- Stress and anxiety
- Attachment issues
- DBT and CBT methods
About Patricia
Patricia Sumlin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of experience based in Washington. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, and issues linked to trauma and abuse. She also sees people coping with addiction, grief, intimacy and self-esteem problems, and those managing ADHD and bipolar-related challenges.
Her style is direct and practical. Sessions focus on clear goals and skill building. She aims to help people regulate difficult emotions, reduce unhelpful patterns, and build confidence in daily life. Patricia uses straightforward discussion, feedback, and hands-on strategies rather than abstract talk.
Patricia draws from several evidence-informed methods to guide work in the room. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and shift thinking and behavior patterns. Dialectical behavior approaches add skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Attachment-based ideas help look at how early family patterns influence current relationships and expectations.
Her background includes work in community clinics, residential programs, medical behavioral health, and hospice settings. She has provided DBT groups and led programs for diverse populations, including Native American and Native Alaskan communities. This range feeds a practical understanding of complex life situations and structural stressors.
People considering therapy are invited to reflect on which current family or relationship patterns feel most limiting. Patricia supports focused, goal-oriented work that addresses those family-of-origin patterns and the daily problems they create. To begin, prospective clients are asked to follow the site’s intake steps and schedule an initial session.
How therapeutic approaches guide online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small, committed steps toward them while learning to accept uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. It can help with anxiety, avoidance, and life transitions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people notice patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going, then practices alternative responses and new routines. It often suits stress, depression, and sleep or eating concerns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication, which can help with intense emotions and relationship conflicts.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will discuss goals, what has helped before, and preferences, then try techniques that fit the client’s situation. Plans can be adjusted as work progresses to focus on family-of-origin patterns or current relationship problems.
Confirm available session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Many people find online appointments useful for fitting sessions around work, caregiving, or travel because they can reduce commute time and make scheduling simpler. Phone or video sessions can be selected based on whether a shorter check-in or visual interaction is preferred.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
California, Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does she address?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, addiction, grief, intimacy, ADHD, and related topics.
Which therapeutic approaches are used in sessions?
She integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered work, CBT, and DBT techniques depending on the client’s needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of clinical experience across community, residential, medical behavioral health, and hospice settings.
What credentials and region apply to this therapist?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and Washington (CA LMFT, WA LMFT LF) and practices out of Washington.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How are fees handled and what about payment?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Use the site’s See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.