Person-Centered Therapy in Lynnwood, WA
Reconnect with Your Authentic Self Through Compassionate, Real Therapy
Are you tired of living according to everyone else's expectations? Do you feel disconnected from who you really are underneath all the roles you play? If you're that woman who's a master at people-pleasing but you feel empty inside, person-centered therapy might be exactly what you need.
I'm here to help you find your way back to yourself through a therapeutic approach that puts YOU at the center of your healing journey.
What Is Person-Centered Therapy?
Person-centered therapy, also called client centered therapy, is a therapeutic approach that recognizes you as the expert on your own life. Unlike traditional therapy where the therapist directs the session, this client centered approach empowers you to lead your own healing process.
Developed by Carl Rogers as part of his person centered theory, this humanistic therapy is built on the belief that you already have the answers inside you. My role as your mental health professional isn't to fix you (because you're not broken) – it's to create a safe space where you can finally hear your own voice clearly.
The person centered approach says "screw that" to everyone else's expectations. You get to be the expert on your own experience. I'm here to listen, really listen, and help you sort through all the noise so you can figure out what YOU actually want.
How Person-Centered Therapy Works
The therapeutic process in person-centered therapy is different from other approaches you might have tried. Unlike cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing specific thought patterns, person-centered therapy trusts that you have the capacity for personal growth when the right conditions are present.
As a client centered therapist, I don't direct our therapy sessions or tell you what to focus on. Instead, I create what Rogers called psychological contact – a genuine human connection where you feel safe to explore your own feelings and experiences in your own words.
This doesn't mean I'm passive in our work together. Active listening, positive body language, and consistent validation of your experience are all part of how I show up in each session. But unlike some mental health professionals who might push you toward specific goals, I trust that you know what you need to work on. I will be there to support you in getting there and when needed, will challenge you so that you aren’t just getting constant head bobs, but will get true reflective listening to point out patterns to you that are keeping you from reaching your goals.
The Three Core Conditions of Person-Centered Therapy
Unconditional Positive Regard
This means complete acceptance without judgment. You're going to tell me about relationships you know are toxic, ways you've been coping that you're not proud of, and resentment you feel toward people you're "supposed" to love. I'm not going to judge any of it.
This unconditional positive regard helps you address feelings of low self worth and build healthier self esteem. When you experience the therapist's unconditional positive regard, something shifts. You start to develop self acceptance and begin to see yourself through more compassionate eyes.
Empathetic Understanding
This isn't just nodding along sympathetically. It's me really understanding what it's like to be in your shoes – what Rogers called empathetic understanding or accurate empathic understanding – and reflecting that back to you in a way that helps you see your client's experience more clearly.
Through this process of empathic understanding, you'll develop greater self awareness and begin to trust your own feelings and perceptions.
Genuineness and Therapist Congruence
I'm not going to put on some therapist mask and pretend I don't have reactions. This authenticity – what Rogers called therapist congruence – creates a space where you can drop your own mask too. When you've spent your life being what others need you to be, having someone be genuinely themselves with you gives you permission to be real too.
Who Person-Centered Therapy Is Perfect For
You might be an ideal fit for person-centered therapy if you:
Feel disconnected from your authentic self and are tired of living according to everyone else's expectations
Struggle with anxiety and feel constantly dysregulated, unable to sit still
Find yourself in the same unhealthy relationship patterns repeatedly
Know something needs to change but don't know what – you have that "I don't want THIS but don't know what I DO want" feeling
Are ready to stop performing and start being who you really are
Have been the "good girl" who over-functions and takes care of everyone else
Person-centered therapy is particularly effective for women dealing with anxiety, low self esteem, relationship issues, and the effects of trauma. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a model for healthier ways of connecting with others.
What You Can Expect from Person-Centered Therapy
Through our work together using the person centered approach, my clients typically experience:
Stronger Self-Awareness: You'll start to recognize your own voice again, separate from all the voices telling you who you should be. This enhanced self awareness helps you make decisions that align with your true values.
Emotional Resilience: You'll learn to sit with negative emotions without being overwhelmed. Understanding how feelings affect your daily life helps you respond rather than react.
Improved Self-Esteem: Through experiencing unconditional positive regard in our therapeutic relationship, you'll begin to see yourself with more compassion and develop genuine self acceptance.
Freedom from People-Pleasing: You'll develop the confidence to say no without guilt and make decisions based on what's right for you, not what makes everyone else comfortable.
Better Relationships: When you're more connected to yourself, you naturally attract healthier interpersonal relationships and set better boundaries in existing ones
Reduced Anxiety: Instead of constant dysregulation, you'll develop tools for managing your emotions and psychological distress more effectively.
How Person-Centered Therapy Differs from Other Approaches
Unlike cognitive behavior therapy or other behavioral therapies that focus on changing specific thoughts or behaviors, person-centered therapy looks at the whole you. We're not just trying to manage symptoms – we're exploring what's underneath and helping you build a stronger relationship with yourself.
The person centered approach, rooted in humanistic psychology, believes that people have an innate tendency toward personal growth. This is different from approaches that view mental health issues as deficits that need to be corrected.
While cognitive behavioral therapy is very structured with specific exercises, person-centered therapy is more organic. We follow where your process leads us rather than sticking to a predetermined agenda. This talk therapy approach allows for deep self exploration and personal discovery.
My Approach to Person-Centered Therapy
I practice person-centered therapy differently than many person centered therapists because I've been where you are. I understand what it's like to feel disconnected from yourself, exhausted from trying to be everything to everyone.
I'm not going to sit back and nod while you talk. I'm going to be engaged with you every minute of our therapy session, reflecting back what I'm hearing, asking questions that help you dig deeper, and sometimes calling you on your own bullsh*t (in the most loving way possible).
As a client centered therapist, I integrate the core principles of Rogers' person centered theory with a real-world understanding of what women today are dealing with. I encourage clients to trust their own wisdom while providing the support needed to access that wisdom.
The therapeutic process isn't about quick fixes – it's about sustainable change that comes from truly understanding and accepting yourself. The client feels accepted in a way that might be completely new to you, and this experience often facilitates the deepest healing.
What Our Work Together Looks Like
Consistency Matters: You'll have the same day and time each week. I schedule in three-month chunks so you know your time is protected. This consistency helps create the safety needed for deep therapeutic work.
Full Engagement: Every minute of our session, I'm there with you. You'll experience what it's like when someone truly listens with their full attention.
Your Pace, Your Process: We'll set goals together, but they'll be YOUR goals. The client's internal frame of reference guides our work, which means you're never pushed to discuss anything before you're ready.
Integration Beyond Sessions: If it feels useful, we might explore things you can try between sessions to help integrate what we're learning into your daily life.
Clear Boundaries: I'm honest about my availability – I'm not a 24/7 crisis line, but I'll help you develop resources for handling things between our scheduled sessions.
Person-Centered Therapy and Mental Health
Research, including randomized controlled trials in clinical psychology, consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in successful therapy outcomes. Person-centered therapy is specifically designed to create the strongest possible therapeutic relationship.
Studies have shown person-centered therapy can be as effective as other approaches for treating generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and relationship issues. What's particularly powerful is that this approach facilitates self discovery and personal growth in ways that lead to lasting therapeutic change.
While person-centered therapy may not be the primary treatment for severe conditions like personality disorders or chronic depression, it can be incredibly helpful as part of a comprehensive approach to mental health care.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
If you're in Lynnwood, WA and ready to reconnect with your authentic self, I'd love to talk about whether person-centered therapy might be right for you.
The first step is a free consultation where we can get to know each other and see if this approach feels right for your situation. You can ask me anything about my experience or what our work together might look like.
You don't have to have it all figured out before you reach out. If you're feeling confused about what you want or need, that's exactly where person-centered therapy can be most helpful. We'll figure it out together, at your pace, in your own words.
The authentic woman you used to be is still in there, waiting for you to remember her. Person-centered therapy can help you find your way back to her through a process of self exploration and personal growth.
Your authentic self is worth fighting for. You deserve to feel at home in your own life, to have relationships that energize rather than drain you, and to make decisions based on what's right for you.
Contact me today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward the life you actually want.
Offering person-centered therapy to women in Lynnwood, WA and surrounding areas, both in-person and online. As a client centered therapist who understands the unique challenges women face, I'm here to support you through the therapeutic process of rediscovering who you truly are.