LMFT
Patricia Sumlin, LMFT
- Experience25 years
- LocationWashington
- Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Relationship
- Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy
Check the available next steps for working with Patricia online.
About Patricia
Patricia Sumlin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 25 years of clinical experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship and family challenges, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, and a wide range of other concerns.
Background and approach
She blends evidence-based methods with a practical, insight-oriented style to help clients build skills for emotional regulation, stronger relationships, and greater resilience. Her approach draws from modalities such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and client-centered techniques.
Patricia emphasizes a collaborative, straightforward therapeutic alliance that prioritizes honesty, respect, and clear boundaries while offering direct feedback and education to support sustainable change.
Throughout her career she has worked across diverse settings including independent practice, outpatient clinics offering DBT groups, medical behavioral health programs, homeless shelter services for mental health and substance use, residential programs for dual diagnosis, trauma-informed work in rural Alaskan communities, prison re-entry programs, and hospice counseling and bereavement support.
She also has experience working with multicultural populations and communities facing visible and invisible disability challenges. Patricia focuses on helping adults living with depression and anxiety related to trauma histories, survivors of traumatic bonding and narcissistic abuse, adults on the autism spectrum seeking greater understanding of Asperger’s, and members of the LGBTQIA community.
Her practice also addresses ADHD, grief, intimacy-related concerns, parenting, career transitions, and compassion fatigue, supporting clients to develop authenticity, competence, and renewed confidence.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and life transitions where building psychological flexibility matters.
Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early and current relationship patterns shape emotional responses and interpersonal difficulty. It can be especially helpful for relationship conflict, attachment injuries, and intimacy-related concerns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on practical skills for managing intense emotions, reducing self-destructive behaviors, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. It is frequently applied when people struggle with emotional regulation, trauma-related symptoms, and patterns of impulsivity.
Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the journey and Patricia Sumlin works collaboratively with clients to identify what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors interventions over time and involves clients in deciding which strategies to try.
Online therapy offers flexibility to meet from home or elsewhere by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access consistent support without travel, while allowing licensed professionals to deliver evidence-based care adapted to each person’s situation.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Licensed
California, Washington
Languages
English
What Patricia can help with
Patricia Sumlin works with clients on stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and depression.
Patricia works with diverse, multicultural clients and Native Alaskan populations.
Patricia works with individuals living with depression.
How Patricia approaches therapy
Patricia's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman Method, and Jungian Therapy.
Patricia uses psycho-dynamic and other modalities like DBT.
Experience and training
Patricia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Washington.