Who Are We?

Hello. My name is Maggie "Gigi" Ishaq. I am the owner and one of the therapists here at Balanced Living Therapy, LLC.  

I received my master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (Seattle Pacific University), and my bachelor's degree in psychology/professional studies with an emphasis on substance use counseling (Seattle Pacific University). I have additional professional training as an EMDR therapist and have completed the coursework and training for the cultural competency for the first responder counselor. My area of expertise is working with responders and their families, couples and individuals. Additional experience in working with eating disorders, depression and PTSD.  

Imagine if you could change how you feel about a particular event just by changing your thoughts or your beliefs about the event. That could then result in a change in your behavior resulting in you feeling better.

My approach to therapy is person centered, collaborative and interactive. As your therapist, I will help you to make these positive changes in your life as we identify and challenge some of the negative beliefs which may be interfering with your goals to achieve balance and to live a full and productive life. 

During our work together, I may use various treatment modalities, interventions and strategies based on your needs. Emotionally Focused therapy, (EFT) for couples, Psycho dynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, (EMDR), especially for trauma and PTSD. 

There will be times when the therapy becomes difficult, and you may even feel like giving up. I will stay the course with you as I am committed to providing you with a safe space free of judgment. I will honor your individualism, your beliefs and your core values. It is my hope that you will find your balance in life!

Eating Disorders

Grief and Loss

Past Trauma

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

EMDR

CBT

Internal Family Systems

Marriage/Couples Therapy

Career exploration and life skills

Self Esteem

Individual Therapy

Attachment Disorders

Master of Science in Marriage and Family Counseling -Seattle Pacific University. 

Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies/Psychology from Seattle Pacific University. 

Associate of Technical Arts Degree in Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Counseling; EDCC 

Behavioral Research Therapy Clinic (BRTC), University of Washington

Chemical Dependency Counseling. Supportive Therapy Model for Teens- 

Research at the BRTC and Children’s Hospital.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Credential # LH60200522 

Substance Use Disorder Professional Certification # CP00005296  

(State of WA)

Marriage and Family Therapist   

Certified Clinical Supervisor DOH-State of WA

Hello, my name is Kyle Nichols. I acquired my Master’s in Social Work from Eastern Washington University and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Washington State University. I have experience with individuals, couples, and groups, and I encourage a whole person approach to wellbeing. I have experience working with all populations, including LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC. One's identity is constantly being formed and re-formed through experiences with others and often from inequitable societal influences. As a narrative therapist, my goal is to utilize your knowledge and sense of purpose to heal and grow from damaging external influences. The most important thing I can do as a therapist is to harbor a safe environment, free of judgement, for you to share your story.

Therapy requires a consistency of participation to foster the momentum of healing and growth. It requires a competent, compassionate therapist and a willing client. Both parties aim to establish a rapport of trust and safety to identify issues and explore options. A Treatment Plan with specific goals will be designed by both myself and the client to keep therapy focused and productive. When goals are completed, therapy will be closed with a personalized follow-up plan. Support networks and additional resources may be provided if appropriate. Returning to therapy for new transitions or new difficulties is always invited. I will always provide you the opportunity to explore your agenda in every session.  Our work will be based on your disclosures, concerns and goals (Treatment Plan).  We are a team in this endeavor; I am a trained professional but you are the expert of your life. I will need your input as you will be asked to consider mine. My approach to therapy is to assist you with your needs and graduate you into a healthier lifestyle as soon as you are able. I invite your return to therapy for future life transitions or new difficulties you find may need additional support. I look forward to our journey together.

Depression 

Anxiety

Eating Disorders

Life Transitions

Trauma/PTSD

Family Dynamics

Master of Social Work, Eastern Washington University  

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Washington State University

MODALITIES: 

Narrative Therapy

Mindfulness & Meditation

Dialectical Behavior Therapy; DBT

Cognitive Behavior Therapy; CBT 

Licensed Social Work Associate Independent Clinical (LSWAIC) # SC60205490  

State of Washington

Hello, my name is William Spengler, and I am a clinical intern here at Balanced Living Therapy. 

I have been working and volunteering in the counseling field for several years now and am currently completing my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a certificate in addiction studies at Antioch University Seattle.  

As a classically trained musician, I also value the role that music and other creative arts can have in cultivating inspiration, connection, and mental well-being. I look forward to learning about your own journey in life and supporting you in this healing process. 

My approach to counseling is grounded in existential theory, but I also draw on key elements of attachment theory, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness. Oftentimes, I find that the deep, below-the-surface questions and challenges that bring us to counseling are problems of existence itself: Am I alone in this world? Is this all there is to life? Will my life really matter when it is all said and done? The absence of immediate answers to these questions can be destabilizing and leave us feeling anxious, depressed, and numb. 

My goal is to help you find a renewed purpose in life and rekindle an inner sense of freedom, balance, and vitality. This often requires enhancing our sense of curiosity, cultivating an ability for open awareness, and tapping into an intuitive wisdom about what is right for you in this living moment. It is an honor to sit beside clients as we tackle some of life’s toughest dilemmas, and it brings me lasting joy to help clients remove the obstacles that keep them from leading intentional, satisfying lives. 
 

Depression
Anxiety
Family Dynamics
LGBTQIA+
Loss/Grief
Trauma/PTSD
Addiction
Attachment
ACT
Life Transitions
Existentialism

Mindfulness

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (in progress) – Antioch University Seattle

Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance, University of Colorado Boulder 

Hi everyone, my name is Karli DuBois! My pronouns are she/her and I am a Master of Arts Counseling-Psychology graduate student at Bastyr University. At Balanced Living, I am currently in my externship and am a future intern beginning in September. When I’m not on site or in class, I’m on a walk with my dog or cozied up with a book! 

I believe in embracing the individuality of the therapeutic process from a patient and encouraging perspective. In the words of Brené Brown, “in order to empathize with someone’s experience, you must be willing to believe them as they see it, and not how you imagine their experience to be.” 

Looking at the individual as a whole allows for new areas of change, focus, and skills. Whether it’s a client's physical, mental, or spiritual health, each of these has their own individual importance as well as effects universally. I look forward to witnessing clients get to know their true selves. 

Family Dynamics

Adolescents

Individual Therapy

Master of Arts Counseling-Psychology-candidate- Bastyr University

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Washington 

Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration Credential # CG61434905 

Hello, my name is Annalise Boon and I am a masters student at Bastyr University. I will be starting my practicum at Balanced Living Therapy in September of this year and am currently working as an employee and accepting clients at this time. I enjoy walking with individuals through life's ups and downs.  I have worked with young children, teenagers, and seniors.  It has been valuable to me to see how the opposite ends of the lifespan reflect and balance each other.  I hope to live a life that reflects authenticity, patience, intentionality, and understanding.

Things that bring me joy are new books and stories, trying to perfect gluten free recipes, and creating music.    

Therapy can be a difficult, beautiful, vulnerable, and growth promoting process.  My goal is to create a space where all of this can be possible.  It's important to look at the individual as more than the sum of their many life roles: they are their own context, and they are whole.  I walk with people on their journey of finding balance and flexibility for the challenges that life brings.  Sometimes past coping skills no longer serve their purpose and hold us back from the life we want.  It is not my place to take that away.  Instead, I would like to look at the value the skills may have had and explore new ways of coping that lead to the individual's well being.   

Strengths-based Approaches
Existentialism
Art and Music Therapies
Internal Family Systems Parts Work 

Master of Arts Counseling-Psychology-candidate-Bastyr University

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C

Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration Credential # CG61268626 

Hi! My name is Genesis Wheeler (she/her). I am a graduate student at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and a clinical intern here at Balanced Living Therapy, LLC. I have a deep curiosity about others’ stories and about what makes them who they are.  I am motivated by the belief that cultivating curiosity and empathy towards our own stories helps us to create lasting positive changes. 

I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and while I tried to move away in adulthood, the PNW has continued to pull me back in and kept me falling in love over and over. I enjoy cooking meals for, and spending time with, my family and friends, am rediscovering my creative self by learning to play the piano and dabbling in watercolor. I can easily lose myself in a book and cannot imagine a situation in which a taco wouldn’t be helpful!

Each of us are born into an existing and developing story that impacts and shapes us, though not always in healthy or beneficial ways. I believe that being loved, heard, seen, and understood are fundamental needs that, through no fault of our own, often go unmet. 

We will work together as you discover, understand, accept, and integrate parts of your story and yourself without shame. My therapeutic approach draws from psychodynamic, narrative, and mindfulness techniques to create a nurturing space for us to begin to explore the ways you have interpreted your story and how this has shaped and impacted you. My objective is to help you experience relief from rigid internal belief systems, feel empowered to make positive changes, and to hold hope for creating a new story. 

Anxiety

Depression

Religious/spiritual abuse and trauma

Trauma and abuse

Faith deconstruction

LGBTQ+ issues

Parenting queer children

Life transitions

Lifespan integration

Grief and loss

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology-candidate- The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Seattle, WA 

Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Christian Counseling - Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Additional Training: 

Healing Intergenerational Trauma, clinical somatic course through The Embody Lab with Dr. Peter Levine and Efu Nyaki, January 2023 

Hi! My name is Rosanne Greenway, and I am a graduate student at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, working on my masters in counseling psychology. Before I went back to school for counseling, I was a certified special education teacher. I primarily worked with elementary-aged students with moderate to severe disabilities. After becoming a parent, I started to understand more about the importance of attachment and responsive parenting. I am excited to use both my understanding of child development and my training in psychotherapy to help people live more fully. 

When I am outside of the therapy room, I enjoy singing, spending time with family and open water swimming! 

From the first moment we are conceived and then born, we are located within complicated family and community systems, and relationships. These early relational experiences often influence and shape our fundamental understandings about who we are and how we relate to others. 

I believe deeply in the power of having space to be with yourself in the presence of an empathic other, and with your permission, as your therapist, I will help create a space where we can slow down and think about your relational movements: when you hide, when you dismiss, when you deflect, or even laugh about something that is not funny. By slowing down, in those moments, we can begin to understand something about your truest self. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. I look forward to working with you! 

Parenting

Perinatal mental health

Depression and anxiety

Attachment

Developmental Psychology

Chronic Illness

Grief/Loss

Health at Every Size (HAES)

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, candidate - The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Seattle, WA 

Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education, University of Texas, Austin; 2005

Bachelor of Arts in Comparative History of Ideas, University of Washington, Seattle; 2002

Hello! My name is Kimberly Crispeno (she/her), and I am currently a graduate student at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. I am pursuing a Concentration in Trauma and Abuse. Before embarking on this current journey, I dedicated 25 years to ordained ministry, where my aim was to guide individuals in embracing their questions, finding healing amidst their wounds, and living fulfilling lives.

When I'm not working as a clinical intern at Balanced Living Therapy, LLC, I enjoy spending quality time with my family. Relationships hold immense value for me. Additionally, I have a profound appreciation for nature, creating beauty, and finding joyous ways to engage with life.

My own personal story has instilled in me a deep curiosity and compassion for the stories of others. I recognize that we all carry a multitude of experiences, many of which remain hidden beneath the surface. I believe that each of us yearns to achieve wholeness and lead fulfilling lives. Unfortunately, we often encounter obstacles that hinder this journey. Throughout our lives, we develop strategies and patterns that demonstrate remarkable creativity and aid in survival. Some of these strategies may no longer serve us well, impeding our ability to maintain healthy relationships with ourselves and others. It is an honor for me to be invited into someone's story and accompany them on their path.

I firmly believe that there isn't a single therapeutic approach that fits everyone. I strive to utilize various therapeutic modalities, drawing upon my training, experience, and creativity to collaboratively work with you in achieving your therapeutic goals. While I am drawn to a relational psychodynamic approach, internal family systems, and attachment theory work, my ultimate aim is to tailor our work to your unique needs. If other modalities, methods, or interventions would be beneficial, I am open to incorporating them. I recognize the vulnerability that comes with therapeutic work and I am committed to respecting and honoring your boundaries, ensuring a safe space for our journey together. My deepest hope is that you will look back on our work as a significant part of your path toward flourishing.

Depression

Anxiety

Complex PTSD and Abuse

Spiritual and Religious Abuse

Grief and Loss

Midlife

LGBTQIA+

Eating Disorders

Couples and Family Therapy

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Trauma and Abuse, candidate — The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Seattle, WA

Master of Divinity — Princeton Theological Seminary

Bachelor of Arts in English—Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA

Hi! I am in my final year of pursuing a master's in counseling psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. I have had a long journey of learning about and fostering healing experiences. For the past several years, I have led groups of participants in sharing stories of harm in a safe, compassionate setting for the purpose of healing and deeper self-understanding. I have also led groups in spiritual practices and self-reflection in a wilderness setting.

I also have a background in organizational transformation and program management, so I bring my systems-oriented thinking to everything I do. I’m passionate about living a deeply connected, embodied life, so outside of the therapy room, I enjoy dance and being immersed in nature.

I believe that everyone is magnificently unique, with specific strengths, gifts, dreams, and desires. Each of us is on a journey of growth and unfolding into our fullest selves. So many things can happen in our lives to wound us or cause parts of us to go into hiding, become stuck, or stay underdeveloped. We may also face specific challenges living in this world because of our inherent makeup. However, I also firmly believe that each of us has an astonishing capacity for healing and growth. 

I see my role as therapist is to come alongside you for a season–be it long or short–to help resource and support you in your journey of growth and healing. Everyone's journey is unique, so I don't believe in one-size-fits all therapy. Rather, I draw from a number of perspectives to support you as you need: narrative focused trauma therapy, internal family systems, family systems, relational theories, psychodynamic and depth theories, mindfulness, CBT, interpersonal neurobiology. I also understand that your journey of growth and healing is ongoing, and I see it as a great privilege to walk alongside you for a season as you discover what health and thriving means for you.

Anxiety & depression

Identity questions

Relationships & attachment

Burnout

Trauma

Life decisions & transition

Women's issues

Faith & spirituality

Eating disorders & intuitive eating

Career/Vocational questions

High sensitivity (HSP)

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology - candidate - The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Seattle, WA 

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & International Studies - Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Additional training in: Narrative Focused Trauma Therapy, Sexual Attachment, and Family Systems Theory