Our practice provides therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. Our primary approach to counseling focuses on clients' strengths and ability to make positive changes in their lives. We believe that one of the essential ingredients for therapeutic change is trust between the therapist and client. Clients are encouraged to set their own goals for therapy and to be full and active participants in their own treatment. Guided by the client's needs and issues, we use a variety of tools drawing from many therapeutic approaches, such as Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Linda Skinner, MA, LMFT
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; Children’s Mental Health Specialist; Washington State Approved Supervisor, #LF00002625; and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. I am the owner and founder of Pathway to Change and provide clinical supervision to all of the therapists at Pathway to Change. I have a Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology both from Pacific Lutheran University. I am experienced in working with children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. I provide therapy from the Pathway to Change Tacoma and Puyallup offices.
Lori TeSelle-DeLisa, MA, LMFT
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; Washington State Approved Supervisor, #LF60910751; and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. I have a Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Science Degree in Human Performance/Sport Psychology from Western Washington University. Additionally, I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education/Exercise Science from Western Washington University. I am a children's mental health specialist and I enjoy working with children, teens, adults, couples, and families. I provide therapy from the Pathway to Change Puyallup office.
Barbie Nevin, MS, LMHCA
I have my Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Phoenix. I am also a certified peer specialist. I have experience working as a sexual assault victim advocate; a mental health technician; and a mental health case manager.
I believe that for counseling to be as effective as possible a partnership between the counselor and the client must exist. The counseling process should be a collaboration, with both parties working toward identifying and achieving the client's treatment goals. The overarching goal is to determine the behaviors and thoughts that negatively impact the client's life and find strategies to improve it. My primary approach to counseling is an integration of cognitive-behavioral, systems, and person-centered therapies, with an emphasis on practicing mindfulness. This integrative counseling approach aims to balance a genuine and empathetic relationship with the client, mindful awareness, and a shared effort at reaching treatment goals. I strongly encourage active input from my clients.
Margaret Goodrum, BA, MS Candidate
I am a MS degree candidate working on my Marriage and Family Therapy degree at Capella University. I am interning at Pathway to Change Counseling Services and am under the supervision of Linda Skinner, MA, LMFT #LF00002625. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Ethnology from the University of New Mexico.
Taking a client-centered approach, I work to assist individuals, couples and families in reaching the goals that they bring with them to therapy. I believe that trust and compassion are essential to the success of therapy and my role is to facilitate that relationship of trust. I strive to be culturally aware and humble, recognizing that no two people experience life the same way. My goal is to help clients find their strengths and resources in a brief, systemic way. Some of the models that inform my approach include Narrative Family Therapy and Collaborative Therapy.
Kristen Borquist, BS, MS Candidate
I am a MS degree candidate working on my Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at Capella University interning at Pathway to Change Counseling Services under the supervision of Linda Skinner, MA, LMFT #LF00002625. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with Marketing Emphasis from Weber State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Central Washington University.
My theoretical orientation is an integrated perspective that incorporates a Person-Centered Therapeutic approach that is paired with Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. To foster therapeutic alliance, I highly value accurately demonstrating genuine and real understanding of the client's subjective worldview through real, and caring interactions. I incorporate a Solution-Focused orientation by assisting clients with recognizing and discovering their innate proficiencies and identified strengths as a primary source to aid, support, and assist with the resolution of identified problems. In addition, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an opportunity for clients to safely explore and examine both in and out of session their own thought process (cognitions) and its role and influence on one's behavior and psychological distress allowing clients the opportunity to strengthen their ability to identify, challenge, and modify identified pathological thought patterns.
A benefit in this integrated therapeutic orientation is in the flexibility to work collaboratively with clients whether individually, as a couple, or a family unit designing treatment plans that support the implementation of a variety of therapeutic techniques that are tailored individually to the client's needs and goals. Having 31 years of experience coaching, mentoring, and working with children, adolescents, and adults I highly respect, embrace, and value a multicultural perspective recognizing each client comes from a unique cultural and social context which in turn enhances, enriches, and strengthens the counseling experience.
Rebekah Betts, BA, MA Candidate
I am a MA degree candidate working on my Marriage and Family Therapy degreer at Capella University. I am interning at Pathway to CHange Counseling Services and am under the supervision of Linda Skinner, MA, LMFT #LF00002625. I hold a Bachelor of Artsdegree in Psychology from Gonzaga University with a minor in Sociology.
I work in Solution-Focused and Narrative therapy models, my goals for clients are to find strengths and resources already existing in their life to facilitate change towards a less problem focused future. I take a systemic approach that involves reviewing how relationships and society can affect an individual,couple, or family's relationships. I find the relationship between clients and therapists to be important as I strive to ensure the relationship is built on trust and a thorough understanding of the client experiences. Therapy can be an intimidating process to begin, but with help from a positively informed therapist, an individual, couple , or family can make a great progress toward their preferred future.
Peter Watson, BA, MA Candidate
I am a MA degree candidate working on my Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree through the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. I am interning at Pathway to CHange Counseling Services and am under the supervision of Lori TeSelle-DeLisa, MA, LMFT #LF60910751. I hold a bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Western Washington University and a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology from Westminster Seminary in California.
I hold a Christian worldview (beautiful but broken) and take a psychodynamic approach to mental and emotional distress. Working from an existential framework, my goal is to help the client find meaning in the midst of chaos. My therapeutic approach is client-centered, meaning I'm deeply interested in how you experience the world in which you exist. I firmly believe that people are wounded in relationship and are healed in relationship. My style tends to be pragmatic, but relational. I'm curious, humorous, and perceptive. Sessions will consist of processing significant events and feelings in a way that helps the client cultivate their desire and capacity for wellbeing.
