Educational and Professional Background:
Colleen Semple, MED, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She received her Bachelor’s degree at Antioch, Seattle in 1992 with a focus on Psychology in Education. This emphasis is the foundation for her work with individuals in schools and communities, in conflict resolution, and drug/alcohol prevention services for youth. She completed her Master’s Degree in Education/ Counseling in 2001 at the University of Montana and worked as a school counselor in elementary, middle and alternative high school programs. Colleen has a broad range of experience counseling individuals and parents in community mental health centers and schools, teaching parenting classes, and working with high risk youth. Colleen has most recently worked as a child/family therapist at Catholic Community Services becoming a Child Mental Health Specialist while establishing her private practice in Bellingham. Colleen has done extensive training in children’s mental health disorders, Life Span Integration therapy (see www.lifespanintegration.com) and issues related to grief and loss. She continues to explore postgraduate training.
Areas of Special Interest:
Colleen enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults and families. She specializes in childhood and adolescent behavioral disorders and works with adults providing Lifespan Integration therapy for trauma, grief/loss and personal transitions.
- Adoption challenges
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Family conflict
- Grief/Loss
- Oppositional Behaviors
- School Problems
- Trauma/Posttraumatic stress issues
Personal Statement:
I draw on a variety of approaches and techniques to meet the needs of each individual client. I have a collaborative, compassionate style combined with an active problem solving approach to support the goals of each individual. My priority is to create a safe place for clients to gain greater clarity and insight into their own lives, while promoting their use of mindfulness, problem solving and acceptance in their personal transitions and transformations.