Best Addiction & Substance Abuse Counselors in Bellingham, WA

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been working for years in intensive outpatient therapy facilities and impatient hospital facilities to get the best knowledge I can to assist my clients. I received a Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nicholls State University in 2018. I enjoy hiking, being in nature, spending time with friends, playing games with my wife, and continuing my education in numerous areas surrounding mental health so that I may provide helpful information for my clients. Therapy is a relationship built on a foundation of trust. I view therapy as a collaborative process in which we work as a team to explore and define problematic situations, develop future goals, and work to guide and direct the patient(s) to an overall better quality of life by assisting in the development of increased insight, coping skills, and problem solving skills. The goals of therapy are established in collaboration as a team with the overall objective being the successful resolution of the problems that are deemed the most important by the client. The length of counseling varies from person to person. As long as you are benefiting from counseling, I encourage you to continue attending sessions; however, I will let you know when I no longer feel that you need therapy. I have developed numerous healthy self soothing and coping skills, along with problem solving strategies as a means to assist my clients with regulating their emotions and helping them improve their mental health. I understand the struggles you can have while working on your mental health and will be patient with you as we work together to achieve your goals. I work with individuals of all ages with a variety of presenting issues including individual, interpersonal, and family issues. I have experience working with problems with adolescents, and life difficulties in adulthood that may be related to disturbances in family relationships and increased distress. These issues include crisis management, grief, depression, anxiety, codependency, parenting and family relationships, and anger management. I have experience in treating children and adolescents, who have experienced trauma and abuse, engage in self-harming behavior, and impulse control issues. If I think your issues are in an area that I do not feel qualified to treat, I will discuss this with you and attempt to refer you to a professional who is better qualified to work with you.

I am a licensed mental health counselor and substance use disorder professional in the state of Washington with 35 years of experience working in various community clinics, treatment centers, hospitals and private practice. I am also a geriatric mental health specialist. I have worked with hundreds of people with a wide variety of concerns, including addiction/recovery, depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress management, family systems, codependency, self-esteem, relationships of all types, grief and loss, and issues related to abuse and trauma. My intention with each client is to be warm, kind, respectful and a good listener. I endeavor to hear the unspoken heart-messages that are sometimes underneath the words. My counseling style is eclectic and I draw from many schools of therapy, always attempting to be fully present and meet each client where they are. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

I am licensed in Wyoming with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!