LGBT therapists in Vancouver, WA

I'm a mental health counselor with roots in teaching and social emotional learning; that background shapes the way I show up with clients, with patience, curiosity, and a genuine belief in each person's capacity to grow. At the heart of my work is empathy and deep listening; I want every client to feel truly met, not just heard.

I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than 20 years of experience — and I've spent much of that time working with women navigating anxiety, ADHD, trauma, grief, and the weight of carrying everything at once. I also work as a clinical supervisor, which means I'm constantly learning, staying sharp, and bringing the best of current practice into my work with clients.

I believe therapy works best when it doesn't feel like a performance. My sessions have room for real talk, a little laughter when it's called for, and honesty about what's hard. I take my own wellbeing seriously — time with my dogs, getting outside — because I know showing up fully requires taking care of myself too.

Lindsey Payton has been working in mental health since 2012. During her work in the therapeutic field, she has found her passion for helping those heal from traumatic events that impact how they view themselves or show up in their relationships. She enjoys working with those on a deeper personal level, as well as couples working through finding their connection.

I currently accept individual adult clients only through Headway. I do not provide couples or family therapy through this platform at this time.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with individuals, couples, and LGBTQ+ clients seeking deeper self-understanding, emotional healing, and more connected relationships. My approach is warm, relational, trauma-informed, and grounded in the belief that healing happens through safety, honesty, and meaningful connection.

I specialize in relationship therapy, anxiety, depression, identity exploration, attachment wounds, complex trauma, and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. I also support clients navigating life transitions, grief, shame, self-worth, communication challenges, and patterns that keep them feeling stuck or disconnected from themselves and others.

My work draws from Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, Internal Family Systems, somatic awareness, humanistic and existential therapy, and trauma-informed care. I help clients slow down, listen inward, understand their patterns, and develop more compassionate and empowered ways of relating.

As a queer-affirming therapist, I am especially passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ clients and relationships. I strive to create a space where clients can bring their full selves—without judgment—and explore healing in a way that honors their identities, histories, relationships, spirituality, and lived experience.

I enjoy learning about ways we can change and understand our human existence. We are thinking, feeling and doing beings. Cognitive behavioral therapy provides a framework to identify ways to do it differently and better. Trauma treatment modalities like EMDR may support processing neurological and physiological reactions and being able to feel secure and safe while staying connected to others more fully. Our story is just that; we write it and edit it. We get to choose the chapters and path of our lives, through the unknowns, mysteries and celebrations.

I am a licensed mental health therapist; I have experience with a diverse, complex, and co-occurring clientele with a broad age range from adolescents to older adults.

Hi, I am Ellen, and I’ve been a licensed mental health counselor for 5 years. I like to create a safe and affirming space for my clients to talk about difficult things. I specialize in treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with a process called ‘Cognitive Processing Therapy’. This process lasts 8-12 sessions (not including intro or assessment) and can reduce trauma symptoms noticably. I also do “regular” talk therapy (Rogerian / Humanistic) with clients who want to discuss hard stuff, process emotions, and get advice in a less structured way.

Let's work together and help you find your direction. My counseling style is highly consultative and coaching-like. It is typically non-directive, as I believe each client pilot's their own ship, but when the situation warrants, there is plenty of idea sharing and strategizing as well.

I have been practicing for 21 years and work with clients of all ages and various backgrounds. I believe that with a strong therapeutic alliance, we can mutually come together and help you find a path forward that suits you.

About Me

Struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and/or chronic illness and still feeling stuck? Many of my clients have done years of talk therapy but continue to feel disconnected. You understand your patterns intellectually, but your nervous system hasn't caught up yet.

In my 22 years of clinical practice, I have found that nervous system dysregulation sits at the crux of all chronic illness, trapping the body in survival mode and blocking true physical and emotional healing. As a University of Washington graduate, I provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based care specializing in trauma resolution, discovering your true life purpose, and helping individuals make meaning out of tragedies. My approach balances academic and clinical rigor with a highly intuitive style, integrating somatic work and core beliefs to create deep, lasting relief. I describe myself as a direct, compassionate "soul sister" with a humorous, no-nonsense style—because let's face it, the human plight is nuts! Beyond individual therapy, I extend this transformative work to the community by offering interactive public workshops designed to help people get out of their heads and step into integrated change.

• Outstanding Patient Reviews - Google reviews (Access Psych Meds)
• Experienced Mental Health Provider (13 years) assisting clients with ADHD (adult) Anxiety Depression Chronic Pain Chronic Sleep problems Mood disorder PTSD: Military combat, childhood & sexual trauma Alcohol Use Disorder
• Dual Master’s Prepared
• ANCC Dual Board Certified - Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Veteran 22 yrs retired US Navy Commander/O-5
• Licensed in 5 States - AZ, CA, OR, MD, WA