Seattle Therapy Alliance is proud of the practitioners who make STA their counseling home. As a coveted counseling in/externship site, we are privileged that we can be highly selective in our hiring decisions, accepting only counselors who exhibit outstanding traits throughout our rigorous application procedure. Thus, while our practitioners are not yet licensed in the State of Washington, we are confident that each of them practices ethically and is safe, capable and compassionate. Our record of significantly above-average attendance and satisfaction by patients demonstrates the effectiveness of our counselors. We hope you’ll get to know them as well!
Co-Founder, Director of Administration & Recruitment
Susan Hall is a Licensed Mental Health counselor in the state of Washington and has worked in social service and counseling settings since 1991. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social work, she co-founded a transitional housing program for women and children in central Indiana where she directed the program until her entry into graduate training in 1998. Susan obtained her Master of Arts in Counseling in 2000. In 2004, she opened Greenlake Counseling Services (GCS), a counseling community that provides low-cost office space for private practitioners; GCS is now home to nearly 30 practitioners. Susan received her Doctor of Ministry in International Feminist Theology from San Francisco Theological Seminary in May of 2008; she was fortunate to study abroad with women from every continent while learning the perspectives of feminist theologians from around the world. Dr. Hall has also received post-graduate training in art therapy, marriage and family therapy, gender and violence, attachment theories, feminist ethics, Clinical Supervision, and the residual psychological effects of slavery. She is qualified as an Approved Supervisor in Washington State for therapists seeking ongoing supervision.
Co-Founder, Director of Clinical Supervision & Education
Julie Cake has a long history of service in her community. Dating as far back as she can remember, Julie has consistently found herself in mentorship and leadership roles among her peers. She entered the field of education after receiving a teaching scholarship and graduated with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995. She worked as an English and history teacher in the North Carolina public schools for five years and was part of the founding faculty of Kestrel Heights Charter School serving many at-risk teenagers. As a teacher, Julie conducted class seminars using literature and art and taught students how to express their own ideas and communicate in a group setting. She started after school groups addressing various emotional issues that her students faced, always going above and beyond her duties. Julie’s students scored highly on state tests year after year. In 2000, Julie moved to Seattle to pursue her Masters in Counseling. Upon graduation, she had 500 hours of practicum experience and had completed a 250 hour internship working with sexual abuse victims. Julie is a life-long learner and has continued her education over the years to better serve her clients. Most recently she undertook a yearlong course on clinical theory and practice through Wellspring Family Services and has received further training on new HIPAA laws. Julie has taken the initial training in EMDR, Lifespan Integration and the Emotional Regulation Skills portion of DBT. She finds her in-depth work with clients the most fulfilling side of treatment. She regularly consults with more experienced therapists and keeps up on current research in her field. Julie’s areas of interests include adolescents, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief/loss, PTSD, relationship problems, sexual abuse and women’s issues. Julie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and an approved Clinical Supervisor in Washington State. She lives in Seattle with her husband, two boys, and two cats.
Clinical Supervisor
Wendy S. David, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who currently works with women veterans at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle and provides supervision to interns and residents, particularly in the areas of women’s issues, trauma, and PTSD. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington in 1991 and is also a Clinical Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. She presents both locally and internationally on various aspects of disability, personal safety, and mental health. Dr. David’s specialty is trauma treatment and she is skilled in Cognitive Behavioral and Evidence Based treatments for PTSD, depression, and eating disorders. She treats individuals, couples, families, and groups and has developed many innovative treatment programs for trauma survivors at the VA. She has published two books in the field of disability and empowerment which have received wide acclaim around the world. Her first book, “Safe without Sight: Crime Prevention and Self Defense Strategies for People who are Blind,” serves as the foundation of personal safety curricula in schools and agencies for visually impaired individuals around the country and in Australia. Her most recent book, “Sites Unseen: Traveling the World without Sight,” promotes accessibility and inclusive tourism for people with disabilities. She lives with her husband and their two Guide Dogs and when not working, writing, or presenting, enjoys skiing, traveling, reading, and the theater.
Counseling Intern
Marlaina is interested in working with women as they journey into themselves and into their relationships and communities. She is particularly focused on trauma and abuse recovery, women’s issues, and military family issues. Marlaina knows there are moments in life when we feel alone, misunderstood, and confused. That’s why she believes therapy should be a place of being sought, heard, and engaged.
Marlaina is a big fan of journeys and knows first-hand that the most rewarding can sometimes be the most difficult. She served six years in the Air Force, stationed in Texas, California and Washington, DC. After, she and her husband spent a decade overseas living and working in the military communities of Italy and Germany, where their two children were born. Marlaina graduated from Excelsior College in 2009 with a degree in Liberal Studies. She’s now in her final year of training in Counseling Psychology masters program at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.
Counseling Intern
Grace is working toward her MA in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling; she will graduate from Antioch University in Spring, 2012. Through her Antioch training and work at the Antioch Mental Health Clinic, she has counseled people experiencing disability issues, anxiety, loneliness, depression, and culturally-based hardships. In addition, Grace has extensive experience working with elders and families. Through her life-long interest in social issues, she continues to believe in the relationship as a true catalyst for change, deeply honoring her client’s worldview, which may be very different than her own.
In therapy, Grace uses a systems perspective, and though she focuses on the present—helping to fine-tune awareness through mindfulness--she also believes we are greatly affected by our past experiences, whether it is family dysfunction, religious upbringing, abuse and neglect, discrimination, or any kind of societal influence. Grace hopes to create a safe, reflective space where women can better understand and honor their strengths and challenges, their hopes and dreams, and their unattended sorrows.
Counseling Intern
Stacie is an apple pie enthusiast who is also currently pursuing her passion for the healing potential of individual and group therapy. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Theology in 1999, and spent the next nine years caring for her two daughters with her husband in her native Montana, leading small groups in various contexts, and beginning to explore her own story. She moved to Seattle in 2009 to pursue further education, and will graduate with her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology in the spring of 2012. Stacie believes the therapeutic relationship is like that of an editor and author, where the client’s stories are explored together in order to open up the potential for new storylines to emerge.
Counseling Intern
Jessica Szymas graduated from Cornerstone University in 2007 with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After living in Grand Rapids, Michigan all of her life, she got married and moved to Seattle with her new husband. Jessica will graduate with her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology in June 2012. Although she has wanted to be a counselor since she was a young girl, she has only recently discovered her strong interests in human sexuality, cultural identity, and spirituality. She hopes therapy will always be a place to explore, to ask hard questions, to risk, to be creative, and to dance. Jessica feels blessed by the opportunity to journey alongside beautiful and courageous women.
Counseling Intern
Karen Lizzy is entering her final year at Saybrook University in the Masters Program at LIO’s with a degree in Systems Counseling. She received her BA of Arts from the Evergreen State College and her Chemical Dependency training from Seattle Central Community College. She has 10 years in the social and human services field serving diverse client populations in multiple settings. She has worked in various positions over the years including mental health case management as well as providing outreach to homeless teens. Karen considers herself bi-racial and is an enrolled tribal member (Ojibway) and has studied issues related to Native Americans. Karens believes the therapeutic relationship is sacred and is honored to be present in a healing journey. Karen is compassionate, nonjudgemental and provides a safe place for women from all walks of life to have a voice.
Counseling Intern
Jacquie was born and raised in the midwest, and she has spent last four years with her husband enjoying life on the west coast. She moved to Seattle for graduate studies at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology where she will graduate in April 2011 with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. During her graduate work, Jacquie was trained in relational, psychodynamic psychotherapy. Her areas of interest include women's studies, gender identity development, feminist theory, and theology. Jacquie looks forward to joining her clients in their search to live more freely and love more deeply.
Counseling Intern
Vicki is currently completing an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling at Antioch University. Prior to interning with Seattle Therapy Alliance, she spent most of 2011 working with clients in the Antioch Counseling Clinic. Her developing practice draws from many years of assisting others in their growth and life transitions.
Vicki's passion to help others in their self-empowerment first came through a love of writing. Early in her career, she earned her B.A. at Purdue University and her M.A. at Middlebury College in English Literature. During the 1990s, she worked at Eastern Washington University assisting students of diverse ages and backgrounds to develop their unique "voice" through writing. In addition to her work with writers, Vicki has supported women and girls in their growth for many years. From 1990-93 she volunteered at Seattle Rape Relief, encouraging survivors in their healing process. She also volunteered with YWCA's Domestic Violence Hotline, helping women find safety and hope. More recently, she received her massage therapy license with the State of Washington, and has had a massage practice since 2002.
Vicki's counseling brings together her knowledge of attachment theory, trauma recovery, Buddhist mindfulness practices, and the healing power of creativity. She believes throughout our lives, in every step of change, we face losses great and small that, if named and shared, can lead us to freer, more enlivened sense of being.
Counseling Intern
A California native, Ariana Silva holds a BA from San Diego State University. After giving birth to her daughter, she moved to Seattle to pursue her graduate degree. Ariana will be graduating with an MA in Counseling from Seattle University in the summer of 2012.
Ariana is interested in exploring how the process of therapy helps clients live a more full and meaningful existence. Ariana believes that the key to real growth and self-actualization is the development of a trusting therapeutic relationship. She is committed to fostering an unconditionally accepting and mutually respecting counseling experience. Ariana believes that when given a safe space to be present, build awareness, and make positive changes, every individual has the ability to live the life they desire.
Counseling Intern
Emily is completing her M.A. in Psychology - System Counseling, from LIOS Graduate College of Saybrook University. She resonates with a mindfulness-based, humanistic, relational approach to therapy, with a systems lens. Her sincere desire is to host women as they move up against and through obstacles, to welcome difficult emotions presented by past trauma, abuse, PTSD, and grief. Emily wants to provide a safe place for a woman to find her voice, put words to her story, speak her truth, and move into and through her emotions. She also enjoys family work: particularly with couples, mothers and daughters, sisters, and step-mothers and daughters during transition points or difficult times. Emily considers this work sacred, and feels a great sense of honor and privilege to work with her clients. Recently married and a new mother, Emily can relate to those with kids and those without, and clients searching for the right partner and those who have found him or her. She lived a long life before finding what she was looking for, and considers herself living proof that with a lot of personal work, trust in one’s self, and a committed therapist, anyone have a fulfilling and wonderful life.
Counseling Intern
As an intern in systems counseling, I hope to create a time and place for my patients to explore the nature of their struggles and in doing so to find acceptance, appreciation and gratitude for herself in the face of struggle. I have come to believe that self-acceptance is the first step for change and healing. For this reason, I am grateful to be able to witness clients as they find their way to change and, most importantly, to learn how to be witnesses of change in themselves. As witnesses of their own transformations, patients can then lead themselves to greater health and happiness.
Counseling Intern
Dipa graduated from Western Washington University in 2004 with a Bachelors in Human Services and a minor in Psychology. She has a little over 8 yrs of social service experience, working for organizations ranging from non-profit to private healthcare sector. She has a background in working with victims/survivors of domestic violence in shelter setting, providing advocacy based counseling, geraitric and older adults in community mental health, and counseling addiction behavior modification.
Her counseling philosophy is taking a person centered approach in addressing clients needs and working in collaboration with them to reach their goals. She is experienced in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focus Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. She will be completing her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from City University of Seattle in Bellevue this Spring 2012. She also currently interns with Navos Mental Health in their Older Adults Outreach Program.
Dipa was born in India, but was raised in the US and has been a Washingtonian most of her life. She is a true believer that each person creates their own destiny and is capable of being the strength to achieve whatever your heart desires. She is excited to be working with strong individuals in helping the client recognize their full potential.