Mitchell A. Skidmore, LSCSW
Emotions and relationships are the core of what I do. Early on in my career, I worked in residential treatment for adolescents, helping them learn to manage their emotions and relate well with each other. Later I helped individuals and families dealing with chronic or terminal illness, and death-loss. These challenges have no easy answer or fix. It’s less about what to do, and more about how you do it–it’s about relating, mourning, and discovering how to move forward. My bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and my master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington gave me my start, and a voracious appetite for reading and learning through experience keeps me going.
I work primarily from a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic perspective. This means when you come to therapy with me, we will be focused on emotions, relationships, and patterns. I will work with you to express feelings in greater detail, notice what feelings or thoughts cause distress or are avoided, highlight themes and patterns in the way you feel and think, observe how these patterns occur in and impact relationships, and identify how all of that may be getting in the way of a meaningful life.
Adults of all ages are welcome to join this journey of discovery and growth.
I might be the right individual therapist for you,
If:
● You are good at solving logistical problems, but find yourself in the same kinds of emotional distress over and over.
● Feel guilty or selfish for having limits and boundaries.
● You feel intense pressure to do the “right” thing in every situation.
● You know what you “should” do, but seem to not do it, leaving you confused, angry or guilty.
● It’s easy to care for others, but not yourself.
● Emotions are overwhelming
● You can’t stop thinking about things.
● Relationships keep falling apart or you are having trouble figuring them out.
● Your relationship is in trouble, but couple therapy is not the right fit.
● You are willing to explore your inner world.
● You know there is not an easy answer, because you would have found it already.
But, not if:
● You are not ready to look at how you contribute to the problem.
● You can not commit to regular appointments.
● You are having hallucinations or delusions (hearing/seeing/believing things that are not there).
● Your primary concern is a substance addiction or eating disorder.