Meet Rachelle

Pronouns: she / her / hers

For the past 30 years, I’ve called the Pacific Northwest my home. I grew up in a mostly working class and single-parent home. At 17, I became financially independent after a chaotic childhood. This was the catalyst for me to begin a healing journey that ultimately led to my own counseling and later to becoming a mental health clinician. I am the mother and stepmother to two fabulous young adults, dog owner to a dachshund/terrier mutt, and very happily married for over two decades.

I have 23+ years of experience working with individuals (children/adolescents, and adults) and families This includes 5 years of experience providing mental health services with this population. My work is largely centered around treating depression, anxiety, grief & loss, trauma, strengthening interpersonal skills, and parenting. I have obtained advanced training in grief counseling and am a Certified Grief-Informed Professional.

Loss can come in many forms. If you feel like you are drowning, know that you are not alone. My main goal of grief therapy is to help my clients integrate the reality of their loss into their life as well as helping clients to maintain a healthy bond to the loved one they lost.

I pull heavily on my experience as former middle school teacher and see my role as a teacher and collaborator to help you create meaningful change in your life. I am a fully licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (WA #LF61111743) as well as a Child Mental Health Specialist. I hold a Master in Counseling Psychology degree from Saint Martin’s University and a Master in Teaching degree from Seattle University.

How I Practice

I create a space for people to heal and to return home to themselves. My belief is that therapy is collaborative in nature and involves the presence of your entire being (mind, body, and spirit). I work from an attachment perspective that is emotionally-focused. I believe that family of origin experiences strongly influence our relationship dynamics and behavioral patterns.

Ultimately, I believe that human connection is the most important healing tool, so I strive to create a therapeutic environment and relationship that is safe yet challenging. I invite you to bring all the parts of you that have been wounded, neglected, and devalued. You are not defined by your trauma and current struggles. Know that you are strong and resilient.

Social Justice

I’m passionate about social justice issues. I continually seek to understand how the confluence of privilege (race, ableism, age, heteronormativity, class) and the effect hyper-capitalism impact our mental health and humanity.

For LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities, I look to create a dialogue to address and expose how mental health is affected by these systemic inequities and the trauma of oppression.