I Can Help You With
- Relationship Issues and Challenges
- Childhood Trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Transitions
- Grief
- Loneliness
I can help if you are struggling with childhood trauma, with anxiety or depression, or with wanting to connect better in your intimate relationships. Discover what is triggering your issues, and take a journey of healing. Find the deep satisfaction of accepting yourself, and moving from feeling isolated and alone, to being vulnerable and connected with the ones you love.
I Do
- Couples Counseling
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
I use a down to earth approach that provides practical ways for managing issues and problems. I help you with the immediate issues, while building a bond of trust that enables the work to move to a deeper level, where we will encounter the roadblocks impacting your life, and increase your ability to get past those roadblocks. I do this through individual, couples and group therapy. My life experience provides me with a broad and deep palette from which to draw my perspectives for helping you make changes towards a deeper, more connected and meaningful life.
My Approach
I use a common sense and down to earth approach to counseling and psychotherapy that provides practical ways for managing issues and problems. I draw from my life experience. I work to build the trust to allow the work to move to a deeper level, where you learn about the particular dynamics that are impacting your life in negative ways.
I help you accept yourself as unique and valuable, within your own spiritual beliefs, sexual/gender orientation, or cultural context, while embracing the possibilities for profound change in your life. I work with you to create genuine closeness with yourself and with those you love. I draw from multiple approaches - including Psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems, Existential, and Mindfulness.
About Me
I have lived with my family in Tacoma since 1998. Before that, I lived in New York City, Seattle, Dallas and Chicago, mingling with a wide variety of cultures. I have had several careers in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds (Professional Actor, Technology Support & Financial Reporting for Banks, Project Management & Risk Management for a $2B International Humanitarian Organization). I have been actively involved in a church community for most of my life, and also practicing Meditation, Yoga and Tai Chi for over 30 years.
I enjoy hanging out with my family, being outdoors, listening to music, learning, reading and playing pickleball. All of this contributes to a rich background from which I draw real world experience for my work as a therapist and counselor. I am comfortable working with a wide variety of people and viewpoints within the context of multiple cultures.
I have extensively explored the experience of those who are the outsiders, the ones who have trouble connecting to other people, and turn to various interests, distractions and/or substances to help them handle pain in their lives. I enjoy helping these types of people find intimacy and emotional connection with friends, partners and spouses.
Paul Duke Reaches
Gig Harbor WA