Emily Whitish, Seattle-based therapist specializing in women's mental health

Hello, I'm Emily

My goal is to help you recognize your power and use it to achieve whatever you want in life.

But first, let’s clear the air.

Yes, I’m a therapist, but I am a human first.

I step into therapy as a person, not an expert. I’m not an enlightened being, and I certainly don’t have it all together. Like you, I’m fumbling through life.

I see therapy as a partnership. We are a team, working together to build an incredible life for you. From this place, I am free of pretense, judgment, and affectation. I already know you have what it takes to create a beautiful life; I’m just here to help you unleash it.

My promise to you

In our therapy sessions, you'll always be met with humanity and empathy. I take seriously the privilege of being someone who sees, understands, and supports you in ways you may not find elsewhere. While listening, validating, and offering compassion are important parts of our work, they’re just the beginning. I'm here to empower you to take ownership of your life. Together, we'll challenge everything you think you're "supposed to" do, be, act, or look like, and discover what you truly want instead. I believe in your ability to heal and I'm committed to helping you achieve your goals.

In addition, my work—and my life—are guided by values of gender equality, feminism, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am committed to creating an inclusive and affirming space. I am anti-racist, believe deeply in bodily autonomy, and always approach therapy through an intersectional lens, honoring the complexities of your identity and experiences. If these values resonate with you, I would be honored to support you on your journey.

Quick Professional Facts

I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other well-established interventions like Compassion Focused Therapy and Trauma therapy. My work is informed by shame resilience theory, social justice, feminist theory, intuitive and mindful eating, Buddhist teachings, self-compassion theory, mindfulness-based approaches, and principles of the Healthy At Every Size® model.
The skills you’ll learn collectively contribute to psychological flexibility, a state in which you’re free to make choices and act in ways consistent with what you want your life to be about.
In a nutshell, I will help you live a richer, more fulfilling, more significant life.
I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State (#LH60159227) with 19 years of experience. I hold a Master's degree in Clinical Counseling from Seattle University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Washington. I'm an Association for Contextual Behavioral Science member. I worked as a therapist and supervisor in mental health organizations before transitioning to private practice in 2011.
My practice helps women navigate identity, big life changes, and relationships—whether shaped by chronic illness, body image struggles, past trauma, or patterns of behavior. These experiences often reveal deeper wounds, requiring us to confront unworkable dynamics, heal from the past, and cultivate self-compassion. Grounded in feminist, trauma-informed, and psychodynamic principles, my work as an ACT therapist empowers women to trust themselves, redefine their worth beyond societal expectations, and build lives that align with their true values.

Emily Whitish, LMHC - Mental health counseling for women in Seattle, WA

I am so passionate about this work because, like you, I am constantly being asked to tiptoe around the realities of my own life

As a female, I've felt the weight of societal norms, deeply ingrained in our culture. I know the suffocating pressure of living by the "shoulds," constantly feeling I’m living a life scripted for someone else.

I have a chronic illness, and I understand the ways illness can smack you in the face and shake you to the core. I know how it can infiltrate every aspect of your life and force you to confront things you'd like to keep hiding from.

I also know the harmful effects of our culture’s insanely irrational beauty standards. My journey is marked by the loss of once-taken-for-granted abilities and years of detachment from my body. I didn’t always love or accept this vessel that has carried me through life.

Simple bird graphic symbolizing breaking free from societal expectations.

However, living on my terms brought immense liberation.

It felt like finally exhaling after holding my breath for far too long.

The toxic stigma placed on women creates unbearable pressure to make ourselves into something other than we are. The pain it spurs is not just a feeling. It impacts everything and makes you feel worthless, anxious, depressed, and isolated.

If we want to be our highest selves, we must stop trying to "fix" and change ourselves to meet the standards of other people. We must accept every facet of ourselves.

But acceptance isn't just about sitting back; it's about taking action that fits with who we are. We need to make choices that match our values, guiding us toward a life that feels genuine and meaningful. It's not about having all the answers, but about staying true to ourselves along the way.

A Few of My Values

I keep my caseload intentionally small, scheduling only 12-15 sessions per week. This approach allows me to give each client the focus they deserve and the flexibility to accommodate rescheduled appointments.

I’m also committed to my own growth. I regularly participate in continuing education and do my own emotional and psychological work, believing that I can only guide my clients as far as I’ve journeyed myself.

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) is central to my practice; I use it with genuine passion because I live and breathe its principles every day.