Patricia Sumlin is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of clinical experience who helps people facing low self-esteem, anxiety, grief, addiction, and major life transitions. She writes and listens in a direct, respectful way so clients feel believed and taken seriously. Her style is practical and straightforward, aimed at building day-to-day coping skills and stronger self-confidence.
Patricia pulls from several evidence-based approaches to fit each person's needs rather than using one fixed method. Sessions focus on understanding patterns that keep problems going, learning emotion regulation tools, and practicing new ways of relating to oneself and others. She emphasizes clear boundaries and honest feedback so progress is steady and understandable.
Her background includes work in outpatient clinics, residential programs, and hospice settings. She has provided services in rural and Indigenous communities, and has experience with trauma-informed care and addiction treatment. That experience informs how she supports people through grief, chronic illness, and the effects of long-term stress.
Patricia often helps individuals process relationship and intimacy concerns, navigate parenting and blended family challenges, and address body image and career-related stress. She also works with people who identify as LGBT and those on the autism spectrum who want to better understand how Asperger’s affects daily life and relationships.
In sessions she uses practical exercises, skills training, and collaborative problem solving. Clients can expect structured guidance, a focus on skill building, and an emphasis on creating more stable, confident daily routines.
Approach and online care that fit your life
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values rather than being driven by fear. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing thinking and behavior patterns that keep problems going, which helps with mood, sleep, and coping skills. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current connections and can help with relationship and intimacy concerns.
Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, try different methods as needed, and adjust the plan based on what is working. Together they decide which techniques to focus on and what skills to practice between sessions.
Before starting online therapy, confirm the current session options, scheduling arrangements, and fees. Discuss what will help you take part comfortably and how to fit appointments around everyday commitments. Agree on the next steps with the therapist so you know what to expect.
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
California, Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Patricia help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, self esteem, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep and eating concerns, parenting stresses, career worries, and ADHD-related challenges.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is direct, practical, and respectful. Sessions focus on building daily coping skills, emotion regulation, and clearer ways of relating to yourself and others.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 25 years of experience across outpatient clinics, residential programs, hospice, and community-based trauma work, including services in Indigenous and rural settings.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with licensure listed for California and Washington, and she practices from Washington state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What should I confirm before booking?
Ask about the current session options and scheduling arrangements before starting. Discuss any communication preferences or access needs with the therapist.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the continue button on this profile, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
