Dr. Angela Hanford, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
(425) 979-3176 | [email protected]
Angela is currently not accepting new clients
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, an eating disorder, depression, trauma recovery, relationship issues, challenges with your child or teenager, or some other obstacle, Christian counseling can help. As a Doctor of Psychology with over 15 years of clinical experience, I look forward to working with you to find lasting relief from your concerns. With empathy, compassion, and professional expertise, I will help you discover practical, achievable steps toward a healthy, thriving life and peaceful relationships with others. Don’t let another day go by without taking the next step toward your own personal well-being.
Kent – Mon, Tue & Wed
Bellevue – Thu
Online Counseling
Often the challenges we face cause us to feel stuck in a rut of discouragement or despondency. When this happens, it can be difficult to pull ourselves out of the darkness and back into the light. This is where meeting with a Christian counselor can make all the difference. Having someone you can trust who understands the issues you’re facing and who can offer effective, faith-based techniques for overcoming your hurdles can be a great benefit. Over the years I’ve seen God do amazing work in the lives of my clients, and I trust He can and will do the same for you.
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
My goal as a Christian counselor is to help you gain freedom from your struggles so you can live life to the fullest as God intended. Nobody needs to live an unfulfilling life. Help is available. In sessions I will help you learn how to have meaningful and healthy relationships with others. We will also work toward gaining a strong sense of self-awareness so you can develop effective coping techniques to learn on your own after counseling.
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer a safe place for you to feel understood. During our initial session, I will work with you to understand why you are seeking counseling and what you hope to accomplish through it. Together we will seek to identify the root causes of your concerns, then develop a treatment plan to help you achieve an overall sense of well-being. We will work toward overcoming any obstacles you face so you can enjoy the life God has given you.
My Approach to Christian Counseling
My approach is very relational, regardless of which counseling methods and techniques I am using. I take cues from my clients to determine which direction we will go in order to best meet their individual needs.Spiritually speaking, our relationship with God is impacted by how we see ourselves and relate to others. As such, experiencing emotional healing can help us develop a deeper relationship with God. One of my goals is for you to experience a joy in Christ that overflows into every area of your life.
Qualifications & Experience
I hold a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Biola University and a BA in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University. I have been counseling professionally since 2002. I am also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
My Call to Christian Counseling
I have always enjoyed working with people and serving in my local church. As I explored classes in college, I discovered that I enjoyed learning about how people grow throughout life. It is a privilege to be able to help people develop into healthy and thriving individuals. Like the Casting Crowns song says, “We were made to thrive!”
More About Me/On a Personal Note
I love leading people in worship; I play the guitar and keyboard. I also enjoy working out and hiking.
- Anxiety
- OCD
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Self-harm behaviors
- Counseling of Adolescents
- Relationship Issues
- Abuse
- Women’s Issues
- Trauma
- Psychological Testing
- Identity Development
- Individual Counseling
- Personal Development
- Spiritual Development
Anxiety
Excessive anxiety can have a devastating impact on school, work, and relationships and cause significant personal distress. Through therapy, I will help you to understand anxiety and develop tools to combat anxious thoughts and physical reactions. Throughout my career I have helped many children, adolescents, and adults develop tools to successfully overcome various presentations of anxiety.
Child/Adolescent Counseling
Throughout my career I have been privileged to work with many children and adolescents. The brain is changing so quickly during childhood and adolescence, which makes it a prime time for instilling emotion regulation and healthy coping. However, today’s children and teens are also faced with many obstacles, from increased demands of school and sports to bullying to the dangers of social media and the internet.
In therapy I work with both the child and/or teen, along with his or her caregiver. I help caregivers to understand neurological development and to develop tools to aid in healthy brain development. In addition, we explore parenting approaches that will teach responsibility and independence versus fear and dependence. Whether your child or teen is experiencing depression, anxiety, acting out, or other emotional struggles, I will work to help them gain self-awareness, relate better with others, and develop the tools necessary to cope with life.
Depression
Depression can be overwhelming and often feels as if there is no hope. However, healing is possible! Some signs of depression include persistent sad mood, lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating and making decisions. Together we will identify the origins of your feelings of depression, understand your triggers, help you to develop coping strategies, and discover tools for battling the negative thoughts that accompany depression. We will work to help you enjoy life and feel whole.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders, whether anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder, are complex disorders that can result in much destruction in one’s life. In addition, depression, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties typically accompany eating disorders. It is important to manage both the psychological and physical aspects of an eating disorder. To that end, I am able to work with your dietitian and medical doctor in order to ensure that you have a complete team approach to your recovery. Through therapy, we will work together to discover root causes to your eating disorder, identify triggers, develop tools to effectively cope with emotions and triggers, and identify and combat the “eating disorder voice” that can be so destructive.
Trauma
Trauma takes many forms. Sometimes memories of traumatic events are not able to be fully processed and, therefore, are not stored in adaptive ways. If untreated, trauma can result in depression, anxiety, addictions, and a host of other problems. Trauma can also have a devastating impact on work and relationships. However, healing is possible! One approach that I use in treating trauma is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an approach that research has shown to be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Together, we will work to help you develop healthy coping strategies, understand your trauma reactions, and adaptively process traumatic memories.
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):
- Kent – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
- Bellevue – Thursday
- Online Counseling
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Adolescents and Families 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 Clinical Psychologist a majority of 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 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 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.