KATHY SHENK – LMFT, LMHC, CGE
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Certified Gottman Educator
- Member of the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors)
- Clinical Fellow with the AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) and member of WAMFT (Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy)
Education: Kathy completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Psychology at Eastern Washington University and also earned a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling with a Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis from Liberty University. Kathy continues to frequently attend trainings and workshops to stay informed and sharpen her skills.
Counseling Experience: Kathy felt called to the counseling field as a young woman and has been given the opportunity to use her counseling skills in a variety of settings including churches, community health clinics and schools. For the last several years, she has developed a passion for helping marriages and families (especially those who are parenting/grandparenting/caregiving), being encouraged by the positive outcomes that emerge as families work to find health and healing in difficult life circumstances. Kathy’s counseling experience has spanned nearly three decades working with people of all ages in a variety of situations, counseling in areas including but not limited to pre-marital counseling, marital dissatisfaction, marital enhancement, working through betrayal, sexual addictions, depression, divorce recovery, reconciliation, blended families, anxiety, abuse, preparing for parenthood, parenting challenges, co-parenting when divorced, teen and pre-teen issues, forgiveness, finding personal and spiritual direction, life changes and adjustments, grief and loss, and various women’s issues.
Specializations: Although broad in it’s interpretation, Kathy’s specialization is “relationships”. Relationships are built around every area of our life, not just in family, but in work, education, church, recreation, friendships, social activities, and more. Kathy has been a Certified Gottman Educator since 2006 and has also completed Gottman Method Level 3 Training finding that the tools used from John Gottman’s research, when applied through the filter of biblical counseling, can have a tremendous impact on relationships, but especially marriages and parenting.
Ministry Experience: Kathy has served in ministry in a variety of ways, including being part of a church leadership team as well as a lay counselor for church and community. She has also been a youth leader, Director of Creative Arts (ministry through drama and music), Divorce Care Facilitator, Small Group Leader, Nursery Director, Director of Homeschooling Support, and teacher of children from fourth grade to college. Kathy has been a speaker at a variety of functions, and has also participated in various community outreaches.
Personal Life: Kathy is a wife, mom, step-mom and “Grammy”. She and her husband have six children between them, so blended family issues are not only a professional focus, but a personal one as well! She finds joy in attending trainings in her profession, photography, landscaping, the fine arts, camping, hosting family/friend events, geocaching / exploring with her husband…but mostly in spending time with her grandbabies!