Tonia Adams, MA, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
(206) 388-3929 | [email protected]
Our path is often marred by the many distractions that keep us from finding our true identity and God’s purpose for our lives. My passion is to facilitate clarity and provide support by helping you find meaning in the midst of your suffering and increasing the awareness and potential for choice. Our past does not define us; it is what we do with our circumstances that molds our character. We always have a choice in how we respond to life. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor E. Frankl
Silverdale – Tue, Wed, and Thu
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I have years of experience helping individuals from various backgrounds overcome concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, codependency and other relationship problems, ADHD, abandonment issues, and more. Together in session we will work to identify any unhelpful thought patterns and behavior habits, then establish practical steps to replace those with thoughts and actions that will result in a more purposeful, joy-filled, God-honoring life. I use a variety of proven therapeutic techniques depending on each client’s unique situation in order to ensure a personalized approach that will serve you well.
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
Often mental health issues such as depression and anxiety manifest from unresolved trauma and/or an inability to know or express our true selves. I enjoy helping people explore their authentic selves by asking the question, “What does it look like to be me?” By integrating your answers with the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social aspects of your being, I will help you live a more fulfilling life.
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer a safe space without any judgment. I believe part of healing and learning to live well is acknowledging our true thoughts and feelings and being transparent about who we are and what we have done. With compassion and the love of God, I will offer nuggets of wisdom and often relate my personal experience if it is therapeutically beneficial along with practical exercises to help you reach your goals for therapy.
My Approach to Christian Counseling
I have learned we all need a moral compass, a guide, and that comes in the form of the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Left to our own devices, we will often choose unhealthy behaviors and coping skills which appear to be benign at the forefront. Satan is at work and we are in an intense spiritual battle, one we cannot win alone. We all suffer, but those who have God and a community of godly people in their lives tend to suffer well. With His help, it is possible to make even our painful experiences meaningful.
Qualifications & Experience
I hold a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University Online and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of North Texas. I have over eight years of experience serving in the mental health field working with clients dealing with a broad range of concerns.
My Call to Christian Counseling
My journey to become a counselor was prompted by my love of helping people navigate life’s chaos, nurtured by my empathic nature, and spurred on by my introduction to existentialism in high school. I have a family history of dealing with death, divorce, suicide, terminal illness, and alcoholism, all of which cultivated my desire to walk alongside others in their pain.
More About Me/On a Personal Note
I love connecting with people. I am a natural extrovert and am energized by socializing. My husband and I travel often and have plans to retire on a boat to sail the world. The water is my happy place and it is even better when my husband and our dog are there to share it with me. I enjoy writing about the chaos of life and I love reading and watching true crime and solving mysteries.
Areas of Expertise/Specialties
- Abandonment and Neglect
- ADHD
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Codependency
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- OCD
- Personal Development
- Relationship Issues
- Sexual Abuse
- Spiritual Development
- Trauma
- Women’s Issues
ADHD
Studies show that ADHD is more prevalent than we once thought, particularly in women, and it does not just manifest as an inability to sit down or concentrate. Often, it looks like difficulty prioritizing or completing tasks, getting up repeatedly during a movie to do something, or simply being unable to maintain your calendar. Together, we will identify how ADHD impacts you and ways to manage those symptoms so that you can control the squirrels and reduce the chaos in your life.
Anxiety
When you have anxiety, it can permeate every part of your life. You may think that’s normal for everybody, but it’s not. Life with anxiety is living in a perpetual state of overwhelm and “what ifs,” and it does not have to be that way. In session, we will work together to challenge irrational thoughts and learn to calm your spirit.
Codependency
When you struggle with being codependent, your belief systems center around gaining your self worth from what you do for others, which yields external affirmation. Who you are is based on what you do, so what happens when you don’t do? As Christians, we are often taught to put others above ourselves, but I believe Jesus set boundaries around that when He walked the earth. You can only give to others what you give to yourself and you can’t give from an empty cup. We will learn how to love others as yourself and as God loves you.
Personal Development
Together in session we will work to explore the choices that you have in each life circumstance, and discover ways to grow and become your authentic self, with God’s help. We will integrate every aspect of your being – physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual – as we seek to find practical ways to enjoy a more fulfilling life.
Relationship Issues
We are relational beings by nature, but often we learned how to connect and communicate with others in very unhealthy ways. Clearly expressing our needs and wants and setting and enforcing boundaries are keys to having healthy interactions. We will work together to identify and correct faulty patterns so that you will experience less conflict and more joy in your relationships.
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):
- Silverdale – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals 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 (LMHC), 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.
Focus Areas
Abandonment and Neglect
ADHD
Anxiety
Anger Management
Codependency
Depression
Grief Counseling
Individual Counseling
Infidelity and Affairs
OCD
Personal Development
Relationship Issues
Sexual Abuse
Spiritual Development
Trauma
Women’s Issues