About Alicia
Therapist & Practice Owner. Licensed in WA.
I am so glad you’re here.
Alicia Spangenberger, LMHCA
Listen, I get it. The decision to seek a couples therapist can feel like an incredibly high stakes scenario. I imagine you’re thinking…
are things really bad enough that we need couples therapy?
how is a stranger going to help us with this?
will my partner agree to doing this with me?
we need some help.
With all of that hesitation, you had the courage to make it here. So let me put your mind at ease…
I’m here to help and seeking a neutral third party to help your relationship is not a weakness.
I am here to help your relationship.
As an associate licensed mental health counselor, I offer couples therapy to help you and your partner meet your specific relationship goals.
I will create an environment of understanding, hold you and your partner accountable, and provide warmth and support through every step of the process.
“Relationships are places where people live”
- Dr. Orna Guralnik
My Background
My practice is grounded in my belief that each and every couple that sits down in front of me has the innate ability to heal. Individually and in relationship to one another.
Inviting a neutral third party in to help your relationship can be incredibly anxiety inducing and it is not a role I take lightly. I deliberately create a non-judgmental and open space in my private practice for you to discuss anything from communication issue to deeply painful intimacy issues.
I won’t be sitting back and psychoanalyzing you and your partner from my high horse, I will be right in the trenches with you tracking the dance of your relationship.
I show up as a human being in the therapy room, which means I will draw on my direct style of communication and even invite some humor into the room. I believe couples therapy can actually be an enjoyable process to look forward to.
In my professional career, I have worked in as a therapist in clinic settings, group practices and now in my own private practice. I have worked with high acuity clients in crisis, women healing the impacts of trauma, and couples navigating issues ranging from ongoing anxiety and depression to betrayals of trust and sexual intimacy issues.
I received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University New England.
I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Gottman Method (Level 1). These are the primary modalities that I use in the therapy room. I also draw from somatic therapy and the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT).
My approach is integrative (meaning I draw from several modalities dependent on the needs of my clients) and grounded in my belief that humans were designed to experience healing both individually and in community with others.
*I have a background in holistic nutrition and addressing issues from a root cause approach. If I notice you and/or your partner experiencing persistent symptoms with no significant relief, I may suggest referrals for some more well-rounded support.