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LMFT

Patricia Sumlin, LMFT

  • Experience25 years
  • LocationWashington
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Family
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Patricia

Patricia Sumlin is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of experience who works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and related life challenges.

Background and approach

She supports clients dealing with relationship and family difficulties, grief, addiction, ADHD, intimacy and self-esteem concerns, and a broad range of medical, caregiving, and identity-related issues including LGBT matters. Patricia draws on a mix of evidence-based methods to create practical, insight-oriented care tailored to each person.

Her style emphasizes honesty, respect, and collaboration while helping clients build skills for emotional regulation, resilience, and clearer self-understanding. Patricia blends systems-minded thinking with approaches such as Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-based work, client-centered methods, and cognitive behavioral tools to address present difficulties and underlying patterns.

She aims to provide straightforward guidance and concrete techniques so clients can increase stability, confidence, and functional coping. Based in Washington and licensed as an LMFT, Patricia has worked across community settings and clinical programs over the course of her career.

She brings practical experience from outpatient, residential, hospice, and public behavioral health contexts and applies that breadth to help people navigate difficult transitions and build lasting supports.

Integrating Therapeutic Approaches with Online Care

Patricia uses Internal Family Systems to help clients identify and relate to the different parts of themselves, working to unblend protective patterns from a core sense of self so people can respond to inner conflicts with more clarity. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is used to increase psychological flexibility by helping clients name values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and take committed action toward meaningful goals. Attachment-based work explores relational patterns and early bonds to improve current relationship functioning and emotional safety.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Patricia partners with each client to assess needs and preferences, trying different methods and adapting interventions over time so therapy aligns with the client's goals and comfort level. This shared planning helps determine which combination of approaches best supports progress.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and access consistent support from a licensed professional regardless of location within the therapist's service area.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Patricia address in therapy?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family problems, addictions, grief, intimacy and self-esteem, ADHD, and many medical or caregiving related challenges.
What therapeutic approaches does she use?
Her practice draws from Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-based work, client-centered therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy to tailor care to each client's needs.
How long has she been practicing?
Patricia brings 25 years of professional experience working in a variety of clinical and community settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and Washington with licence numbers CA LMFT 44844 and WA LMFT LF 60059026, and her listed practice location is Washington.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only and she is not currently accepting international clients.
In what formats are sessions provided?
Available session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process to begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

California, Washington

Languages

English