Relationship Issues Therapists in Shoreline, WA

Please note: I am currently full. I accept individual adult clients only. I have been practicing as a psychologist in the Greater Seattle Area for over 25 years. My clients find me to be a kind, caring professional who is concerned about their needs. I take a complete history in the first one to two sessions to obtain a full picture of the client. I consider not only a client's symptoms, but also their overall health, self-care, relationships with family members and significant others, roles and tasks, strength of social support, and financial stresses.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist my approach is systemic and strength-based. I believe in human connection as the most important factor to our own happiness and the health of families and communities. In my work with clients we strive to identify the unique strengths and abilities that will help them cope with life's challenges and build stronger relationships.

I am a licensed psychologist and EMDR Certified Therapist and Consultant. I approach my work with compassion, seeking to connect with you, understand you and what has you coming for therapy, then structuring the therapy and implementing the EMDR protocol to get you from where you are to where you want to be. I make effort to listen deeply and bring warmth, collaboration, playfulness, an engaging style and specialized skills to our work together. While many therapeutic approaches focus on understanding and managing symptoms, with EMDR we have the potential to fully resolve the issues which lead to your symptoms.

Seeking counseling can be scary, it is hard to take that first step. Congratulations, by reading this and contemplating therapy, you have taken that first step already!

My therapy style blends the use of a compassionate and non-judgmental approach. I see clients who have a history of trauma, substance use, anxiety, depression, grief, codependency, and perfectionism issues. I help clients achieve freedom from limiting beliefs, compulsions, and emotional distress. I create a sacred and safe space for you to share your story with me and to be vulnerable in your therapy. You deserve to learn the skills to manage symptoms of emotional distress and build a peaceful and rewarding life.

I believe each of us is capable of changing, growing and rising above emotional pain. I invite you to participate in this process, not only to gain relief from your distress, but also to create a life that you truly enjoy. In an atmosphere of hope and support, I will help you move beyond the emotional and psychological barriers that keep you stuck in self-defeating beliefs and behaviors. Likely outcomes are reduction of emotional distress, the ability to act on your own behalf and to engage more fully in life. My clients are women, men, young adults and couples.

My hope for my clients is that you leave our sessions feeling seen and heard. Perhaps we work together to better understand why you do/say the things you do. We can lean into your strengths or unlearn some unhelpful thoughts and behavior. We can problem solve together on how to approach someone about a tough topic like coming out or setting boundaries. Ultimately, I want to help you meet your own goals in therapy.

Current openings NOW-In person and virtual sessions available as of 5/1. Life can be messy, painful and complex. Therapy emerges as a sacred space in which we can navigate the intricate layers of life, fostering reconnection and a deeper self-understanding. Embracing a psychodynamic approach, my commitment is to accompany you on a transformative journey of self-exploration. Together, we will encourage a curious exploration of your identity and shedding light on patterns that may no longer serve you. My specialties are working with clients who are grappling with trauma, perfectionism, grief, anxiety, depression and addiction.

I view therapy as a collaborative relationship. By providing a respectful, judgment-free atmosphere, I hope you will feel comfortable sharing the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are concerning to you. Through this cooperative and supportive process, my goal is that you will better understand and have compassion for yourself. It is my privilege to work with couples, individuals, families and clients in nontraditional relationships to help navigate life's challenges. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy and I use a variety of techniques from biological, psychosocial, sexual and spiritual perspectives.

I know life is complicated and you would not be seeking therapy if you were not in one of those complicated moments in life, whether it be about a relationship with your spouse, your child or simply with yourself. My goal is to help you find a way to navigate those muddy waters and to make life not quite so rocky. I personally have a passion for parents and kids. I have worked in the field of child welfare and adoption and have seen the impact trauma has on the young and the old. I recognize how early childhood trauma impacts an individual throughout their life and impacts all relationships.

I value interpersonal approaches to psychotherapy, using evidenced-based strategies to target specific symptoms. This means that I pay close attention to the relationship I have with my clients and use techniques that have been tested and found to be effective for resolving mental health issues. I am an active therapist and I will openly share my thoughts and recommendations with you throughout our work together. I also adopt a compassionate, non-judgmental view with clients. Together, we can develop new ways for you to cope and help you to resolve the issues that prompted you to seek care.

You are ready to dive deep and explore the inner workings of your life in order to understand, heal, and thrive. You'll find my services particularly effective if you are going through transition (career/livelihood, relational, geographical, physical, gender, financial, and so on), wanting to explore traumatic experiences, seeking support for learning or acquired physical disabilities, you are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, and parts of your life that feel out of control. You might also be seeking support through use of nature and mindfulness-based or somatic therapy modalities, dream exploration, and spirituality.

I believe that people innately have the internal resources to meet life's challenges. We all have great potential for growth and change when we are empowered to access these resources within ourselves. But it is in relationship with others that these resources are inspired and engaged. My approach to therapy is collaborative. My hope is to help create the conditions where you feel encouraged and supported to explore the themes that are present in your life.

Counseling can offer an understanding of the behaviors, beliefs and emotions that fuel our daily interactions with families and other people. Therapy is a process. My job is to facilitate you through possible change options. It is my goal to work with you closely during therapy to aid in clarifying your goals for treatment, explore patterns and choices of communication, relationships, life style and foster development of beneficial coping strategies with commitment on both parts during therapy. The main goal is to explore patterns of behavior, thoughts, and actions to foster positive change and personal growth.

We all find ourselves repeating behaviors and patterns that once helped but begin to no longer work for us and hinder the way that we want to be free in the world. Often my clients are in a stuck place, a life transition, grieving a loss, or wanting to change relational patterns. I see clients with a variety of needs and areas they want to focus on or improve like boundaries or codependency. In addition, I am particularly attuned to addressing the specific healing needs of the those recovering from Complex PTSD.

We each have different values and experiences in our lives, that can shape the people we become and the quality of living we experience. In times of struggle, we may feel lost and lonely as we attempt to live more authentically and with greater joy. Together, we can explore and deepen your own understanding and relationship you have with yourself and others to better navigate through and experience a balanced and healthy living. My goal is to provide a safe and secure environment to support personal growth, deepen insight, increase perspective and give space for self-compassion and acceptance.

I am Nichole Speaks, a compassionate Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate who acknowledges the courage and vulnerability it takes to seek therapy. Consequently, I endeavor to create a secure and nurturing environment, encouraging you to openly explore your thoughts, emotions, and obstacles. Recognizing the power of connection and collaboration, I work alongside you to craft customized strategies that align precisely with your unique aspirations and requirements. I have a special interest, training and experience working with those experiencing substance use disorders, grief and loss, end of life, co-occurring and adolescents.

I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families affected by trauma, relationship challenges, and/or eating disorders/food and body issues. Many of my clients are looking for healing around stressful or traumatic life experiences that have led to brilliant but sometimes "stuck" survival strategies. Others are seeking to find peace and freedom with food and body struggles. Some may be struggling with relationships, communication, and boundaries. Though these are my areas of expertise, I work with a wide variety of clients and needs and am happy to explore if I am the right fit for you.