Edmonds, WA Local Support & Community Resources

Ellen Cleary-Penninger is a compassionate and experienced clinical social worker and therapist who specializes in helping individuals navigate their emotional landscapes. She is dedicated to guiding people through the process of discussing, feeling, confronting, and ultimately healing from challenging memories. Ellen understands that PTSD often persists due to avoidance of painful thoughts, images, feelings, situations, and experiences. While avoidance may offer temporary relief, it ultimately hinders one's ability to fully engage in life. Through her supportive approach, Ellen assists clients in confronting what they avoid, creating space for personal growth and the embracing of a more fulfilling life. Additionally, Ellen has a wealth of experience addressing other mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and trauma-related disorders. With her extensive training from the University of Washington's Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress and the Anxiety Center at Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, she expertly implements evidence-based cognitive behavioral interventions, including CBT, TF-CBT, PE, CPT, and DBT. Ellen's warmth and expertise make her an invaluable ally for anyone seeking to overcome their obstacles and achieve emotional wellness.

Barbara Weiss, MA, LMHC, is a dedicated counselor with a passion for helping clients rediscover their true potentials and bring joy back into their lives. With a strong foundation in strengths-based practice, she utilizes a combination of psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral techniques, ensuring a holistic approach that considers the integral role of physical, emotional, spiritual, and social experiences in each person's unique composition. Barbara understands that early life experiences often influence current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and she values the empowering interaction that occurs between herself and her clients during the therapeutic process. With over 10 years of experience working with adults, youth, couples, and families in various outpatient and private practice settings, she has honed her skills in providing therapeutic support. Barbara completed her internship and post-internship at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, specializing in co-occurring counseling. Her specific areas of interest include assisting clients of all ages in rediscovering their inherent capacity for growth, offering couples and family counseling, and providing adolescent counseling. She is also adept at guiding clients through the healing process from chronic and acute trauma, backed by her extensive training and experience in these fields.

Brigette Arnold is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate and a Perinatal Mental Health Certified Professional, passionately dedicated to the field of perinatal mental health. An active member of Postpartum Support International, she possesses specialized training in clinical practices for addressing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Brigette embraces a person-centered approach, personalizing her therapeutic work to align with each individual's goals. She also provides crucial support for partners and spouses, recognizing the emotional needs that arise during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. With warmth, empathy, and compassion, Brigette welcomes all into her practice. The matrescence process—the emotional, psychological, and physical transformation that mothers undergo after giving birth—can be profoundly transformative. While the joys of new motherhood are well celebrated, many may encounter unforeseen emotional experiences and hormonal changes. Recognizing the importance of early detection and treatment of anxiety or depression during the perinatal period is vital for overall emotional health and well-being. Brigette believes everyone deserves to experience the full joy of becoming a parent, and her hope is to provide unwavering support throughout this journey, helping individuals feel their best.