Gretchen Escobar,LCMHC

My name is Gretchen Escobar and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in Washington state. I've been working as a therapist for over ten years and I am grateful for every client I have worked with throughout the years. Being part of their journey to healing has been a fulfilling experience for me as well. My career as a therapist has included working in a diverse range of settings: elementary, middle, and high schools, community mental health centers, sexual assault agencies, and private practice as well. These places offered me the opportunity to gain experience working with a variety of issues including abuse, depression, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, adjustment, and acculturation issues. I have a strong interest in and passion for Perinatal and Postpartum mood disorders. I continue to expand my knowledge in this specific field because I feel it is one that our society is just recently getting more comfortable talking about and I continue to meet many “mamas” who struggle or have struggled with feelings of shame and guilt around pregnancy, prenatal grief and loss andor postpartum depressionanxiety. I believe that a combination of a committed, cooperative, non-judgmental, and compassionate approach alongside the use of psychotherapeutic methods that can be individualized to fit the client’s specific goals, feelings, behavior, and experiences, can be very successful during the healing process. I approach therapy with an eclectic assortment of approaches that include the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic, and Holistic Therapy to provide tools and individualize our work together to meet your
needs best.

I have found that my style and approach is a good fit for adults, teens, and adolescent particularly women who may be dealing with the challenges of life transitions, social pressures, and trauma. This often takes the form of anxiety, depression, stress, or other related PTSD symptoms. I work to help my clients navigate these transition periods, process their trauma, understand the "why" of their behavioral patterns, and build skills to allow them to feel better about themselves and develop a more positive outlook on life. I listen to my clients, engage honestly, and tell them the things they need to hear. I also believe in the importance of assigning homework in the form of reading, and worksheets among others to ensure we're not just talking; we're actually getting better by practicing new behaviors and helping our mind to "learn and unlearn" new concepts.

"I was born in Managua, Nicaragua but moved to the United States at a young age. I can say that I’ve learned to appreciate, value, and grow from every experience given in life. Good or bad experiences can potentially shape who we are. They can impact our view and perspective about life, and make us stronger to overcome challenges we face throughout our journey or disable us temporarily, making the journey less enjoyable and pleasing. I always had a strong desire to help others. I found Psychology and Therapy a good option to provide others with the needed tools to move forward, so they can find within them the strength to push toward a better and more productive lifestyle. I view therapy as a safe place to explore relationships, whether those relationships are with people (family, co-workers, partner) or things (food, money, alcohol). I also feel an important part of therapy is addressing the social, economic, and cultural influences on a person and that the process of therapy should be a collaborative one, with the client seen as the “expert” on their life."

My approach to goal setting with clients is all about working together to define what you want to accomplish in our time together. This looks different for every client. I believe in the importance of building trust between us, and getting comfortable with what it means to be in therapy. Over time, we'll work together to set goals and track your progress. I am all about meeting you wherever you are in YOUR healing journey.

You can expect from our first session together, for us to spend the majority of our time talking about how you've been feeling recently, and me asking questions to better understand some of why you may be feeling that way. The first session is about us building an initial connection and helping me get a sense of where we should go from there. Each individual is different, and I like to listen first before assuming I know what will work best for you moving forward.