these ways of being may be hurting our ability to connect with loved ones or form new connections. Through our work together, we will reflect on how your past experiences may influence who you are today and identify interventions to support you in connecting with who you want to become. In addition to working with individuals, I enjoy supporting people better engage in the important relationships in their lives; this may be within a couple, but can also be in a parent-child relationship.

I feel passionate about working with people and helping them find their own strengths and building self-esteem. I have extensive experience working with teens, adults, and parents. Using sensitivity and compassion, I can help you bring resolution to a wide range of life challenges/psychological issues. I approach my work from an interactive, relationally focused standpoint, finding the most effective way to build a relationship with you and build rapport.

The alliance we build as client and therapist is a necessary and very important part of the therapeutic process. I carefully assess each individuals or couples strengths, history of relationships, sense of self, developmental status, learning styles, symptoms and readiness to change. I believe that what you find helpful to talk about in each session is most important. You and I will develop a treatment plan based upon these factors, your experience, my professional experience, research findings and what you would like to accomplish in therapy. I have a general practice and also have areas of specialty.

*CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS* A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a former domestic violence advocate, I specialize in providing evidence-based psychotherapy and advocacy-based counseling for survivors of relationship abuse and other traumatic experiences. As a general practitioner, I also help with issues ranging from self-image, depression, and grief, to social and general anxiety, OCD, family conflict and divorce, religious shunning / transitions, adolescent and adult giftedness, nontraditional relationships, and matters of sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTQ/non-binary affirming).

Bring gritty emotional honesty, a kind, sharp eye for themes in your life and your sense of humor. We'll work to understand nuances of your unique situation, utilize insights from your relationship history and symptoms and experiment with patterns that hold you back. I love to help mid-life adults with life transitions. My French Bulldog joins us! (We are both GLBTQ+ friendly.) Most people get stuck analyzing problems and are slow to take action OR they leap to action before gaining insight. I'll help you strike the right balance, so you create lasting change.

Do you prioritize other people's needs over your own? Do you avoid expressing your needs and feelings, have self-doubt, imposter syndrome, have difficulty setting boundaries, find yourself in toxic relationships and very easily slip into a caretaker's role? You might have had difficult experiences growing up that shaped your understanding of people and relationships. Childhood trauma can affect the choices we make as adults resulting in loneliness, anxiety and depression. If you are tired of these patterns, want to take charge of your life and are ready to form healthy reciprocal relationships then you have come to the right place.

Welcome, I'm truly grateful you're here. Choosing therapy, whether alone or with a partner, shows courage and care. In a world that often expects us to hide our imperfections behind a facade of success and happiness, therapy offers a refreshing alternative. It's about giving ourselves permission to occupy the space that is rightfully ours, acknowledging and moving through the twists and turns of our journeys with compassion and curiosity. It's about exploring the questions that keep you up at night: What do I want? What am I doing with my life? Why is parenting so difficult? How can we make this relationship work?

Every person, couple and family struggles from time to time. Sometimes, it is hard to get through these rough patches alone. Having a compassionate, supportive and inquisitive individual attending to your concerns provides a safe environment to create positive change. As a marriage and family therapist, I am able to partner with you in this therapeutic framework while exploring your interactions with significant others and society at large. If you are seeking help for your partnership, your family or an issue in your life, let's get started today.

Welcome to Ryan Lewis Counseling & Integrative Wellness Programs! If you are seeking a change in your life, but you continue to be controlled by limiting beliefs, emotional turmoil, or unproductive habits, our counseling and coaching programs are here to help support you. By offering both traditional psychotherapy and structured integrative wellness coaching, we can facilitate transformative healing experiences and teach sustainable wellness practices for best results. We can help you adopt a holistic approach to managing your mental health care by prioritizing your physical, emotional, relational, purposeful, and spiritual health.