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Alyssa Kirkman

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
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Alyssa Kirkman, MS, LMHCA

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
(501) 779-8321

As your counselor, I will listen to your situation with unconditional positive regard and empathy. Together we will discuss the reasons you’ve sought counseling and establish a realistic plan for you to enjoy lasting healing and hope. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, sexual abuse or trauma, grief, or some other concern, I believe counseling can be a wonderful tool to help you move forward to find the growth and positive changes you desire. My passion is to help people experience genuine wellness in every area of life. I’d be honored to walk that journey with you.

Kent - Mon, Tue, Wed & ThuSeattle Downtown - Fri

About

Many people pursue counseling because they feel “stuck,” or feel as though something is wrong in their life. While this is a common reason that people find themselves in my office, each client’s situation is unique and requires mixing and matching of different techniques and interventions tailored toward the individual needs and goals. Because it’s rare for one method of counseling to work for everyone, I enjoy using creativity to help my clients problem solve and move past whatever walls are making them feel stuck.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

My goals as a counselor include helping people find peace and mental wellness, and that they will gain tools they can use independently in the future. I hope to help my clients build insight, self-awareness, and relationship skills in order to improve their quality of life.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

I offer a warm, comfortable setting filled with conversations that deepen self-awareness. Within the first few sessions, we’ll determine a treatment plan, working together to establish goals. I will share effective therapeutic tools and techniques to further the goals of therapy and help each client find wellness and hope.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

I believe it is very difficult to perform effective counseling without addressing a client’s spiritual needs. Approaching my practice from the perspective of Christian or faith-based counseling opens the door for those conversations earlier in the therapeutic relationship. I also believe that God is the ultimate healer. Having therapeutic relationships guided by Him can help my clients reach a more fulfilling sense of peace and mental wellness.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I am an LMHCA with an M.S. and Ed.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Harding University. I’m currently working toward EMDR certification.

My Call to Christian Counseling

After working as a missionary in the Czech Republic, I realized I wanted (and needed) more training in mental health in order to work with people. Once I started the counseling program at Harding University, it became a vocation to me, not just a career. I was initially pre-med but ended up pursuing a counseling program instead of medical school because it aligned more with what I was passionate about—namely, not only healing illnesses, but helping people find wellness.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

My husband and I have been married since 2012. My personal interests include dogs, reading, skiing, watercolor painting, pottery, and cross-stitching.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Sexual abuse
  • Trauma
  • Grief and loss
  • ADHD in teens and young adults
  • Individual counseling
  • Spiritual Development
  • Personal Development
  • Professional Development

Anxiety

The first step in treating anxiety is to determine what is causing the anxiety. If it is situation specific, we would start by identifying the thoughts behind the anxious feelings. Once those thoughts have been identified, we begin working together to challenge those thoughts. Treatment also may include incorporating behavioral interventions to build up a tolerance, but varies depending on the root cause.

Depression

I offer a variety of approaches to help you overcome the darkness of depression. You don’t need to suffer alone—help is available. Because depression comes in various forms and degrees, in session we’ll begin by discussing your symptoms and the duration of your condition to determine the type of depression you may be facing and its level of severity. From there we’ll establish a treatment plan that best fits your situation and needs. Don’t let depression keep you down; together we can find the way out of the pit of despair so you can once again experience joy and a sense of genuine fulfilment in life.

Sexual Abuse and Trauma

Sexual abuse and trauma can have lasting effects. Often these experiences involve multiple layers that require great care and a significant amount of time to work through properly. In session, I will begin by listening to your story as you’re able to relay it, then determine the best way forward depending on the details of your experience, including how long ago the event or events took place. No matter what your experience has been, it would be my honor and privilege to help you heal. Recovery is possible. Reach out today.

Grief and Loss

Each person’s grief path looks different. There is no wrong way to grieve. Together we’ll work through the range of emotions that accompany grief, as well as discuss how to recognize when a particular emotion or behavior may require some additional exploration. You’ll leave the session equipped with effective coping techniques to help you better manage the grief you feel.

ADHD

If you suspect that ADHD may be affecting your career or academic life, I’d be happy to help. Together we can assess the variables in your life such as your schedule, daily habits, and current study skills. We can also determine whether you are more of an audial, visual, or kinesthetic learner, which helps a great deal in learning effective ADHD management techniques. We will explore new study techniques and skills in order to discover which combination of factors works best for you. I would also help you work on time management, procrastination, organization, and other life skills that contribute to a healthy academic or career life.

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

  • Kent – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
  • Downtown – Friday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples and Groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service. For more information regarding standard session fees, please contact me directly at alyssak@seattlechristiancounseling.com or 501-779-8321.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) a majority of insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.

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