- Grief and bereavement
- Trauma and anxiety
- Relationship strain
About Patricia
Patricia Sumlin is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience who helps people facing grief, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. She aims to give clear, practical support so people feel heard and gain useful coping skills. Her style is direct and nonjudgmental while remaining respectful and compassionate.
Patricia blends several approaches to tailor work to each person. She uses client-centered listening so people can talk through what matters most. She also draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to help change unhelpful thinking and on acceptance and commitment tools to build values-driven action.
Her background includes long-term clinical roles in community and medical settings. She has provided death and dignity counseling in hospice and offered bereavement support to families. She has run programs for people with substance use concerns, chronic illness, and trauma, and led group work for people with borderline personality challenges.
Patricia often supports people navigating relationship strain, parenting stress, addiction recovery, ADHD and autism-spectrum questions, caregiver fatigue, and the effects of chronic pain or illness. She also works with people facing issues of identity and LGBTQIA concerns, including coming-out and relationship conflict.
In session she aims to build trust, teach emotional regulation skills, and help clients develop practical strategies for daily life. She encourages collaboration so goals and methods fit the person. To begin, people select the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling.
Patricia blends several approaches to tailor work to each person. She uses client-centered listening so people can talk through what matters most. She also draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to help change unhelpful thinking and on acceptance and commitment tools to build values-driven action.
Her background includes long-term clinical roles in community and medical settings. She has provided death and dignity counseling in hospice and offered bereavement support to families. She has run programs for people with substance use concerns, chronic illness, and trauma, and led group work for people with borderline personality challenges.
Patricia often supports people navigating relationship strain, parenting stress, addiction recovery, ADHD and autism-spectrum questions, caregiver fatigue, and the effects of chronic pain or illness. She also works with people facing issues of identity and LGBTQIA concerns, including coming-out and relationship conflict.
In session she aims to build trust, teach emotional regulation skills, and help clients develop practical strategies for daily life. She encourages collaboration so goals and methods fit the person. To begin, people select the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
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
How therapeutic approaches shape online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then take action that matches their values. It can help with anxiety, grief, and coping with life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early relationships affect current trust and closeness; it helps with relationship strain, intimacy issues, and patterns that repeat across relationships.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, history, and preferences, and then suggest methods to try. That plan can shift as progress is made, so clients stay involved in choosing what fits them best.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce time spent traveling to appointments. Therapists can teach emotion regulation skills, guide exposure-style coping for anxiety, and offer space to process grief and trauma through voice or video sessions when those formats are supported. Ask about the available session types when you schedule so the format matches your needs.
Frequently asked questions
What issues does this therapist address?
Patricia works with a wide range of concerns including grief, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family conflict, caregiver stress, ADHD, and chronic illness impacts.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is straightforward and compassionate. She combines listening and practical skill teaching to help people regulate emotions and handle daily challenges.
What kind of clinical background does she have?
She has 25 years of clinical experience across medical behavioral health, hospice, residential programs, and community clinics, including work in Alaska and with diverse populations.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, LMFT, with credentials listed as CA LMFT and WA LMFT LF and practices from Washington.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are used?
The biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are supported.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.