Alaina Boyle, MA, LHMC

Pronouns: she/they

Clients and their families describe Alaina as:

Wise, Knowledgeable, Compassionate, Adept, Smart, Caring, Thoughtful, Clear, Respectful

I am passionate about providing evidence-based, individually-tailored therapy to teens and young adults, especially folks who identify as gender-diverse and/or neurodivergent and have not felt understood or adequately served in past therapy experiences.

My Education and Training

Prior to becoming a counselor, I worked in a variety of academic coaching and tutoring settings with students ranging from 1st through 12th grade with a broad range of educational needs. It was through this work that I developed a passion for working with neurodivergent youth, and grew my interest in more directly providing mental health support to young people. I then went on to receive my Masterʼs of Arts in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Washington. After completing my practicum at a community mental health agency, I co-founded Sequoia Teen Counseling Center in 2020 with the mission of building a values-driven and community-focused practice. Since then, I have served in both an administrative and clinical role at Sequoia.

I have received additional training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I have also pursued specialized training, supervision, and consultation in working with neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ populations. I have fulfilled the training requirements to become an approved supervisor in Washington State and currently provide clinical supervision to associate-level counselors at Sequoia.

My Approach

In our work together, my number one goal is for you to feel validated and seen for who you are. In our sessions, you are the expert of your own experience, and my job is to partner with you to make the changes you want to make in your life. I welcome clients of all identities, personalities, and life experiences, with a particular commitment to affirming and supporting those facing systemic oppression or marginalization. I also recognize that our individual identities shape the work we do together and we bring both conscious and unconscious biases into the space. I am committed to approaching this with cultural humility, ongoing learning, and a nonjudgmental sense of curiosity. 

My approach to therapy sessions varies significantly based on each individual’s needs and preferences: some clients lead the session with the topics they want to discuss that week, while others prefer a more structured approach where I introduce an agenda and lead activities. I welcome feedback about what you want more or less of in our sessions to make our time together fulfilling and effective. 

I support folks in navigating a wide range of challenges including depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, body image issues, suicidal ideation, self-harm, substance use, and interpersonal conflict. I’ve found that I work especially well with individuals who know what changes they want to make in their lives and are seeking support in breaking goals into manageable steps, building their toolkit, and having a trusted person they can be honest and accountable with. 

When appropriate, I value collaborating with other members of a client’s support team, including psychiatrists, nutritionists, caregiver coaches, family therapists, or school staff. I’m also happy to include caregiver(s) in the therapy process depending on the teen’s needs and preferences.

More About Me

When I’m not at Sequoia, I enjoy spending time with friends, doing improv, watching TV and movies, and listening to Taylor Swift. What truly fulfills me is being in nature and going on adventures with my wife and our two dogs: chihuahua mix Sully and husky Eska.

What to Expect in an Initial Consultation With Alaina

I am happy to do consultations with teens/young adults, their caregiver(s), or both–whatever makes the most sense for you and your family! During our 15-minute consultation call, I’ll ask what your goals are for  therapy, if you’ve been to therapy before and what you found helpful or not so helpful, and I’ll also want to get to know a bit about you and your interests. I may also ask you some questions about specific risk behaviors to make sure that traditional outpatient therapy is the right fit for your needs. I’ll then tell you a bit more about me and my approach, and answer any questions you may have. If we both feel like it’s a good potential fit, we can go ahead and schedule our first appointment!