Kara Hill, National Board Certified Licensed Counselor, LMHCA, NCC, MA, MBA

You are in the right place if you are looking for: MARRIAGE COUNSELING COUPLES COUNSELING & PERSONAL COUNSELING Don't let these words scare you. Counseling can seem intimidating at first, but rest assured, you have come to a safe space! There is no interpersonal problem too large, too complex, or too overwhelming that we can't face together. If you have come to this website, it's likely that your relationship is hurting or something difficult has come up in your personal life and I can help you. FOCUS AREAS & APPROACH: MARRIAGE & COUPLES - I work with married and committed couples who have fallen out of connection, and just want to be seen, heard, and valued again in their relationship. I help couples re-establish that connection so they can get back to a place of peace and thriving. When your closest relationship is suffering, it often seems like everything else starts suffering too. This includes your physical health, employment, children, spirituality, intimacy, outside relationships, finances, and everything else in between. It can feel extremely dysregulating, overwhelming, and confusing. My counseling work strives to connect two people who want to co-exist in harmony, peace, and love again. My job is to bridge the divides that exist and help bring two people back together in mutual love and understanding. I help partners find their voice in relationships to say what they need to communicate, overcoming fear of retaliation, perceived repercussions, or resentment. I believe each partner deserves an equal voice in the relationship. I strive to help build and establish relationships of equality, mutual respect, boundaries, understanding, and goals. I firmly believe that we are both hurt and healed within the context of relationships. The connections that tie us to others are essential to our mental and emotional well-being. I believe that healing can happen when you seek to understand your own behavior and your partner’s behavior within the context of your interaction cycles and patterns. I offer a practical, no-nonsense approach to couples counseling. I want to actually help you and your partner move past difficult stages in your relationship. I believe in the power of raw honesty and believe that the truth will always set you free. Once both of you have the courage to put it all on the table, you will find that there are better days ahead and I look forward to helping you get there! My approach helps couples grow together and seek harmony in striving toward their highest shared values. My approach is heavily informed from attachment-based, solution-focused, family systems, Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy lenses. FOR INDIVIDUALS - I work with individuals who are experiencing grief, abuse, betrayal, trauma, body image issues, eating disorders, depression and anxiety. Counseling can provide healing, hope, understanding, options and practical tools. Counseling can bring reason and understanding to an otherwise overwhelming and confusing world. As painful as life's challenges can be, I see them as the key to our ultimate growth, development, and evolution. I strive to affirm, support, listen, and challenge you when necessary, in an effort to help you cope, grow, and thrive. EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in WA state (License #: MC61184223) M.A. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health (Adams State University) N.C.C. (National Certified Counselor) through the N.B.C.C. M.B.A. (Western Governors University) B.S. in Communication (University of Utah) TRAINING & EXPERIENCE: ASSOCIATE – Counselor with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Family Services Department in the Seattle Washington Agency, (2022). INTERNSHIP – Year-long supervised internship at the YMCA of Greater Seattle’s Social Impact Center counseling with individuals and families on a wide array of mental health and family systems issues, (2020-2021). PRACTICUM – Supervised 6-month practicum conducted at Maple View Middle School’s Counseling Center in Covington, WA working with adolescent students, (2020). COLLEGE COUNSELING – 7 years experience as a college counselor, mentor, and academic advisor at both Western Governors University and the University of Utah, (2006-2013). SPECIAL POPULATIONS SERVED: While I am committed to serving all people regardless of their religious views or lack thereof, I specialize in serving the LDS faith community, both active and former members as well as those otherwise connected to the faith. My approach seeks to affirm and support all people, whether they are active in the LDS faith, in other religions, as well as non-religiously affiliated individuals and those anywhere in between. My counseling approach does not seek to impose any religious agenda, only to support you in your own unique spiritual journey toward finding meaning, hope and purpose in life. PERSPECTIVE ON DIVORCE: I am not partial to one side or one person. I want your partnership to succeed! In many cases, this means growing together. In some cases, this means growing apart but doing so with greater peace, understanding, and confidence. Whether a married couple should divorce or not is not my call to make. I bring no preconceived notions into sessions about whether or not a couple should stay married. When couples seek counseling together, I will follow their lead as to how interested both parties are about the energy they want to give in preserving their marriage. FREE CONSULTATION: It is essential for you to find the right fit for you — someone who aims to truly “get” you, who you feel comfortable with and supported by. In fact, research demonstrates that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important indicators of successful therapy. I offer a free consultation for this reason, so that we can find out if we are a good fit to work together. LOGISTICS & DETAILS: *For those who live in Washington state, I currently offer online telehealth counseling appointments. *In-person hybrid options for Seattle area clients coming soon. PRIVATE PAY & INSURANCE: Most of my clients pay out-of-pocket for my services. I am considered an out-of-network provider with all insurance companies. I recommend that you check with your insurance to see what benefits you may have. You may be surprised to find that your insurance covers the majority of our sessions. Upon request, I will promptly provide my clients with a monthly statement called a "superbill" which has all the necessary information for you to file your own claims, which you can then submit to your insurance for reimbursement directly to you. You may also decide that you choose not to go through insurance whatsoever. Paying privately means that your treatment is solely between your therapist and you, and that your information, including a mental health diagnosis, which is required for treatment paid for by an insurance company, is not shared with an insurance company. *If you choose to use insurance, all services will commence with an official diagnosis and treatment plan for applicable mental and emotional disorders. STATEMENT OF VALUES: My role and my highest priority in our work together is to support you in living up to your own self-determined highest values. I will often encourage you to do the hard work first if that's what it takes to lead you to your ultimate long-term goals and happiness. PERSONAL INTERESTS: I am a wife and a mother to 5 incredible children. I value honest and sincere relationships and cherish my additional roles in life as daughter, sister, neighbor and friend. I also have a passion for dancing, singing, musical theatre, hiking, eating delicious food and enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest outdoors! PSYCHOLOGY TODAY PROFILE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/930643 © 2024 Kara Hill, PLLC