I believe in the art of psychotherapy. I was drawn to a healing profession since I was young and often helped others around me. I knew that I wanted to learn all I could about the psychology of our human experience and set out on a lifelong pursuit of learning and practicing psychotherapy.

Specialization
I am an individual and couples Psychologist, and a Washington State Supervisor, specializing in sex therapy and utilizing Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Somatic Practices in my work. I provide supervision to intern and associate level clinicians with Mindful Therapy Group. I am currently licensed as a Psychologist in the state of Washington (PY60885215).

I hold a certificate in Sex Therapy and also Somatic Psychotherapy. Additionally I have completed an externship where I gained advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples and individuals (ICEEFT). I am also a trained Love and Logic facilitator and utilize this model of teaching parenting and utilizing concepts through parent coaching. 

I am a sex-positive and pleasure-focused therapist who utilizes a strength-based approach to treatment and views individuals and their concerns though a holistic lens. I am Kink, Poly and LGBTQIA+ friendly.

Experience and History
I earned a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology from the APA accredited Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. I have over a decade of experience within the mental health field and have provided individual, couples, family, and group therapy to adults, adolescents, and children in outpatient and in-home settings within non-profit organizations, community mental health settings, and group private practice. I developed and managed a program within a large community mental health organization where I provided clinical supervision for a team specialized in treating complex trauma in children, adolescents, and families using Trauma Systems Therapy. Currently I am solely in private practice with a focus on Sex and Somatic Psychotherapies.

Approach to Therapy
I consider myself a Sex Therapist and somatic and systemic focused practitioner. I enjoy working with relational and interpersonal issues. Overall, my approach to therapy is integrative and is informed by many evidenced based practices and theoretical orientations including attachment and Psychodynamic theories, mindfulness-based practices, systemic modalities, body-focused (Somatic) approaches, Behavioral Parent Training models, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Trauma Systems Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and Polyvagal Theory. Beyond the wide breadth of theory, I believe the most important element of therapy is a relationship where clients feel safe and comfortable.

The name Dynamic Impact Services refers to my personal and professional understanding of human nature and how I approach psychotherapy. The term Dynamic is defined as a force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process. It is characterized by constant change, activity, or progress. The term Impact refers to having a strong effect on someone or something. To me, these terms together describe the complex interrelationship of how people affect each other and help shape who we are. We are both the individual and a being that is part of a system, reacting to the dynamics around us. And we cannot ignore either one. Ultimately we have to look at all parts of the system.

I believe that awareness is the gate to change. By engaging in the process of psychotherapy, within the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, you can become aware of the complex interworking of our human experience and begin to feel transformative and lasting change that extends into your environment. I am passionate about creating a holistic, aligned approach to life by developing balance in the most important areas, such as family, friends, personal and professional development, the emotional and mental experience, physical health, sexuality, culture, and spirituality from both top-down (cognitive based) and bottom-up (body based) approaches. Lifelong balance can be achieved by exploring functioning in all these areas and gaining an understanding of how past patterns or traumas can affect responses in the present. By identifying and working through barriers, new patterns can be learned, and healing experiences can be found. Through all of this, resources can be gained and emotional resilience can be improved. I believe that the answer to present suffering is found through understanding the whole system and learning how to strengthen the connection between our mind and body with intentional living. 

Why seek therapy?
A rich, meaningful life is one where we go through experiences and we change and grow. Much like muscles in our bodies, we grow when we are challenged, and we are going to expect it to hurt along the way of reshaping and changing that muscle. The mind and soul grows from experience and hardships. Therapy can help you understand your behavior and emotional experience in new ways as you learn how your past shapes your present and how your environment impacts you. Psychotherapy requires a desire to look within and explore both the past and present and learn new ways of reacting. For this reason, entering into the art of psychotherapy is a courageous decision and has the ability to impact you and your environment in dynamic ways.

Whatever brings you in, my goal is to help you grow toward living a more balanced and fulfilling life. I look forward to meeting you. 

Thank you,

Dr. Jamie Gillen, Ph.D., Founder of Dynamic Impact Services