Carol R Missel, LMHC

My Origins

I grew up in beautiful Western/Upstate New York - not New York City :-). So I do not talk like a New Yorker, but I admittedly walk as fast as one. I went to college in the Metro Chicago Area. I ended up living in various parts of the Chicago area for 15 years before making Seattle my home.

My Education

I earned my Master’s of Counseling Psychology from the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. My undergraduate degree is in Sociology, with a concentration in Family Studies, from Wheaton College (Illinois).

My Therapeutic Approach

I pull from various theories of psychology and seek to stay open to learning from other sources of wisdom about life, love, and living in this beautiful, imperfectly perfect world. I describe my style of therapy as kind, direct, and believing in each person’s goodness and capacity to grow. Some of the most common theories I use as a therapist and coach are: Systems Theory, Object Relations, Narrative Theory, Relational Psychodynamic Theory, DBT/RO-DBT, Lifespan Integration, ACT and Attachment theory. Lately, I’ve been learning more about neurobiological psychology and emotional regulation.

My Professional Experiences

Professionally, I have worked in different settings. After receiving my master’s degree, I had a small private practice and worked as a Milieu Therapist at The Moore Center, which was then bought by The Eating Recovery Center. I transitioned to working full-time for Opal:Food + Body Wisdom when the opportunity arose to lead and develop their Family & Friends program. I started Modern Relationshxps (originally without the x) in 2017 and have fallen more and more in-love with the opportunities to serve and support people who are seeking greater freedom, fulfillment, and empowerment in their lives and relationships.

As a teen and college student, I worked at the local amusement park, babysat, waited tables, filed at an insurance company, did housecleaning, worked as a college post office sorter, and even had a stint as a janitor at my grade school. In my young adult years, I worked for various non-for-profits mostly with the focus of serving financially under-resourced communities, as well as developed programs to increase awareness around issues of poverty, diversity, and spiritual growth.

My Personal Experiences

I have had many roles in life: daughter, sibling, learner, community organizer, mother, teacher, volunteer coordinator, people and program developer (not the computer kind), spouse, athlete, spiritual mentor, friend, coach, therapist, and more. Throughout these different roles, I have found myself in relationships that grant me moments of pure joy, that pierce my heart with pain, and that challenge me to grow. For all of these relationships and experiences, I am learning to be grateful.

Random Tidbits

I am a gleeful novice at many pastimes: gardening, hiking, graphic design, writing, coloring, stamping, tennis, soccer, and reading to name a few. My favorite foods are: chocolate, strawberries, raspberries, salmon caesar salad (from Ivar’s - Mukilteo, happy hour), and sun-dried raviolis from Trader Joes (Oh yeah, I worked there too!).