Patricia Sumlin
Compassionate practical therapy for life’s challenges
LMFT Washington
- Experience
- 25 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Patricia
Patricia Sumlin is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of clinical experience who works with people coping with stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship and family concerns, depression, addiction, grief, and a range of other life challenges.
Background and approach
She brings a practical, direct, and respectful style to therapy, focusing on building a collaborative relationship that helps clients develop coping skills, emotional regulation, and greater confidence in daily life. Patricia emphasizes clear boundaries and honest feedback while honoring each person’s experience and resilience.
Her practice draws on evidence-informed approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Over the course of her career she has worked in diverse clinical settings such as outpatient clinics, residential programs, hospice bereavement services, and community-based trauma programs, which informs her practical, skill-building orientation.
Patricia aims to help clients translate insight into everyday strategies for stability and growth, with attention to complex issues like trauma histories, neurodiversity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and caregiving or chronic illness concerns.
Approaches that guide online therapy
Patricia integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Attachment-Based ideas into online work. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily functioning, which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and persistent stress. ACT emphasizes values-driven action and acceptance of difficult emotions while teaching practical skills to build a meaningful life despite ongoing challenges. Attachment-Based work explores relational patterns and emotional bonds, helping clients understand how early and current relationships shape reactions and intimacy issues.Choosing the best approach is collaborative; the therapist will work with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She blends techniques from different models when useful so that treatment is tailored rather than one-size-fits-all, and she pays attention to what feels most effective for the client as therapy progresses.
Online therapy here is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase accessibility and flexibility. These formats make it easier to fit regular sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and practice new skills between appointments with ongoing support from a licensed professional.
Frequently asked questions
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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