Our Team
Amy Phillips
LGBTQIA+, Nontraditional Relationships, Complex Trauma, PTSD, Attachment, Shame, Aging, Grief, Depression, Anxiety, Parenting, Caregiving, Life Transitions, Self-Esteem
Education: B.S. in Behavioral Science from Bellevue University and a Master of Social Work from Boise State University
Hobbies: I enjoy watching HGTV and learning about renovations and recipes I will never do in real life. I am a huge Marvel fan, love video games, books, and enjoy anything creative that allows me to explore my very limited artistic abilities. In my down time I try to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends.
Clinical Interests: I enjoy working with people who are open to exploring their life experiences and identifying past trauma that may be preventing them from living their best life. I am particularly interested in working with clients who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or who practice nontraditional relationships, including polyamory and kink. I have experience working with complex trauma, shame, depression, suicidality, self-harm, anxiety, and grief. I am happy working individually, with couples, families, or in groups. I have training in TF-CBT, Trauma & Attachment, CAMS, ACT for PTSD, and Grief Counseling. I am trained in EMDR and FLASH. I utilize an eclectic style of therapy and often include components of CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy in my treatment planning.
Therapy Philosophy: I believe everyone can benefit from therapy; at its core, therapy is about building a relationship in which we feel safe to embrace and become our authentic selves. We are all works in progress and I feel every one of us could use a little support and compassion along the way. Therapy works when you feel safe, heard, and supported through whatever challenge you are currently undergoing. My job as your therapist is to be there to walk with you through it all. I cannot do the work for you, but I can make doing it easier and more effective. I liken therapy to moving a refrigerator ... could I do it alone? Sure, but it would be really freakin' hard. If someone else were there to help me carry that load, maneuver it around the obstacles, and set it into place, that would make it all so much easier to handle.
Kathleen Johnson
Depression, Anxiety, Complex Trauma, PTSD, Shame, Attachment Issues, Life Transitions, Assisting Parent of Children with Special Needs, Traditional/Nontraditional Relationships, LGBT Ally, Culturally Sensitive Counseling
Education: B.S. in Sociology from the University of South Dakota and a Masters in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University.
Hobbies: I enjoy expressing myself creatively whether that is renovating furniture, painting, or writing. I am a huge fan of sci-fi and enjoy binging anything in this genre when time allows. My weekends and evenings are generally centered around family-oriented activities that include my husband, growing children, and/or fur babies.
Clinical Interests: I was raised in a culturally, ethnically, and religiously diverse home. I recognize trauma as a sociocultural concept and believe culturally sensitive and affirming care is critical. I enjoy working form individuals from diverse backgrounds and helping my clients in uncover unresolved issues that might be impeding them from getting where they want in life. These unresolved areas of “stuck-ness” can frequently include complex trauma, childhood emotional neglect, attachment issues, and shame, just to name a few. I have experiencing working with kids, teens adults, and older adults. I provide services to individuals struggling with trauma, mood disorders, substance use, suicidal ideation, SPMI’s, personality disorders and marriage and family issues. I have experience and training with DBT, trauma focused CBT, REBT, and other attachment-oriented approaches.
Therapy Philosophy: I believe in meeting client’s “where they are”. Therapy is a process of guided self-discovery that ideally occurs within an affirming and collaborative therapy relationship. It is my hope that I can work with the client to help the identify the multifaceted problems that frequently exist, much like layers of an onion. Working towards a solution includes creating a validating environment that can allow the client to feel heard without judgment. I believe that true change happens when we gain the sort of insight that can come from allowing ourselves to step back and see the bigger picture. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you work towards your own treatment plan goals.
For more information about me, please visit https://kathleen-affirmingjoy.com/