About Emily Whitish, LMHC
Therapy for women in Bainbridge Island, WA and across Washington
Hello, I’m Emily
I’m a licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience, shaped by working with many different people, problems, and environments.
Many of the women I work with look capable from the outside while quietly carrying too much on the inside. They’re exhausted from overthinking, overfunctioning, managing everyone else’s needs, or trying to hold life together without dropping anything important. Others feel disconnected in their relationships, stuck in painful patterns around communication, conflict, boundaries, or emotional intimacy. Some arrive in the middle of a life transition wondering, “How did I get here?” and realizing the version of themselves they built their life around no longer fits.
Our work together is about helping you understand the deeper patterns driving your anxiety, burnout, self-abandonment, relationship dynamics, or loss of direction so you can respond to yourself and your life differently.
Over time, many clients notice they stop rehearsing conversations in their head, apologizing for having needs, or feeling responsible for everyone else’s emotions. Decisions become clearer. Boundaries feel less terrifying. Relationships feel more honest and less performative. Rest no longer has to be earned. They trust themselves more. Their lives begin to feel more spacious, grounded, and aligned with who they actually are, not just who they learned they had to be. That’s what I want for you – a life that feels authentic, flexible, and free.
I’m passionate about helping women reclaim their agency and build lives that feel self-directed and meaningful.
You already have the insight and strength. I simply help you access it.
Quick Professional Facts
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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.
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I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State (#LH60159227) with 20 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.
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My work is all about focused support for women facing high-impact struggles. I help women navigate identity, big life changes, and relationships.
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.
In a nutshell: 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.
Services Snapshot
Telehealth Therapy for women anywhere in Washington
In-Person Therapy in Bainbridge Island, WA
Therapy Intensives for women who want deep, focused progress in a short time
Change doesn’t start with a complete overhaul.
It starts with one honest conversation about what’s not working anymore.
Let’s have that conversation.
Your Therapy Options
Flexible therapy designed for real life
Online Therapy for Women in Washington State
I currently offer secure online therapy for women across Washington State. Telehealth makes it easy to fit sessions into your life, whether you’re at home, at work, or anywhere you have privacy. Many clients appreciate the flexibility, comfort, and consistency that virtual sessions provide.
In-Person Therapy on Bainbridge Island
I offer a limited number of morning appointments for clients who prefer to meet in person in my Bainbridge Island office. Serving women from Bainbridge, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Kingston, Bremerton, and Kitsap county.
345 Knechtel Way NE Suite 111
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-1272
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