Proudly serving Washington State.

Our Kirkland Office is moving to a new home starting December 1, 2024.

625 4th Avenue, Suite 203 Kirkland, Washington 98033

Client Portal

Schedule Appointment

Tara Ellenbest

Intern

Accepting New Clients

Telehealth & In-Person

Children (5+), Teens, Young adults, Adults, LGBTQIA+, Families

Philosophy of Care

I believe in the importance of actively developing a safe and accepting space for my clients to express themselves in an honest and authentic way. My hope is that this safety will allow clients to thoroughly explore various ideas and beliefs about themselves while being challenged as new healthy ideas emerge to identify ways to cope with life stressors. I strive to support clients with exploring their true meaning and purpose in life by integrating heightened self-awareness, self-understanding, self-respect and self-motivation.

I have extensive experience working with various age groups including children, adolescents and young adults with complex issues, setting aside diagnostic labels and judgments while focusing on the client’s unique experience in its full richness and complexity. I work from a client centered approach with holistic and spiritual integration, empowering and motivating my clients throughout the therapeutic process to heal their mind, body and spirit. I have experience working with diverse populations and value understanding my client’s backgrounds, culture and belief systems. I am a loyal advocate and ally to the LGBTQ+ community, BIPOC community, disabled community and additional marginalized populations.

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” -Buddha

Education & Licensure

Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Grand Canyon University- July 2021-Present
Bachelor's Degree in Children Studies with minor in Special Education, Eastern Washington University- August 2013-June 2013

Specialities:

ADHD
Adoption
Anxiety
Attachment Issues
Body Image Issues
Codependency
Coping Skills
Depression

Developmental Disorders
Domestic Abuse
Dual Diagnosis
Eating Disorders
Family Issues/Dynamics
Gender Identity
Grief
LBGTQIA+

Parent Coaching
Peer Relationships
School Issues
Self-Harming
Shame and Guilt
Sleep Issues
Social Skills
Trauma

Mental Disorders:

Anxiety Disorders
Eating Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders
Mood Disorders

Personality Disorders
Trauma-Related Disorders
Thinking Disorders

Treatments:

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Compassion Focused
Culturally Sensitive
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Emotionally Focused

Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Interpersonal
Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative

Clientele:

Children
Teens
Young adults
Adults
LGBTQIA+
Families
Caregivers
Groups (Gender & Identity, Social Skills, Parent-Coaching, Sleep Hygiene, Mindfulness)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% are receiving treatment.
Women are twice as likely to be affected as men.
GAD often co-occurs with major depression.

Panic Disorder(PD)

PD affects 6 million adults, or 2.7% of the U.S. population.
Women are twice as likely to be affected as men.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

SAD affects 15 million adults, or 6.8% of the U.S. population.
SAD is equally common among men and women and typically begins around age 13.
According to a 2007 ADAA survey, 36% of people with social anxiety disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help.

Specific Phobias

Specific phobias affect 19 million adults, or 8.7% of the U.S. population.
Women are twice as likely to be affected as men.
Symptoms typically begin in childhood; the average age-of-onset is 7 years old.

Treatment For Anxiety

Psychotherapy or “talk therapy” can help people with anxiety disorders. To be effective, psychotherapy must be directed at the person’s specific anxieties and tailored to his or her needs.