I have worked with clients in a variety of settings including corrections, community
centers, Native American reservations, police departments, schools, and private
practices. Throughout my career I have had the honor of witnessing people
demonstrate tremendous courage and resiliency. I believe in a non-judgmental,
strength-based approach where I work alongside my clients as they navigate through
life’s challenges.
I am here as a guide, support, and mirror to assist you to see yourself more clearly and love yourself more deeply. Let’s walk together on this journey to explore what works for you. The moment is now and it is calling for you to embrace this opportunity to focus on what is troubling you, what blocks you, what challenges you, and what ignites you. There is no avoiding the fact that life is hard. At the same time, I know for sure that a life with purpose and balance can be intensely gratifying. We all deserve to live our best lives and experience love, fulfillment, joy, and awe. I strive to provide a safe and inclusive space in which you are free to explore the multiple aspects of yourself and your life’s journey, resulting in self-discovery, growth, and purpose.
My areas of interest include identity development, childhood and past trauma, life stress, body image, depression, anxiety, relationships, grief and loss, life transitions, parenting, and support for teens, college students, and the LGBTQ+ population. Treatment modalities I use include psychodynamic therapy, person-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, internal family systems, narrative therapy, existential therapy, play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness/meditation.
People often feel intimidated by their medical providers. I would hope that you would never feel intimidated by me. I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable and safe relaying your concerns, and during our sessions, you can rely on me to listen attentively to what you have to say.
Having been in general adult private practice for over 20 years, I have the experience and knowledge required to provide guidance for you as you navigate your mental health needs. I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to collaborate with you and your other health care providers as we work together to chart a path toward your well-being.
My goal as a therapist is to offer you a peaceful safe space in which you can share the challenges and difficulties that you face. Together we will work to better understand what has brought these problems forth and what most needs addressing. As you begin the work that allows for a change I can offer information, ideas, and practices to assist in that process and the faith that change will happen.
Having worked in human service settings for over twenty-five years, I’ve found that supportive, strength-based, validating, and compassionate connections are the foundation for psychological growth and overall wellness.
Celia is a bilingual (English-Spanish), bicultural psychotherapist who has over 26 years of experience working in the human service field in social service, school, health care, residential, and outpatient mental health settings. She has extensive knowledge and implementation of trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices. She has over 12 years of experience providing culturally responsive supervision of psychotherapists in training, graduate students, and less experienced staff, as well as professional development training on how to work effectively with Latino families.
I believe that therapy provides a space to slow down, reconnect with our needs and learn skills that can help us to heal, grow and cope. I can help with a broad range of concerns and have experience with a variety of issues including addiction, dual diagnosis, and trauma. My approach is holistic, meaning that I assess for multiple factors that contribute to mental health including physical health, nutrition, and overall wellness. I also am very interested in the latest neurological research and this definitely informs my practice. I have been told, both personally and as a therapist, that I have a gentle presence, a peaceful nature, am down to earth, and easy to talk to.
I am fluent in Spanish and have significant experience working with clients whose primary language is Spanish.
My approach is strengths-based and my belief is that there is always the potential for change. I am open to and interested in working with individuals (adults and children) and families of all ages and backgrounds. My work experience includes counseling people in a wide variety of life and family stages and phases, including new parents, parents of teenagers, and people who are primary caregivers for loved ones who are at end of life.
I have experience working with individuals, couples, and families. I have had the opportunity to work with families in both the school and clinical environments. I enjoy working with the challenges involving adolescents and parenting. I have also had over 20 years of experience working with individuals and families healing from violent crimes. I have extensive training in the areas of trauma, grief, and loss, which have allowed me to further develop my expertise in this area of specialty. I have had advanced training in EMDR with a focus on first responders, complex PTSD, and couples. I believe in the mind-body connection and work with individuals to help them develop health and balance in their lives.
I see therapists and clients as partners in the therapy process, working together to create a path to changes clients wish to make. I provide a safe place to learn skills, explore feelings, heal from losses and traumatic experiences, and alter self-defeating thinking. This includes a focus on identifying and expanding upon strengths and cultivating compassion for self and others.
I offer skills from my therapeutic toolbox: mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, relaxation, and guided imagery, Ego State Therapy, Collaborative Proactive Solutions, sand tray, play therapy, expressive arts therapies, crisis intervention, and brief therapy approaches.
The work of therapy doesn’t take place outside the context of a person’s physical health, family, social and economic situation, or cultural, racial, spiritual, sexual, and gender identities. For children and adolescents, add developmental factors, school, and peer relationships. In my approach to therapy, these aspects of clients’ lives are integral to creating a holistic therapeutic process.
People are fascinating to me, all genders, sexualities, ages (over 18), colors, brain quirks & neurotribes.
My career began as faculty director of the UW Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison Service—in hospital; outpatient resident Supervisor; & depression research. After the birth of my 1st child, Tenure Track was disallowed unless full-time. With the birth of 2nd child, I left University and joined Psychiatric Services SC outpatient practice. My work with the Women’s Health Initiative opened up a spot in UW’s Women’s Health Fellowship. Following, I served as a Medical Director for HospiceCare and Psychiatry Consultant to a Residential Care Center for people with dementia. Working with DOC inmates via Telepsychiatry deepened my cultural understanding. In 2008 I joined FTCM & since 2016, have focused on this practice. I also teach in UW Gender Issues in Psychotherapy Seminar, covering relational capacities, gender similarities & differences – biological & cultural, gender fluidity, psychotherapies.
I believe each person is fundamentally whole and resourceful by their very nature. I offer a supportive, strength -based and abiding space to partner with you in exploring life’s challenges. Grounded in approaches of mindful awareness and compassion for self and others, I’ll partner with you toward making sustainable change as you access your own inner wisdom to live according to your values and needs in creating a more vibrant life for what’s important to you.
Jordyn Ackerman, LMFT
Jean Bae, MD
Melinda Bailey, PhD
Mary Batson, LPC
Elizabeth Hudson, LCSW
Celia Huerta, MS, LPC
Amy Kucin, MSSW, LCSW
Barb Loevinger, MD
Sabrina Loomis, MSSW, LCSW
Mary McAuliffe, LPC
Martha York, MSW, LCSW
Jean Bae, MD
Mary Batson, LPC
Anne Beal, LCSW
Katie Cook, LMFT
Aimee Harris, LPC
Amy Kucin, MSSW, LCSW
Sabrina Loomis, MSSW, LCSW
Kathryn Mazack, LPC
Mary McAuliffe, LPC
Judith Utevsky, LCSW
Celia Huerta, MS, LPC
Amy Kucin, MSSW, LCSW
My objective is to empower you to take ownership of your story in order to thrive, and for your family to be restored to one another through the healing space of therapy. I value whole-person care, taking into account the context of your family, life, culture, and beliefs. I utilize evidence-based practices and compassionate therapy by helping you take ownership of your relationships and recovery process as you seek to meet your goals.
I have experience working with a variety of clients with different backgrounds and cultures. I am confident in my work with children as young as five years old to elderly adults. I’ve worked with children, adolescents, adults, parents, couples, families of origin, adoptive families, foster families, and groups. I believe that we are all connected to one another and can help one another heal through our relationships. I take a special interest in incorporating spirituality into my practice if that is important to you. I look forward to the opportunity to partner with you in authoring your story and achieving the narrative you long for.
Your optimal emotional well-being is my primary concern. Together we can journey along your unique path of healing, tapping into your strength, motivation, and resilience for change.
I have nearly 40 years of experience doing psychotherapy. My work embraces the importance of family, friends, and community to a person and how they can help with healing. Couples can heal grudges, break old patterns, learn to manage conflicts, and develop increased closeness and connection.
I have success working with both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Extended family and multigenerational sessions are available, which can include sessions with parents and adult siblings gathering from various locales for a special focus over several hours or days. I can help with the stresses of life transitions, such as adolescence, leaving home, college, empty nest, dealing with aging parents, facing one’s own aging and mortality. People sometimes come to me to work on finding a balance between career/job and personal life.
Clients achieve hopeful and helpful outcomes through my treatment of divorce and stepfamily concerns, such as healing from the inherent losses, dealing with one’s ex, dating, and remarriage, and dealing with the needs of children blending from two families. I look forward to the chance to help you with your concerns in a personal, warm and individualized way.
With over twenty years of experience in a variety of clinical and cultural settings, I offer my clients a warm and non-judgmental space to work. Whether you are seeking therapy to heal from the past or to learn specific tools to deal with troubling symptoms in the present, I am committed to meeting you with the therapeutic approach that works best for you.