Kalie Shekoni

She/Her

M.ED, LMHCA, NCC

I am a licensed mental health counseling associate in the State of Washington, as well as a board-certified school counselor. My formal education includes a degree in Psychology from the University of Washington and a Masters in Education in School Counseling from Western Washington University.

I offer warm, skillful counseling to individuals and families of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults. My background includes a breadth of experience working in mental health, including the last decade with young people and families in a school context. In this capacity, I have supported children and adolescents working through myriad challenges of growing up and getting to know themselves, as well as parents of young people craving a space to process the complex and deep work of parenting.

My time in community mental health and school settings has involved helping clients find relief with a wide variety of concerns. This includes stress and anxiety, depression, ADHD, burnout, processing trauma, exploring sexuality and relationships, as well as developing self-understanding and acceptance. I also hold space for families of all varieties who wish to work through difficulties or foster closer connections to one another. I love the creative and dynamic process of therapeutic work and am honored to accompany others as they pursue healing and meaningful change in life.

I was raised here, in the natural splendor of the Pacific-Northwest, and navigated my own young life against the backdrop of trees, water, and mountains. I am an outdoor meanderer still, as well as a mother, daughter, partner, friend, dancer, biker, and reader.

Education and Credentials

Education

  • Masters in Education in School Counseling

    • Western Washington University, 2015

  • Bachelors in Psychology

    • University of Washington, 2011

Experience and Certifications

  • NBCT- 2023 National board certified educator

  • Counselor- Counseling West Seattle- April 2023

  • NCC- 2015 National Certified Counselor

  • School Counselor for Issaquah, Renton, and Nooksack Valley Schools: 2014-2023

  • Community Companion- Seattle, WA 2012-2013

Philosophy

My approach to counseling is intuitive, curious, and conversational. I believe meaningful change happens in the context of caring relationships, and I prioritize fostering a gentle, honest space that feels safe and collaborative.

I draw from a variety of theories for therapeutic work, and find that an integrated approach allows for flexibility as we navigate what healing and progress look like for you or your family. Therefore, my counseling style is a blend of numerous techniques and theories including Mindfulness-based approaches, CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.

In addition, my experience within education and community mental health has lent me insight into the systems and structures that both support and, at times, confine our worlds. My counseling philosophy is reflective of this, and I find that the lenses of Feminist and Multicultural Theory are useful for understanding the layers of our individual experiences as well as developing awareness of our own strengths and capacities in light of our broader world and systemic structures.

Some of my guiding beliefs for therapeutic work:

  • Healing is always about moving closer to freedom.

  • During different seasons of life, we need different things. 

  • Approaching wellbeing can be as much about making changes as it is about learning to be with and embrace our present experiences.

  • Human beings thrive best when we are embedded in community and when we are in contact with what brings us joy. Pleasure is important.

  • Therapy is a personal experience- getting at some of the deepest layers of what make us who we are. It is a space for discovering how to live life as only you can, in this body, in this time and space that you find yourself.

  • Growth is as much about attending to the body as it is to the mind, and sometimes transformative learning and insight about what ails us is found in uncovering where our body is stuck holding trauma or old wounds.

  • Identity is complex and the systems and structures we’ve inherited profoundly impact our experience in the world.

“There is no such thing as cookie-cutter healing. Everyone brings with them an origin story, a history, and identities that are interconnected. There is room to rest in the freedom of managing your own deprogramming journey… You don’t have to grind, hustle, accept burnout as normal, and be in a constant state of exhaustion and sleep deprivation. You don’t have to kill yourself spiritually or physically to live a fruitful life.”
― Tricia Hersey