HELLO, I'm Gretchen.

I live and work in Seattle, Washington. Originally from Southern California, Seattle has taught me the power of a place that inspires, nurtures and invites. My house in the city is tiny, but I'm lucky to have a large garden that remains a work-in-progress and personal workshop space. In the summer, I fill up a claw foot bathtub with water and my two young boys bathe under our apple tree in the backyard. The boys also over-water my zinnias and pick not-yet-ripe berries,  but I still take great pleasure in watching them enjoy and interact with the outdoors. 

Training and Degrees

I have a Post-Master’s Certificate in Pastoral Counseling, which is a mental health counseling degree with a specialization in the areas of spirituality and theology.  I also have a Master’s of Divinity, which gave me extensive training in the areas of theology and congregational ministry. I am an ordained minister through the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. Both of these degrees I received from Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University.

Prior to beginning my private practice in 2010, I worked at an intensive outpatient clinic working with individuals, families and couples. At the same time, I was also working with Seattle’s homeless population providing supportive and group therapy services to individuals suffering from addiction and chronic mental illness.

My experiences working in these two very different contexts taught me that suffering shows no discretion, and that, like families, our institutions can either wound or foster growth. Both of these experiences confirmed what I know through experience:  that relationships heal.