our team at the tumwater wing

 Hi! My name is Amelia, and I’d first like to say that I know that asking for help can feel overwhelming so I want to acknowledge, celebrate and thank you for taking that first huge step!

Over the last 9+ years, I have worked with individuals and families confronting many different, all-too-prevalent challenges including depression, anxiety and stress, autism spectrum disorders and ADHD, history of trauma and abuse, substance use concerns, family conflict and grief and loss, to name a few. I also have experience with and feel passionately about supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community and work diligently within a culturally-sensitive and -informed approach. I've worked with 2 years olds through 72 year olds across a multitude of settings from outpatient care, to residential treatment, from school-based, to in-home, and in the community.

I obtained a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California where I fell madly in love with the thought of a world where no one ever needs to feel alone. I am a fully licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in CA and conduct duties as a clinical supervisor. Since moving to Lacey, from Los Angeles, in the summer of 2023, I have become a fully Licensed Mental Health Counselor in this most beautiful state of WA as well.

I am undeniably excited about the work I do because I'm able to learn about the lives of the most incredible people! Getting to know and appreciate an individual’s story, however tormented, however complex, however restricted, however raw, is what truly drives me in this work and helping uncover unique, beautiful potential is the most rewarding of passions. The person-centered perspective I hold means that I will meet you where you are at. You are a human facing an obstacle, be it large or small, and together we can figure out a way over, around or through. The existential approach that I also employ means that I understand the power (and likewise the pressure and weight) of finding meaning and having purpose. I so look forward to getting to know you, and helping you know yourself. I will boost you from within, from that deep part of you that is uniquely you, by connecting you to it so that you and I can solve problems together, leaning on the strengths and resilience that are only yours. Lastly, I have a very strong love of life and have not lost the joy in finding fun that children perpetually have, that adults can often lose sight of. I use humor a lot in my work, so that we can, together, enjoy the hard work that therapy asks of us.

Works with ages: 2+ and families

I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am a disabled veteran from 12 years in the US Army. I was awarded the Purple Heart from my wounds I received on my first deployment to Iraq. I came to Washington in 2010 while still in the Army and was stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord. I have called Lacey, Washington my home for the past 11 years.

I attended Saint Martin’s University for both my undergraduate degree and master’s degree. I received my BA in Psychology, and my MA in Counseling Psychology.

I am a big nerd and love to play video games as well as entertain myself with Marvel and DC entertainment. I am also a huge fan of everything Star Wars and Disney. I am also a father of two, my son and daughter. My family is my world.

As a counselor, I understand how systems can cause oppression. I use a combination of techniques and approaches depending on the client's needs. I believe that the grief in an individual’s life is quite possibly the most important catalyst to find and deal with. Grief is in everyone and learning how to live with it and accept it is very important.

In my work with children, I use non-directive play therapy and let the child lead with what they need to do. I let them invite me into their play to show that they have control of their therapy. I also have used sand trays with children.

I think that I have a huge heart and want to help you find peace within yourself if that is what you need. I also understand that sometimes you may need a place to go and vent about your life in a private and confidential setting. I want to offer you a safe space, that is non-judgmental, and supportive. I try to maintain a flexible schedule for my clients.

Works with ages: Children and adults

My name is Lahela (she/her). I am married and have two children (one neurodivergent,

and one neurotypical). I have been in Olympia since 2014 and love the Pacific

Northwest!

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. My parents are Italian, and I grew up

speaking Italian at home. I have lived in Europe and across the United States. I have a

master’s degree in French Language and another in French Literature, and I taught

foreign languages in higher education for many years. I have also worked for

Washington State non-profits supporting learning, art, and the neurodivergent

community.

I completed my practicum and internship at Northwest Therapy Group (2024) and am

very excited and grateful to be back as a permanent provider.

I love and value therapy because it offers a safe, open, and non-judgmental space

where we can learn to explore and nurture self-expression, self-discovery, self-

acceptance, and healing in order to engage our lives more authentically and

meaningfully. I believe we can still find meaning and purpose in our lives (and thus

fulfillment), even in the face of challenges, pain, grief, and suffering, which are

inescapable to our shared human experience. It is an honor and privilege to accompany

any individual on that personal and unique journey of self-discovery and healing.

I resonate with psychodynamic, Existential, and Person-Centered therapy and the

following modalities: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal family

systems (IFS), and Narrative Therapy. I currently work in the areas of anxiety,

depression, grief, and neurodivergence (ADHD, the autism spectrum, and AUDHD). I

am deeply committed to working with the LBGTQIA+ and kink community. As a child of

immigrants, I am also deeply committed to supporting clients from different cultures, and

clients struggling to integrate several cultures.

I enjoy spending time with friends and family, taking walks, walking our dogs, reading,

painting, singing, playing guitar, being in nature, learning new things (and languages),

traveling, and practicing yoga and meditation.

 Hi! My name is Zullemah and I am a military spouse, and as of October 2023 a proud mom, who has recently relocated to Washington. I enjoy hiking, reading, and I am aiming to begin rock climbing as my new year's resolution. I am currently working to complete my M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Practicum and Internship here at Northwest Therapy Group. I am very passionate about providing therapeutic care to a variety of different people and have experience in doing as such. 

My therapeutic experiences range from providing intensive in-home therapeutic care to family members and adolescent (age ranging from 6 years old to 18 years old) to learning effective Trauma Focused CBT strategies from genocide survivors in Rwanda, Africa. I also have experience doing therapeutic trauma intervention with child survivors of human trafficking as well as being experienced in aiding parents in skills needed to care for their child's behavior due to sexual trauma responses. Once I complete my Master's I plan to work towards obtaining licensure in the state of Washington.

My professional experience primarily consists of working with at-risk youth and family members within my community and other various therapeutic settings. I am experienced in working with adolescents and adults who aim to work through childhood trauma as well as any present psychological, emotional, and developmental disorders. I am also practiced in maintaining family preservation through therapeutic intervention and by performing various forms of crisis interventions. 

I am extremely passionate about growing professionally and strive to make an impact within my community through providing well rounded and holistic therapeutic care.

Hi, my name is Sam (he/him, they/them). I am currently a student at Saint Martin’s University in the MAC (Masters of Arts in Counseling) program, with my undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College. I was born and raised in Olympia, working in retail and for the State in education before realizing that the field of counseling and mental health was where I wanted to be.

I am a queer and transmasc person. I am interested in working with many different communities and different people, especially the LGBTQ+ as my own journey was what led me back towards my interest in mental health and wellbeing.

While I may not be a parent, I did bring home a number of animal ‘kids’ of a furred, feathered, and scaled variety from my time working at a pet store . I also found my passion for houseplants recently, particularly orchids, and have been avidly collecting way too many for the last few years.

I am a nerd for movies, TV, books and video games. These creative narratives are extremely important to me, and I strongly believe that we can find ourselves in stories, characters, and worlds no matter how fantastical. Creativity is such an amazing way to express ourselves, and to be able to find community with others.

I am still digging into the many modalities of therapy, but I am particularly drawn to existential theory and narrative therapy. I am also delving into expanding my knowledge around CBT, ACT and more.

Hi my name is Melissa, I am a student finishing my Masters of Art in Counseling degree. Although I grew up in the northwest, my husband and I moved to the Tumwater area in 2013 and decided to put down roots. I enjoy trying my hand at gardening, keeping a menagerie of animals, and letting our children explore the woods. Otherwise, I am actively involved in our church and our homeschool community. As a counselor, I aim to support you through the stressors of parenting, strained relationships, grief, and ordinary ebbs and flows of life. I provide an empathetic, respectful environment that focuses on your unique perspectives, strengths, and life experiences. I view individuals within the context of their past and existing relationships using a family systems and attachment theory perspective while utilizing aspects of person-centered and cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches. Together, we will identify areas of your life you want to explore and create a plan to work towards positive, lasting change.

Hello everyone! My name is Mrs. Shay Brown. I was born in Augusta, Georgia. During my childhood, I was a military child, so I was raised in a few different places. I graduated from middle and high school here in Washington State at Nisqually Middle School and North Thurston High School. After high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. Currently, I am a disabled veteran and have been for the past 7 years. I currently hold a lot of titles in my life, some being a Mom, fur Mom, and military spouse. I arrived back in Washington State back in 2022 due to a military change of duty station. Currently, my church home is New Life Baptist Church in Lacey, WA. I received my undergrad from South University in Round Rock, TX. I currently hold my AA and BA as a Psychology major. I am currently going for my MA in Counseling Psychology at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, WA. My personal entertainment comes from NFL football, Marvel movies, DC movies, Netflix, and Disney +. As a therapist/counselor, my primary goal is to focus on clients and their needs. Even if you just need someone to listen to you while you vent about a situation that is troubling you, I am all ears. Although. I have a lot of hats that I carry from day to day, when at work my hat as a therapist/counselor is here to stay until it is no longer needed for the day. When it comes to my clients, I understand every client’s needs are different. I have a lot of techniques and interventions in my therapeutic toolbox, but I know there is a time, place, and client in which they have the most effective way of being used. I try to make my therapeutic practices flexible; I understand things may change within therapy sessions, and that is okay. After graduation, I would like to become a counselor for everyone, while emphasizing my clients around military families (active and all veterans included), the LGBTQIA+ community, couples, and children. 

My name is Anna and I am finishing an MA in Counseling through Saint Martin's University. I focused my studies and training to become licensed as both a marriage and family therapist and a mental health therapist. My primary modality is Emotionally Focused  Couples Therapy, a highly effective method designed to strengthen the connection between partners. This approach enhances trust and security in a relationship to develop more effective ways to share and meet each other’s emotional needs. Through my education  and work in community mental health with adults facing a large range of issues, I learned that emotional connection is one of the most crucial aspects of mental health and overall wellness. 

I was inspired to become a counselor when I learned how significantly many people with PTSD recover after working with competent therapists using evidence-based treatments. I witnessed dramatic transformations that filled me with hope for those who are ready  to face the challenging process. I use a brief therapy to address trauma-related issues with adults called Accelerated Resolution Therapy, which typically involves an average of three sessions. A major advantage of ART is that it is still effective when an  individual does not discuss the details of a traumatic event, which might help those who are not ready or willing to talk openly about some experiences. For more information, please visit https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/.

I love this work and have a personal stake in the wellbeing of my clients. I provide an authentic and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment and am committed to sustaining safety as I guide clients through moments of vulnerability. In my downtime I love traveling,  learning more about history and different cultures, and having wild fun outside.

My aim is to empower clients to make thoughtful and impactful changes to improve their lives. Currently, I am finishing a master’s degree (M.Ed.) in clinical mental health counseling from Seattle University.

While I was born and raised in Olympia, I spent most of my adulthood in North Carolina, Minnesota, and Georgia before returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2021. I earned my PhD in genetics in 2010 and was a university biology professor prior to pursuing a career in counseling. The time I spent as a biologist fostered a deep appreciation and understanding for how the interplay between our genetics and environment shapes our unique experiences and lives.

My experience working with students in higher education also highlighted the systemic barriers which people from marginalized communities face and how that effects their mental health. I seek to provide counseling using a multi-dimensional approach to therapy and integrate theoretical orientations depending on my clients’ needs as they navigate high stress environments, grief, anxiety and depression, and other mental health challenges.

I am committed to fostering a welcoming, supportive, and collaborative relationship with those I work with. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and backpacking, cycling, culinary pursuits and reupholstering furniture.