Debbie Parnell

Welcome! I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate who offers counseling to teens, individuals, and couples. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Lutheran University. As a systemic therapist, I believe that the problems we often come to therapy for are influenced by factors relating to the systems we are a part of and are in turn affected by the families we grew up in, our race, ethnicity, culture, religion, and other identities that we may hold. It also means that I see relationships through a lens of patterns between each other instead of problems occurring in isolation. We often get “stuck” in patterns that aren’t serving us, and therapy, like jammed cogs in a machine, can help client’s get “unstuck” from those patterns. I strive to create a safe, non-blaming, non-pathologizing place for clients to explore their goals and create a path to growth and freedom from problems they are facing. I use Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Strategic Therapy and others based on client needs. Just as every person is unique, a one-size-fits-all theory is not how I approach therapy. In addition to my work with individuals, I am passionate about working with couples. Intimate partner relationships are such an important part of the human experience. It is in this place that people can experience the deepest feelings of love and intimacy, but can also experience the deepest wounds. Most of us have spent lots of time training to do a job or obtain an education, but very little time learning how to be in a partnership with someone. Factor in that many people don’t want to replicate the parenting experience they’ve had or don’t feel like they’ve seen healthy partner relationships, and it is not surprising that many couples find themselves feeling stuck in their relationships. Add in the compounding stress of life, such as grief, having children, health issues, mental health challenges, and aging parents, and the disconnection often intensifies. I work with couples to help them restore intimacy and trust, improve communication, and promote healing and growth. I use many modalities, but specifically lean towards Gottman and Solution Focused Brief Therapy, as I have found these modalities to help couples experience change relatively quickly from patterns they have felt stuck in. If this resonates with you, let’s talk! A little about me: I have been married for over 17 years and have 2 amazing teenagers. I am an avid reader who considers herself a life-long learner. I love to be outside in the PNW, whether it’s enjoying the saltwater, the mountains, or even the rain. I have a long history of counseling in several fields. Some of my previous counseling work includes teens, folks injured on-the-job within Washington’s Worker’s Compensation system, and Native American/Alaska Native families. Reach out by email or set up a free consultation to get started. I see clients from Compassion Wellness in-person or virtually. https://www.compassionwellnesscenter.com/debbieparnell