Find a Therapist in La Center, WA

My approach focuses on the client being the expert of their own life, and having the resources to make personal changes. I provide the safe place for open dialogue and exploration for the client to find his or her internal resources. I serve both as a sounding board and as a brainstormer to help come up with creative ideas and strategies for change and relief. The first thing I focus on is to ease any discomfort of being in "therapy" and to assure a good connection. I am prone to use of humor! But I always take my clients seriously. I have described the therapy I do with clients as a heartfelt conversation leading to more satisfaction in relationships. I welcome potential clients to come in on a one time basis, with or without their partner, to see if we are a good fit. After that, I recommend weekly sessions to get some good momentum, but am very flexible as to what scheduling my client prefers.

I want to help you feel better. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, or painful relationships, I bring a deep commitment to helping you find new ways of moving forward in your life with greater awareness, compassion, and connectedness. My approach is influenced by a belief that conscious and healthy choices are developed partially through the perspective gained from deep awareness. While cognitive understanding of the causes of suffering is useful, opportunities for change increase with expanded awareness. This includes learning how your body holds subconscious material that contributes to troublesome beliefs and actions. Once subconscious material is uncovered we work together to develop new ways of responding, helping you and your relationships to feel more secure and invigorated. I am at ease working with people whose lives have been strengthened and challenged by a broad range of factors including cultural, spiritual, political, and socioeconomic influences, intergenerational mental illness or family strife, and people with difficulties unique to gender and sexual minorities.

My clients often feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. They seek a path to clarity and balance. They need a compassionate space to explore their emotions and uncover the root causes of their distress. Their goal is to gain self-awareness, develop healthier coping strategies, and achieve personal growth. They want to transform their lives and find lasting fulfillment. Together, we can work towards understanding their inner world and making meaningful, positive changes. In my work, I help clients uncover unconscious patterns driving their distress. I offer a compassionate, supportive space for exploring emotions and developing healthier coping strategies. I understand how difficult it can be to seek help. You deserve a safe, compassionate space to explore your concerns and find solutions. Let's work together to foster growth and healing. I invite you to take the first step towards a brighter future. Reach out for a free consultation today. You don't have to face this alone.

The primary focus of my practice is on relationships. The health of your relationship to yourself, partner, friends, and community are key factors in overall wellbeing. The desire for a partner or to have a child when they prove elusive can be a painful and frustrating spot to sit in. I empower clients to face these and other challenges and forge a path forward.

Need some relief? I am passionate about working with couples and individuals and I can help you attain positive change. I believe that you can achieve personal health and well-being. This is accomplished by providing a safe, confidential, non-judgmental, environment for you to explore and learn; we will collaborate to create goals and positive changes that incorporate your values and beliefs. This process involves me listening, encouraging, and supporting you. Contact me today! Some things that set me apart from other therapists are my approachability, neutrality, sense of humor, and motivation. People find it very easy to talk with me, couples appreciate that I do not choose sides when working together, I do not take myself too seriously, and my desire to incorporate the most current counseling practices and skills into my therapeutic work is reflected in my attaining a Ph.D. in Counseling.

Minah is a professional counselor associate and has obtained an M.A. in counseling from Western Seminary; she has completed a B.A. in political science from McGill University, Canada. Her coursework focus has included studies in human development, marriage and family counseling, integrative issues in counseling, and career lifestyle counseling. Minah has received advanced training through Gottman Level 2 in Gottman method couples therapy. She is a multicultural therapist who is originally from Seoul, South Korea, and has lived in many different countries, such as South Korea, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Malaysia. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her young son and meeting new people, who are often from other cultures. She also loves traveling to many different countries.

Maybe you’ve been holding everything together on the outside while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck on the inside. You may be navigating ADHD, a major life transition, relationship challenges, or the exhaustion that comes from constantly putting other people’s needs before your own. You might understand what you “should” do, but still find yourself overthinking, people-pleasing, or struggling to follow through. I believe therapy should feel like a place where you can finally exhale. I offer a warm, compassionate, and collaborative space where you can be honest without judgment and feel genuinely understood. Together, we’ll slow things down, make sense of the patterns that keep you stuck, and identify practical ways to create change that feels sustainable—not overwhelming. I’ll help you develop greater self-awareness, strengthen boundaries, quiet self-criticism, and build a more supportive relationship with yourself. When helpful, I integrate EMDR and parts work to gently explore experiences and patterns that may still be influencing how you feel and respond today. You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. We can start wherever you are and work together toward feeling more grounded, confident, and at ease in your life.

There is a way to find acceptance within yourself and from the people around you. There is a way to effectively manage your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and to believe in yourself again. I know there is a way because I have seen my clients achieve these goals in therapy, and I have experienced it myself. I have over a decade of experience treating individuals with intense emotion dysregulation. I work with people struggling with suicidal ideation, rapid mood swings, panic attacks, social isolation, identity disturbances, uncontrollable anger, or other extreme reactions, so they can regain control over their lives, repair their relationships, and reconnect with the world. You don't have to suffer alone.

Seeking counseling is not easy. It takes bravery and commitment, but allows for the healing process to begin. Whether you are seeking counseling for grief and loss, anxiety, depression, work-related issues, or some other issue altogether, emotions and relationships play a pivotal part in what you are experiencing. My philosophy for therapy is to provide a welcoming, relaxed, and engaging person-centered therapeutic environment that encompasses each client's individual needs and focuses on discovering individual strengths that empower you to live happier, healthier, and more meaningful lives.

Therapy with me goes beyond standard talk therapy to work directly with your nervous system and core emotional patterns: Somatic Experiencing & Regulation: Calming "fight-or-flight" or freeze responses using grounding and somatic tracking to relieve physical anxiety and help your body feel safe again. Internal Family Systems (IFS): Exploring and harmonizing the different internal "parts" of yourself--especially those carrying shame, fear, or protective habits--so you can lead with clarity and self-compassion. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Developing psychological flexibility, unhooking from overwhelming thoughts, and taking concrete steps aligned with your values.

I am a systemic therapist. As I work with you individually, as a couple, or as a family, I will consider your relationships and other contextual factors. If you are seeking help for difficulties in your marriage or family, I will encourage your spouse andor family to be involved because I believe it is the most effective way to help you solve a variety of challenges. At the beginning of therapy, I will ask you questions to help me understand the issues that bring you to see me. I will gather some background information but will mostly focus on the present and your preferred future. We will set goals together and work collaboratively to identify the strengths you have to fulfill these goals. Once you feel you have achieved these goals, therapy will be over. The length of therapy varies for each person and depends on your goals.