Northwest Gold Coast

With all the different types of counseling these days, the search for the right therapist to meet your specific needs can be difficult if you are uncertain about what you need.  There is a difference between counseling and psychotherapy yet many professionals practice both.  Counselors are trained to provide help with defining problems, decision making, advice and guidance.  Psychotherapy involves behavioral therapy techniques to improve physical and psychological well-being while building awareness that can help individuals discover sources of mental and emotional pain and work towards the healing process.  Psychotherapy can be of help with a variety of issues such as anxiety, anger, panic attacks, relationship problems, nightmares, insomnia and many other issues and emotions.

Gillian Vik of Madison Valley Counseling offers a compassionate and encouraging approach to help people work through the changing process in their lives while providing emotional support for those individuals and their families.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Gillian received her Bachelors Degree from Fairhaven College and holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with Emphasis in Depth Psychology. As an experienced therapist, Gillian has additional training in trauma disorders and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.  Participating in consultations and supervision with other mental health counselors ensures that Gillian provides the highest quality therapy and participates in her own therapy on an ongoing basis.  Since 2007, her private practice is based in Seattle, Washington where she counsels individuals in all types of life transitions and situations for group and individual sessions.

For more info about Gillian Vik and her private practice, go to: http://www.madisonvalleycounseling.com

Tags: Services by Michelle Leonard
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As summer comes to a close and autumn approaches, the weather will change.  And as Washington’s typical September rains arrive, focus from yard improvement projects will turn to indoor home improvement projects.  This is where Anacapri Construction enters.

Anacapri Construction is a locally owned and operated construction company serving the Seattle area.  The contractors at Anacapri bring a strong knowledge of multiple fields of construction that make them the perfect choice for any job around the house.  Contractors at Anacapri specialize in the areas of tile installation.  Not only will Anacapri’s contractors install the tile perfectly in any room of a home, but they will customize the tile patterns to customer’s requests. Their work is beautiful and flawless.

Another area of specialization for Anacapri Construction is in kitchen remodel.  From plumbing to cabinet installation, contractors at Anacapri can tackle any kitchen project with professionalism and attentiveness to detail.  The contractors work hard to create the design requested by customers and maintain quality in their work.

Anacapri Construction is the perfect choice for any home improvement or remodeling project.  To learn more about Anacapri’s specialty job capabilities or get a quote, view their website at: www.anacapriconstruction.com.

Tags: Services by Michelle Leonard
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As an alternative to traditional psychotherapy and mental health counseling, art therapy is an effective way to allow people to express themselves through painting, drawing, clay work, sculpting, and collage art.  Engaging in this process can allow people to cope with everyday life experiences and help to define inner strengths.  It can also determine hidden difficulties related to emotional problems, medical illnesses such as cancer, anxiety, depression, grief and loss and divorce.  Where some therapy sessions ask you to talk about yourself and your issues, art therapy helps you to visualize your feelings and express them through a variety of art modulation techniques.  Art therapists are trained in both therapy and art.

With more and more children being diagnosed with autism each year, art therapy has also become a very effective treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  This type of treatment for autism can help with improved ability to imagine and think, recognize and respond to facial expressions as well as helping with sensory issues and fine motor skills.

For counseling and art therapy sessions in the Seattle area, Studio Mene was started in 2004 by licensed mental health counselor and registered art therapist, Mineko Takada-Dill. In addition to Seattle’s North end office, Mineko also works with the Highline School District and Childhaven, serving adults, adolescence and children and their families.  Born and raised in Japan, Mineko has many years experience in art education working with metal work, graphics art, textiles art which led to a teaching certificate in art. Teaching in a specialized school in Japan, Mineko found that for children with severe developmental and physical challenges, art was a joy for them and stimulated their sensories and creative process.  This further led to her graduating from an art therapy program at New York University. Mineko eventually ended up in Seattle, Washington where she has ran her own practice for the last 10 years offering counseling and art therapy sessions for individuals, groups, families, and children.  Consultations and workshops also available.

For more information and how art therapy can benefit you or a loved one, please visit:www.studiomene.com.

Tags: Health, Services by Michelle Leonard
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I-Ball founder Kyle Keyes has experienced many personal struggles but through them all has found sports to be a means to carry on and find success. As a child Keyes was raised in a broken home where he received very little mentoring or advocacy.  From the age of five Keyes was involved in sports - playing basketball, football, baseball and soccer. Throughout his childhood and youth he excelled as a team leader and set personal records in each of the sports he played.

As Keyes grew older he set his sights on one sport – basketball.  After high school he attended Bellevue Community College, and then he transferred to the University of Montana.  At the time of the transfer he was hiding a shin injury from his teammates and coaches.  Because Keyes did not take care of his injury properly, it did not heal and so he sat out his first year at Montana.  Then before his senior year he tore the ACL in his left knee.  After college Keyes temporarily shelved his basketball career.  However, he  knew that he wasn’t done playing the game he loved.  Once he was healed sufficiently he drove to Portland to tryout with the Globetrotters.  He made the team and his basketball career began heading in the right direction. Shortly after this time he was invited to a couple of NBA preseason camps.  While he did not make any of the NBA teams, he regained his confidence and climbed back from injuries and a harsh family life to show that anyone can overcome trials.

Today Keyes plays for the Vancouver BC Titans in the International Basketball League and during the off season coaches students through I-Ball, a non-profit organization that he has founded.  Keyes saw a need for more affordable professional level basketball coaching in communities and created the I-Ball program to eliminate economic barriers to this coaching.  Keyes wants to give back to students who are in the same position that he was as a child.  He wants to be that mentor, the leader that can help them get past their failures and improve their basketball game. Currently,  I-ball programs are available in Washington and Canada and are supported by a staff of nine coaches, including Keyes.

To learn more about i-Ball visit www.i-balllive.com.

Tags: Education, Services, Sports by Nicholas Nair
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Google introduced Google Places to the world in April 2010. Formerly known as the Local Business Center, or Google Maps, this tool allows business owners to manage their business’ map listing in Google.  For the millions of businesses that have claimed their business listing in Google Places, there is now a downloadable, printable QR Code.

QR stands for ‘Quick Response’ and is simply a two-dimensional  unique bar code which can be scanned by  newer cell phones and used to quickly access the business’ Google Map page.

QR Code scanner applications can be downloaded to an Internet-enabled cell phone or hand held device and then used to access Google Maps pages from QR Code photos.

Savvy businesses print and post these codes on their vehicles, in their store windows,  in their lobbies and on their product labels to give customers and potential customers quick access to information  about the business including reviews and current coupons or special offers.

Local businesses that have already posted QR Codes in strategic locations have experienced  increases to their Google Maps page and website.

Tags: CeSI News by Michelle Leonard
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