- Thoughts and habits
- Straightforward feedback
- Skill building
About Patricia
Patricia Sumlin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of experience. She speaks plainly and listens closely, helping people who are worn down by stress, anxiety, grief, relationship strain, or other hard life events. Her work often focuses on everyday thoughts and habits that get in the way of feeling steady and capable.
Patricia uses a mix of practical strategies and deeper reflection. Sessions aim to build skills for regulating emotions, reduce overwhelming thinking patterns, and strengthen relationships. She favors straightforward, honest conversation and gives clear feedback so clients know what to try between visits.
Her background includes running outpatient programs, leading DBT groups, directing behavioral health services in medical settings, and offering bereavement counseling in hospice. She has worked in diverse communities, including Native American and Native Alaskan populations, and in programs serving people coping with homelessness, substance use, and involvement with the justice system.
In practice she draws on approaches such as cognitive behavioral methods, acceptance and commitment ideas, attachment-focused work, dialectical behavior strategies, and client-centered conversation. Those tools are used to address issues like trauma, addiction, ADHD, body image, parenting stress, and occupational burnout. Patricia emphasizes collaboration so people build lasting skills and clearer choices.
She practices in Washington and provides care in English. Prospective clients who want to begin complete an online matching questionnaire and schedule a first session based on Patricia's availability.
Patricia uses a mix of practical strategies and deeper reflection. Sessions aim to build skills for regulating emotions, reduce overwhelming thinking patterns, and strengthen relationships. She favors straightforward, honest conversation and gives clear feedback so clients know what to try between visits.
Her background includes running outpatient programs, leading DBT groups, directing behavioral health services in medical settings, and offering bereavement counseling in hospice. She has worked in diverse communities, including Native American and Native Alaskan populations, and in programs serving people coping with homelessness, substance use, and involvement with the justice system.
In practice she draws on approaches such as cognitive behavioral methods, acceptance and commitment ideas, attachment-focused work, dialectical behavior strategies, and client-centered conversation. Those tools are used to address issues like trauma, addiction, ADHD, body image, parenting stress, and occupational burnout. Patricia emphasizes collaboration so people build lasting skills and clearer choices.
She practices in Washington and provides care in English. Prospective clients who want to begin complete an online matching questionnaire and schedule a first session based on Patricia's availability.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
California, Washington
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts without letting those thoughts decide their actions. It focuses on values and small, steady steps toward a life that matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the everyday thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches concrete strategies to change them. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers practical tools for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Patricia will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences and will adjust the plan over time based on what helps most.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, as specific online options are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people continue work on skills between meetings and keep momentum when life gets hectic. Licensed professionals can tailor exercises, homework, and communication to suit remote sessions while focusing on practical habit changes and clearer thinking.
Frequently asked questions
Which concerns does Patricia focus on?
She works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, ADHD, parenting stress, and career concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is direct and practical with an emphasis on skill building. Sessions combine reflective conversation with exercises to change unhelpful thoughts and daily habits.
How many years of clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of experience working in outpatient clinics, behavioral health settings, hospice, and community programs.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is an LMFT and provides services in Washington.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients seen?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Patricia?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.