Profile
About
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) based in Yelm, Washington. Rooted in family systems theory, my practice focuses on helping individuals, couples, and families reduce suffering, heal trauma, and resolve behavioral or relationship challenges.
Good therapy builds on the strengths you already possess. Together, we will combine cognitive behavioral methods, mindfulness, communication techniques, and family systems work to create healthier thinking patterns and lasting, positive change.
My counseling style is supportive, positive, and deeply creative. We will focus on building stronger communication skills and cultivating deeper connections with others—and yes, humor and playful interaction are always welcome in my sessions.
Before transitioning into therapy, I spent three decades as an equine coach and rider—an experience that profoundly shapes my practice today. Horses are remarkable mirrors; they require us to be entirely present, congruent, and grounded. They taught me to view people not in isolation, but in the context of their "herd"—their families and communities. I bring that same "equine wisdom" into my work, helping clients discover their own authentic path to joy.
For couples, I offer specialized training in communication and sex therapy, heavily informed by the work of Esther Perel and Harville Hendrix’s Imago therapy. I love helping partners co-create more peaceful, functional, and deeply joyful relationships.
I am a clinical fellow LMFT, and also have an NCC. I have a Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychology from St Martins University, and have worked extensively as a Coach and Equine Assisted Therapist for over 30 years. I have been in private practice since 2017 and have an office in Yelm, Washington.

annemarie murdock
LMFT
