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PS Portrait of Patricia Sumlin

Patricia Sumlin

Practical, direct therapy for steady progress

LMFT Washington

Experience
25 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English

About Patricia

Patricia Sumlin is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience. She aims to help people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or exhausted find clearer ways forward.

Background and approach

She writes plainly and works directly so clients understand what to expect and can begin using new skills quickly. Patricia combines practical strategies with close listening.

Sessions focus on building concrete coping skills, managing strong emotions, and improving everyday relationships. She draws on approaches such as the Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and attachment-based ideas to guide conversations and practice exercises.

Her background includes leadership roles in behavioral health settings, work in community programs, and experience offering trauma-informed care in diverse environments. This experience informs a straightforward style that balances honest feedback with respect and compassion.

Patricia often helps people who are recovering from traumatic bonding, coping with grief, or managing long-term stress and mood concerns. In sessions she uses goal-focused conversations, skill practice, and reflective work to boost confidence and day-to-day functioning.

She also supports people navigating identity questions, ADHD and neurodiversity concerns, or challenges tied to chronic illness and caregiving stress. Patricia emphasizes collaboration so each person helps shape their treatment plan.

Her approach is plainspoken and geared to steady progress. People meet practical tools, clear explanations, and a therapist who aims to make change feel doable rather than overwhelming.

Approaches that guide online work

Patricia integrates methods that focus on behavior, values, and relationships. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts without getting stuck, clarify what matters to them, and take steps toward those values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds shape current patterns and helps people try new ways of relating and regulating emotions in relationships. The Gottman Method informed work emphasizes practical skills for communication and conflict management to improve connection and reduce repeated negative cycles.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. Patricia listens to the client’s goals and tries different techniques to see what fits. Together they set practical steps, adjust methods if needed, and track small improvements over time so therapy stays useful and relevant.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video lets people practice communication skills face-to-face, phone can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, and short chats or texts are useful for quick check-ins or skill reminders between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or busy days while keeping the focus on steady, manageable progress.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns can be addressed?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, grief, intimacy and relationship struggles, parenting and family stress, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is direct and practical, combining skill building with reflective conversation so clients learn tools they can use between sessions.
What experience does she bring?
Patricia has 25 years of clinical experience across outpatient clinics, community programs, trauma-informed work in rural settings, and leadership roles in behavioral health.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist - CA LMFT and WA LMFT LF - practicing from Washington.
Which languages are offered and can international clients connect?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

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

Licensed in

California, Washington

Languages

English