Social Learning therapists in Freeland, Washington WA

Hi, I’m Ryan. I became a therapist because I know how powerful it can be to have someone genuinely in your corner. Someone who sees the good in you when you’re struggling to see it yourself, who stays grounded when life feels overwhelming, and who believes that your current circumstances do not have to define your future. I believe people are capable of meaningful change, even after years of feeling stuck, lonely, anxious, disconnected, or shaped by painful experiences. Sometimes we simply need a relationship in which we feel safe enough to be honest, supported enough to take risks, and gently challenged enough to begin doing things differently. I hope to offer that kind of relationship to my clients. My path to becoming a therapist has not been entirely conventional. I grew up in Bellingham, Washington, earned degrees abroad in Italy and Spain, and previously worked as both a marketer and a psychometrist before entering the counseling profession. Living in different countries and moving through several professional worlds taught me to be curious about people. Their stories, cultures, relationships, contradictions, and the experiences that shape how they see themselves. In therapy, I want to know the person behind the symptoms. I want to understand what you long for, what keeps getting in the way, what you learned about yourself growing up, and who you might become if fear, shame, trauma, or self-doubt were no longer making so many of your decisions. You do not need to arrive with the perfect explanation for what is wrong. You may simply know that you feel lonely, overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, haunted by the past, or tired of repeating the same relationship patterns. You may be outwardly successful while privately feeling insecure or lost. You may want deeper relationships but find yourself withdrawing, avoiding vulnerability, choosing unavailable partners, or questioning whether anyone could truly understand you. Whatever brings you here, you do not have to perform or pretend with me. I aim to create a space where you can speak honestly. Even about the thoughts, experiences, desires, fears, and parts of yourself that feel difficult to share elsewhere. My style is warm, grounded, direct, and deeply human. I will listen without judgment, but I will not simply nod along with everything you say. When helpful, I will gently challenge the beliefs or patterns that may be keeping you stuck. I believe we can be compassionate toward ourselves while also taking responsibility for creating change. Therapy with me is both insight-oriented and action-oriented. We will explore how early relationships, childhood experiences, unconscious beliefs, and protective behaviors may still influence your life today. I take an Adlerian and psychodynamic approach, meaning I am interested in the deeper story beneath your current struggles. However, I do not believe your past permanently determines who you are. Awareness gives us choices. Once we understand why a pattern developed and what purpose it once served, we can begin deciding whether it still belongs in the life you want today. Insight is important, but I also want therapy to extend beyond the hour we spend together. Depending on your goals, I may suggest small behavioral challenges (what I sometimes call “missions”) to help you practice new ways of relating to yourself and others. That might involve initiating an uncomfortable conversation, setting a boundary, reaching out to someone instead of isolating, tolerating the possibility of rejection, making eye contact, expressing a need, or interrupting a pattern of avoidance. These challenges are collaborative and paced carefully. The goal is not to overwhelm you or push you before you are ready. Instead, we gradually build your capacity to do things that once felt impossible. Little by little, you begin gathering evidence that you can survive discomfort, respond differently, and become more secure in yourself. I also use evidence-based approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, or EMDR, as well as Cognitive Processing Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These approaches can be especially helpful when painful memories, traumatic experiences, intrusive thoughts, or deeply rooted negative beliefs continue to affect your relationships and daily life. We can discuss these options together and determine what feels most appropriate for you. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and I want you to understand and feel comfortable with the work we are doing. Many of the people who feel drawn to my practice are young adults, members of Gen Z and the millennial generation, and people who want to build more meaningful relationships. I often work with men experiencing loneliness, insecurity, relationship difficulties, or questions related to sexual identity. I particularly value working with gay and bisexual men and hope to provide a space where you can explore identity, dating, intimacy, coming out, attachment, and relationship dynamics without having to explain or defend who you are. I also enjoy working with women navigating attachment concerns, dating patterns, motherhood, single parenthood, major transitions, and the desire to form healthier, more secure relationships. Across identities, I tend to connect well with people who are introspective, curious about themselves, and ready to move toward a life that feels more authentic, even if they are not yet sure how to get there. My goal is not for therapy to become the only place where you feel known and supported. I want the trust we build together to ripple outward into the rest of your life. Over time, I hope you become more comfortable expressing yourself, navigating conflict, forming close relationships, recovering from setbacks, and allowing others to truly know you. Ultimately, my goal is to help you build a life so full, secure, and meaningful that you no longer need therapy in the same way. Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, family, and friends. I love being outdoors, walking through neighborhoods and cities, riding my bike, growing food, and working on DIY and home-renovation projects. I also practice Vipassana meditation, although, like many people, not quite as consistently as I would like. These parts of my life help me stay curious, grounded, and connected to the ordinary moments that make life feel meaningful. Choosing a therapist is deeply personal. Training and therapeutic methods matter, but so does the feeling you have when you speak with someone. You deserve a therapist with whom you can gradually lower your guard and feel more like yourself. A free consultation is an opportunity for us to talk, for you to ask questions, and for you to get a sense of my personality and approach without pressure. You do not need to commit before knowing whether the connection feels right. I would be honored to meet you, hear what has been happening in your life, and explore whether I might be the person to walk alongside you as you begin creating something different.  

As a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in a comprehensive range of support services that create clarity, resilience, and personal growth. My expertise includes: Trauma Recovery: Utilizing cutting-edge practices for comprehensive healing from complex trauma, including sexual assault and PTSD. This includes Grief mitigation and support. Behavioral and Cognitive Coaching: Offering Behavioral Intelligence Coaching, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Mastery, and Logic-Based Therapy (LBT) to address issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and ADHD. Addiction and Recovery: Providing tailored support for overcoming addictions, with a focus on Alcohol, Drug Awareness, and Addiction Relief Coaching. Personal and Professional Development: Guiding individuals through Career Counseling, Personal Financial Management, and Personal Leadership and Ethics Coaching. Health and Wellness: Supporting clients in achieving their health and wellness goals, managing panic disorders, work-life balance issues, anger management, Post Election Anxiety, and family dynamic challenges. I am committed to delivering tangible results, breakthroughs, and transformations through highly effective tools and conscious real-time awareness techniques. My services are available online, offering flexibility and accessibility to clients worldwide.  

I have over 34 years of experience working as a clinical psychologist. The bulk of my career was spent at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, where I provided comprehensive, evidence-based psychological assessment and intervention for a range of mental health difficulties, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, substance use, sleep, chronic pain, personality disorders, and psychosis. In addition to my clinical work, I served as the overall Director of Training for the APA-accredited doctoral internship and postdoctoral residency training programs. Throughout my tenure in this position, I have had the honor of providing clinical supervision and mentorship to over 300 psychology interns and postdoctoral residents. Since retiring from my position at the VA, I have continued to… - Maintain a private practice providing individual psychotherapy and psychological assessment - Serve in several volunteer leadership roles involved in the national management and coordination of psychology training and education and the overall profession of psychology - Serve on the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners - Serve as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota's Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program - Teach graduate-level courses at local psychology doctoral programs On a more personal note, I have a passion for travel and the thrill of discovering new culinary adventures and restaurants. Cooking, art, and photography are creative outlets that I cherish, along with a love for nature and outdoor activities. My commitment to health and an active lifestyle is evident in my lifelong engagement with endurance sports, including marathon running, cycling, ironman triathlons, and hiking. These activities not only challenge me physically but also provide a strong sense of accomplishment and joy. My practice is anchored in the belief that my clients are more than just their symptoms or diagnoses. I collaborate closely with them to thoroughly understand their unique struggles and customize a treatment approach that utilizes proven methods to address their specific needs. My objective is to apply my years of knowledge and expertise to every individual I assist. I have extensive experience working with adults from diverse ethnic, racial, gender, sexual, and religious backgrounds. Additionally, I have developed specialized skills to address the unique challenges faced by healthcare professionals.  

In searching for a therapist, you are taking the first step in what could be the most important journey of your life. It is definitely possible to make important, lasting improvements in your life and levels of happiness, satisfaction, and success. Therapy is often an effective way to attain these goals. With almost 40 years of experience working as a counselor and then a psychologist, I am well-qualified to help you identify what is standing in the way of increased life satisfaction, and help you effectively work towards your goals. People often get stuck in old patterns that make them unhappy, want to change them, but don't know how. I work together with my clients to understand how old patterns in thought, feeling, and behavior got established, and then explore how best to change those patterns. I enjoy doing longer term, deeper work with clients, to create significant, meaningful, and lasting change. I often employ a holistic approach, exploring personal history, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationship history and issues, as well as issues including medical history, self-care habits, and experiences of spirituality. I view the therapy relationship as a partnership, respecting the pace and timing that the client requires.  

South Psychology provides expert consultations, evidence-based outpatient therapy services, and thorough diagnostic assessments. Therapeutic services serve individuals and families across the lifespan, with specializations in perinatal mental health, early childhood mental health and behavior, neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD & Autism), disruptive behaviors, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adjustment disorders, trauma, personality disorders, social skills development, family therapy, parent management training, parent-child interaction therapy, and health psychology. Assessment services are curated based on individual needs to provide socioemotional, psychoeducational, and psychodiagnostic evaluations with detailed diagnostic information and insightful treatment recommendations. ​South Psychology partners with doctors, schools, and extracurricular or ancillary services to become a valued member of your health support system.