About Catherine

Dr. Catherine MacLennan
Psychologist, EFT Therapist

Dr.  MacLennan is a psychologist licensed in Washington State. She was introduced to Sue Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, individuals, and families years ago, participated in training and continuing education, and she has learned that EFT is the most advanced, evidenced-based, therapeutic model that is available.

This systems model offers us a way to help you change, reduce your suffering, and gain more sense of satisfaction. In EFT we study attachment theory and science in order to better help you (couples, families, individuals) change. We focus on the patterns in your important relationships and help you notice so that you can feel more safe and secure. This will reduce attachment based distress or discomfort and trauma related stress and symptoms. EFT can help you find a felt sense of secure attachment in connection with others and integrated sense of self that empowers you in the face of life’s challenges.

Dr. MacLennan began providing telehealth or telebehavioral health in March 2020. She is a Level II Board Certified Telehealth provider by Telehealth Behavioral Institute (THBI).

Philosophy & Techniques

Emotionally Focused Therapy is securely grounded and rooted in attachment theory. Multiple research studies have shown that attachment theory gives us an accurate understanding about relationships, what makes them work, what destroys them, and how to repair them. EFT provides the most cutting edge, empirically validated model (EFT) grounded in attachment theory, that tells us just how to treat it!

Telebehavioral health provides you the opportunity to see a therapist while staying safe, on a HIPAA secure platform, and saves you time and travel costs.

Areas of Specialization

Dr. MacLennan sees adults for individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy. She also sees adolescents and children when parents or family are involved with EFT..

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relational Distress
• Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) and PTSD
• Developmental trauma

Personal Story

I have provided behavioral health services (mental health) for over 40 years in various contexts. I raised my children in rural eastern Washington State. I understand physical isolation and social isolation and the effects from the rapid and extreme changes that COVID has wrought. I understand the challenges of coping with change for individuals and families who have been stuck at home during the pandemic.

After so many years of helping people change, I have been thrilled to learn this Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) model, that helps me be a more effective therapist for you as an individual and for you in your important relationships. I sincerely look forward to meeting you, getting to know you, and using EFT methods to help you obtain your goals. I assure you that if you work with me, I will be with you while supporting you on this path.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Catherine MacLennan – she/her/hers

I recognize that I have had many privileges that many people have not had, as a white woman, living in Canada and the United States. In 2021 I cannot sit on the fence, or in the sidelines, and not be brave enough to say some important things to each of you.

I am actively making space in my life for the intersecting identities of all people and creating safety for a relationship with you. I hope to practice cultural humility through introspection and through listening to others. I acknowledge that development of cultural humility is a dynamic, lifelong, and never complete process. I realize that you may have individually experienced cultural trauma and/or that you may have cultural trauma triggered within the context of our work together and in our relationship.

I recognize that there cannot help but be ongoing effects from genocide and generational trauma

I live and work on the land and traditional territories of the Southern Okanogan Tribal Peoples.

I strive to be antiracist and to be more comfortable with discomfort as an important part of learning. I recognize that perfectly safe conversations can occur even when people feel uncomfortable. I strive to do my own work around unconscious bias, power, and privilege by engaging in personal reading, participating in a study group, engaging in difficult conversations, and introspection. I strive to use welcoming and inclusive language such as using your chosen pronoun, name choice, pronunciations, and spellings.

Memberships

1. American Psychological Association (APA) member 83527003. Divisions: 41 American Psychology and Law Society; 43 Society for Couples and Family Psychology; 37 Child, Youth & Family and 431 Section on Child Maltreatment.
2. Washington State Psychological Association (WSPA) member since 1998.
3. Association of Family and Conciliation Courts member (AFCC), and Washington State Chapter member.
4. Pacific Northwest Neuropsychological Society (PNNS) member.
5. American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) member 2017591.
6. Pacific Northwest Network of Expert Witnesses member.
7. Past member National Association of Neuropsychologists (NAN) and American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH).

Certificates

• Board Certified Telebehavioral Health Level II Specialist Telebehavioral Health Institute (TBHI)10/20.
• Parent Evaluation Treatment Program (PETP) Certification in 2007.
• Prevention of Violence Concentration Fielding Graduate University 2004.
• Child Mental Health Specialist & Minority Mental Health Specialist, WA State Division of Mental Health 1997.
• WA State Certified Domestic Violence Perpetrator Treatment Provider and Supervisor (not currently certified).
• International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSD) Intensive 10 month Certificate.
• American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) Certification 1996.
• iRest (Integrated Restoration) Certified teacher since 2017.