Christy Wu

Qualifications & Experience

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree as a Mental Health Counselor. I did my training at The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. I have completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and use Gottman Method Couples Therapy in my practice. I am also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I struggled with depression and my marriage for over ten years before reaching a crisis point. I found myself spiritually lost and angry with God. Many well-intended church friends and elders tried to help, but I needed help that exceeded their qualifications. When I started working with a professional Christian counselor, I was able to work on my perspective and approach to myself, God, and my life, which helped me heal and grow. I want to provide this life-changing opportunity to others, so I went back to school to become a counselor.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I have been married for 20 years and have two children who are 17 and 18. My husband and I have been involved in children’s and youth service and leadership at our church for 16 years. I love animals (we have three dogs), the beauty of the natural world, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chemical Dependency
• Coaching
• Codependency
• Couples Counseling
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Marriage Counseling
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Premarital Counseling
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction – women only
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

Anxiety

Anxiety involves excessive worry and fear about different areas of our lives. Anxiety is mainly felt in our bodies, so I utilize a body-based approach to healing anxiety. Through a Christian lens, I utilize the evidence-based approaches of somatic awareness, breath work, progressive muscle relaxation, and grounding exercises to address the anxious feelings in the body, which relieves anxiety symptoms. These are used in tandem with the therapeutic process, which will uncover the source of the anxiety. Understanding the source opens the way to address anxiety at the root level rather than just managing anxiety symptoms.

Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) / Sexual Abuse

Treating trauma begins with building trust and safety between the client and clinician. Upon this base of trust and safety, I provide psychoeducation about trauma’s effects on the body and mind. I teach coping and grounding skills, self-compassion, and self-care, which will help you navigate trauma symptoms. Depending on the client’s preferences, I use a safe story-telling approach or Accelerated Resolution Therapy to help resolve the root of the trauma.

Depression

Depression is not a sign of personal weakness and can affect anyone. Depression is often influenced by biological, psychological, environmental, or spiritual factors. My approach to treating depression involves using evidence-based interventions to relieve the symptoms of depression in the short-term while seeking to understand and treat the root cause of depression.

Spiritual Development

Many of us have experienced spiritual abuse and church hurt and need a safe space to process how we’ve been affected. Using evidenced-based attachment interventions through a Christian lens, I will work with you to help you recover, heal, and deepen your relationship with God.

Premarital and Couples Counseling

I approach premarital counseling from a faith-based perspective to discuss using faith, trust, and communication to build a solid foundation for your future marriage. We will explore your core values, communication styles, conflict resolution, intimacy and emotional connection, joint spiritual life practices, family roles and expectations, family of origin influences, and how to navigate conflict and stress.

I approach couples counseling using evidence-based modalities such as The Gottman Method and Emotion Focused Therapy through a Christian lens. I strive to help create a safe space while assessing the areas in the marriage that need attending to. We will work on improving communication, conflict resolution, rekindling emotional intimacy, and strengthening your faith.

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):

• Greenlake – Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Edmonds – Mondays and Tuesdays
• Online (WA only)

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.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), some 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 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.