Patrick Petrie

My Bio

I am curious about exploring together what it means to heal and live a life that you will come to find meaningful. Sometimes this means coming to terms with the pain of what has been lost or covered up by harm in order to reveal what truly gives you meaning and delight in your life. At other times it may mean exploring a variety of approaches, building new skills & resources, and taking small steps to reach one’s goals. My frame of reference is driven by the importance of narrative and relationship: I believe one’s behaviors, thoughts, and feelings convey a larger story that, when carefully examined and safely explored, reveals aspects of our hidden and authentic selves. I firmly believe that all parts of who you are and where you have come from are welcome. My approach primarily takes on the form of Relationally-focused psychodynamic therapy, while also utilizing the wisdom of the body, mind, and spirit to inform us of our best approach to holistic wellbeing.

My aim is to come to understand your concerns and how we work through them by trusting that you are the primary expert and an equal participant in your therapy. By working together from a place of safety and empowerment, we will bring attention to your unique strengths, desires, and motivations for healing as the foundation from which we can explore, play, and be curious about the difficulties you are facing. This means that I will work alongside you from a stance of openness, mutuality, and trust in the healing that comes with the relationship we create together over time.

I graduated with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. In addition, I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Sociology from George Fox University. My education has emphasized the importance of story, spirituality, and culture as fundamental aspects of mental health.

I strive to be an ongoing learner of life, acknowledge my blind spots, and create spaces where all diversities of experience, identity, belief, and cultural tradition are welcome. I thrive whenever I get the opportunity to explore the outdoors, savor a good story by way of film or novel, and playfully engage in board games or interactive roleplaying games.