Kathryn McNiel, LMFT, CMHS (she/her)

I decided to pursue my Masters degree in Couples and Family Therapy at Seattle University. As part of my clinical training, I completed an internship with Navos, a community mental health agency in West Seattle, Washington working as a child, youth and family therapist. After graduation I worked as an in home family therapist and at a community mental health agency. It was through these experiences that led me to establish KM Therapy. Seeking therapy can feel like an intimidating ordeal, my aim is to make it a tranquil and invigorating journey.

As a systems and relationally trained therapist my lens is to examine how you connect with your environment and the impact these interactions have on your well-being. My approach as a justice oriented therapist strives to identify and change oppressive systems (racism, sexism, homophobia) I believe these systems, along with anxiety, depression, and trauma inhibit your ability to thrive. I am supportive and affirming of the LGBTQIA+ community.  I will be there to walk with you through the uncomfortable and perhaps uncharted inner parts of yourself. I will provide a safe and non judgmental space where you can learn and practice how to be vulnerable in your interactions with others.

My work will be rooted in the goal of getting to know and understand you as a human being and your lived experience. I will encourage you to be the best version of yourself. I use attachment theory throughout my work and believe that your relationships with others is a fundamental part of fully understanding yourself. Every human being has a unique lived experience and our time working together will include getting to know where you come from, who your family and friends are and how these relationships intersect with your lived experiences to create the framework of your existence. We will use elements of attachment and emotion focused theory to dive in and better discover how past relationships impact your current emotional state. Where applicable, to help you on your journey, I may infuse my own personal experiences and stories.

An important part of our work together will be identifying your strengths and how we can use those to build upon the skills that inherently lie within you. It is my belief that anxiety, depression and trauma are all factors contributing to your inability to thrive. We will work together to learn tools you’ll feel confident using that can enable your ability to listen to your inner voice. These tools may include elements and techniques of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Person Centered, Attachment Theory, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Sessions may look different from week to week depending on your current situation. There may be times where we need to process the week’s events and others where we go deeper into your past experiences in order to promote healing. Other sessions may solely be focused on learning and practicing new skills in order to incorporate healthier patterns in your daily life. It is my hope that you will leave each session feeling that our time was well spent and focused on your needs in your journey that week.