Grace Koontz, M.A, LMHCA (They/She)
I am an independently Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State (LH61510557) and provide individual and couple’s counseling for adults (18+). I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Child Development from the University of Texas as well as a Masters of Arts in Applied Psychological Sciences from Pacific University. I am also a certified clinical trauma specialist.
In my practice, I enjoy coming alongside people struggling with all types of stress and trauma. Common topics of focus include life transitions, family conflict, LGBTQ+ identity, spirituality, healing from abuse, and coping with ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
Training and Experience
I completed my graduate internship at a domestic violence resource center, where I provided case management, safety planning, and individual as well as group therapy for people of all genders and ages impacted by domestic violence. There, I grew my skills in trauma and crisis counseling. Around the same time, I worked as a skill builder for children with mood and behavioral concerns and their caregivers. My favorite part of this role was that I had the opportunity to run a Dungeons & Dragons game as a therapeutic tool to help teens build social skills, self-esteem, and creative expression. After graduating with my master’s, I worked for a little over a year at a Bellingham group practice, gaining experience with a wide variety of clients from the community. I decided to take the next step in my career in December of 2022, and have owned and operated my private practice since then. I have focused my continuing education towards my clinical trauma specialist certification, as well as on learning how to better support LGBTQ+ clients.
Land Acknowledgement
I am honored to live and work in the Bellingham, WA area. I acknowledge that the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe, Samish and Semiahmoo people, and other Coast Salish peoples are the original inhabitants of this land and have cared for and tended it since time immemorial.
Many of the practices used in therapy, such as mediation, community connection, and the holistic approach, stem from ideas first conceived by the indigenous peoples in this country and around the world. Participating in mindfulness and embodiment, becoming more aware of ancient ways of knowing, spending time in nature, and acknowledging the reality of colonization are small steps we can take to deconstruct white supremacy.
IF you are interested in learning more, you can read about the Lummi Nation & Nooksack Tribe joint efforts in protecting water rights:
Other resources for connecting with the land:
