Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
4 therapists available in Seattle
As a child of immigrant parents (both from different countries), I understand some of the challenges that families face as they ad...
About
As a child of immigrant parents (both from different countries), I understand some of the challenges that families face as they adjust to a new culture and different generations.
Mary Lou Macarius is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who specializes in treating anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral issues, grief, parenting issues, school issues, stress, women's issues, and child therapy. She has more than 20 years of experience, working at institutions such as the Pacific Lutheran University Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic and Good Samaritan Behavioral Health Care Center, as well as in public schools serving students K-12th grade, working independently in Comfort Counseling. She also has experience serving individuals from six years old to 65 years old from her time at the Renton Counseling Center. She is a clinical member of The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Mary Lou received a Bachelor of Social Work from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Lutheran University. She utilizes multiple treatment approaches including, but not limited to, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and structural family therapy. Mary Lou's dominant practicing theories are those of structural family therapy, which focuses on the ways in which families function and the changes that need to be made in the family structure to help them function more effectively, and solution-focused theory, which looks at the solutions that the client brings to therapy for coping with problems and builds on the client’s successes. She also likes to use some narrative therapy, which is focused on changing the way that you look at your life or problems.
Mary Lou is a trauma survivor and comes from an immigrant family, both of which influence the work that she does on a day-to-day basis. This, along with her clinical experience, allows her to support and understand her clients in unique ways.
Education and training
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I provide inclusive, evidence-based mental health care grounded in empathy, respect, and collaboration....
I provide inclusive, evidence-based mental health care grounded in empathy, respect, and collaboration.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 4 years of experience providing comprehensive mental health care across the lifespan. I specialize in psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and psychotherapy for conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, schizophrenia, conduct disorders, and insomnia. I focus on evidence-based treatment designed to reduce symptoms, improve functioning, and promote lasting emotional well-being in outpatient and telehealth settings.
I earned my Doctorate in Nursing from Arkansas State University. My approach combines clinical expertise with empathy to support individuals as they navigate life’s challenges. I tailor each treatment plan through careful evaluation, medication management, and therapy to help clients build resilience, balance, and overall well-being.
I understand the challenges of living with mental health conditions and strive to create a safe, judgment-free space where clients feel heard and supported. My goal is to provide compassionate, personalized care that encourages healing and growth, helping each person take meaningful steps toward recovery and emotional stability.
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly and rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” —Maya Angelou...
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly and rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” —Maya Angelou
Nanette Guild is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience supporting individuals navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship transitions, identity concerns, and chronic illness. She brings warmth, humor, and a collaborative spirit to her work, helping clients feel empowered and understood. Nanette creates a safe space that honors each person’s story, promoting healing through trust and emotional connection.
Nanette earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Her approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and solution-focused techniques to support emotional regulation, resilience, and well-being.
Nanette values diversity, equity, and justice and believes in the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit. She uses a strength-based, interactive, and often humorous style to support long-term growth. Clients often appreciate her humility, open-mindedness, and deep respect for their lived experiences. Reach out to Nanette today!
I have been practicing therapy for more than a decade and have a lot of experience in a variety of settings helping individuals, c...
I have been practicing therapy for more than a decade and have a lot of experience in a variety of settings helping individuals, couples, and families deal with very diverse needs.
Cindy Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 13 years of experience working with individuals, families, and couples. She specializes in depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, relationship conflicts, grief and loss, and has worked with people from a variety of backgrounds. She is open, friendly, and enjoys using humor to help with the healing process. She sees the complexities of life and strives to assist in identifying patterns and empowering people to grow. She did her internship at Mesilla Valley Psychiatric Hospital and completed her first 5 years of training working in community mental health centers.
Cindy completed her Master's Degree at New Mexico State University. She practices an eclectic approach of treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, solution-focused couples therapy, and motivational interviewing.
The world is full of chaos and trials, and none of us are exempt from challenges. Cindy is capable and competent at helping people understand that they are not broken and do not need to be "fixed;" they need to be understood, seen, validated, and encouraged to see the value and opportunities for change in their lives. Book your appointment with her today!
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My go-to approach to family therapy is to build change in the entire family. This way, changes can be lasting, because every family member is changing and continues to make changes in each other. I find the best benefit in working with the whole system, which takes into account the individual dimensions of each person's experience. To provide effective and lasting psychological help, I need to understand and motivate individuals and influence their interactions.
I think in circular patterns or explanations that take mutual interactions and influence into account. The point isn't to shift blame from one person to another, but to get away from blaming altogether. The power of family therapy comes from bringing everyone together to transform interactions. I address problems at their source. The advantage of family therapy is that it works directly on the unhappy relationships that bring people to therapy.
I know a client is making meaningful progress in family therapy when I see that family members are able to have meaningful conversations where they are able to address the problem directly.
Clients can supplement their time in family therapy by working on meaningful communication.
To prepare for their first family therapy session, an individual can have a conversation with family members in which they discuss what they are hoping to get from family therapy and what they would like/hope for from other family members.
Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.
Thriveworks family therapists in Seattle, WA usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.
The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.
This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.
In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.
Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.
Thriveworks therapists in Seattle, WA offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.
Have you ever had regrets about the way a friendship ended or a conversation went? Have you ever spent time thinking about how a change in perspective might have been the difference between an argument that ended in screaming and one that ended peacefully?
If you and your loved ones are facing challenges, conflicts, or major life transitions, a family therapist can help you traverse those situations delicately and effectively so you can leave those regrets and “what ifs” behind you. Under the guidance of a trained professional, you can have the chance to mend old wounds, open up lines of communication, and build stronger family ties for a brighter future together. When you’re ready to give your family relationships the care and attention they deserve, consider meeting with a family therapist at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA. We look forward to helping you and your family members thrive.
Every family has its share of problems. But sometimes, those ups and downs can be particularly challenging: The downs can start to outweigh the ups, long-standing issues can breed resentment, and it can be difficult to respond with grace and patience.
If your family is facing a challenge, there’s a good chance it falls into one of the categories listed below:
If any of these challenges sound familiar to you, consider scheduling a session with us at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA. We’ll speak with you and your loved ones and come up with a solution that addresses your specific issues.
No matter the type of therapy that’s selected, you can be sure that your therapist, counselor, or another mental health professional will do all that they can to foster a safe and open environment. You can expect your family to take away a variety of skills and benefits including:
These skills and benefits may be established through narrative therapy, play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or other forms of therapy. They may also be the result of in-session exercises such as the miracle question, mirroring, and role-playing. Your therapist or counselor at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA may even assign you out-of-session tasks to complete as part of your therapy.
We urge you to speak with your family about the positive impacts of therapy. Trying something different can be intimidating but our professionals are trained to create comfortable environments that give each family member a chance to feel heard and understood.
Our professional psychiatric providers, counselors, therapists, and other providers are available to speak with you in person or online. If you’d like, you can even schedule appointments during the evenings or weekends. To make things simpler, we accept insurance from many different providers and offer a flexible cancellation policy.
Long-term and short-term care is available for you and your family. Whatever your goals, we want to help you achieve them. Contact us at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA to set up an appointment today.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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