Lisa Christensen (she/her)

I obtained my MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University. Previously, I earned a BA in Music. I am a great appreciator of the arts. I strive to participate in music, theater, visual art, and comedy as the seasons of my life allow. Humor is a hallmark of my conversational style. :) I believe therapy should be a non-judgmental, and nurturing place where you are challenged to interact with yourself and others in new ways that expand your flexibility and strength. As a human being your greatest privilege-- and the key to a meaningful life-- is embracing the agency you have to choose your own path and gracefully allow others to do the same. We will work together to identify and validate your unique challenges, strengths, values, build your resources, and explore ways to move forward that are congruent with your desires for relationships and self.

Developing the capacity to be self-led is the foundation of mental and emotional health. Life constantly ebbs and flow; the people and situations around us sometimes affirm us, and sometimes assault us. Whether we are relying on outside forces to reinforce our beliefs or justify our rebellion the heart of the problem is the same: living in a state of reaction. Reactivity breeds anxiety and distress. Allowing the actions and beliefs of others (or the fear of them) to govern our choices leaves us feeling fragile and constrained to act in ways that don’t fully represent our values and needs; over time this diminishes our capacity to respond to difficulty in adaptive ways. Emotional and relational stability come from developing the capacity to become self-led, and from allowing those around us the opportunity to choose the same. You are wiser, quirkier, and more interesting and resilient than you know.