My work as a counselor is rooted in an understanding that we live our lives connected to and in relationship with ourselves, our loved ones, our community, and to that which we hold sacred.  My training has included a framework for understanding and exploring intrapsychic processes, family  systems, and spirituality.  I am deeply committed to not imposing my own beliefs or those of the Healing Places community on anyone.  Clients of all spiritual backgrounds and belief systems are welcome and sincerely repected here. 

I have specialized training in the psychological and spiritual impact of physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse upon people's lives.  I am interested in gender-related issues.  My experience includes helping people with depression and suicidal feelings, anxiety, anger management, and stress reduction.  I am trained to work with needs relating to communication in relationships and families, divorce, remarriage, and blended or step-families.  Options for pregnancy, disability, grief work, healing from trauma, and Adult Children of Alcoholics are also areas in which I work with clients.

I hold a post-graduate certificate in the clinical use of Interactive Guided Imagery.  I find this a most exciting and effective tool to facilitate clients' work in such areas as relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief, behavior change, understanding of dreams, exploration of aspects of one's inner self, and inner dialogues toward conflict resolution and the experiencing of peace.

I work with people who are facing surgery or a medical procedure, using imagery to help them prepare and to have the most positive outcome possible.  This preparation is shown to help reduce pain and speed recovery time.  It is creative and supportive.

I also use imagery to boost the immune system of clients fighting cancer or other chronic illnesses.  I am interested in the unfolding understanding of how mind and body connect and coomunicate, and I can include energy work in the course of therapy.

  I have a mixed practice that includes brief, problem-solving counseling as well as longer-term work of a year or more.  The longer term therapy is appropriate for individuals who find, in themselves and their relationships, long-standing issues that cause discomfort or suffering to themselves or others.  These clients commit to exploration, healing, and growth, both within themselves and in their world, on deeper, more pervasive levels.

To Contact Me:

     Voice Mail: (253) 566-2982

     paulahoyt@qwest.office.net

       Fax: (253) 564-9451

     Address: 1614 South Mildred Street

     Suite B

     Tacoma, WA 98465

PAULA L. K. HOYT, MEd., LMHC

• M.Ed., University of Puget Sound

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor

• Certified Practitioner of Interactive Guided Imagery

• Certified Clinical Supervisor