- Attachment patterns
- ACT and CBT methods
- Emotion regulation skills
About Patricia
Patricia Sumlin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Washington with 25 years of experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, and a wide range of other life challenges including blended family issues. She also supports people dealing with addictions, grief, intimacy and parenting strains, ADHD, and career-related stress.
Her approach blends practical skill building with reflective work. Sessions focus on building emotional regulation, improving communication, and developing concrete coping strategies. Patricia uses a mix of evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral techniques and acceptance-focused strategies to help people manage thoughts and behaviors.
She draws on attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns and how early bonds shape current conflicts. Dialectical behavior ideas are used when people need tools for intense emotions and distress tolerance. The work aims to be straightforward, direct, and collaborative rather than abstract.
Patricia’s background includes community mental health, program leadership, and work in challenging settings such as homeless services, hospice, and trauma-informed programs in Alaska. That experience informs practical problem solving and attention to diverse cultural contexts, including work with Native American and Native Alaskan populations.
People who choose her often want clear strategies they can use between sessions. To get started, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, and fees vary with location.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and focus on actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life transitions to help people move toward what matters instead of getting stuck on thoughts.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at relationship patterns and early bonds to understand current conflicts. This approach is useful for people who want to change how they relate to partners or household members and to reduce repeating old patterns.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Patricia collaborates with each person to pick strategies that match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs. She may combine acceptance ideas, attachment focus, and cognitive-behavioral techniques so people gain both insight and practical tools.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy routine, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They also allow choosing sessions that require less bandwidth or do not use video when that helps with focus or convenience. Licensed professionals and therapists commonly adapt exercises and skill practice to work over distance, keeping sessions focused on usable strategies for everyday blended household challenges.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
California, Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What types of concerns does she address?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, blended family issues, addictions, grief, and related areas.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and direct, focusing on skill building, emotional regulation, and clearer communication rather than abstract discussion.
How much experience does she have?
She has 25 years of clinical experience across community settings, program leadership, and specialized treatment programs.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - CA LMFT and WA LMFT LF - based in Washington.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.