Ready to work
with Tim?
ASSOCIATE THERAPIST
Tim Paulding
Supervision by Sara Yarbrough
Licensed by State of Washington / Expiration 1-30-2027
Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) / # LF 61341382
Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) / # LH 61158781
Tim Paulding is a Licensed Mental Health Counseling Associate (LMHCA) and EMDR-trained therapist at The Couch in Spokane Valley, WA, working under the clinical supervision of Sara Yarbrough (LMFT #LF61341382). He holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health from Liberty University and brings a uniquely broad educational background, including graduate-level training in vision rehabilitation and orientation and mobility, that deepens his ability to support individuals navigating disability, loss, and significant life adjustment.
Tim specializes in EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), trauma recovery, anxiety treatment, grief counseling, and support through major life transitions. EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that continue to affect daily life, and Tim uses it specifically to help clients who feel stuck even when they logically "know better" about their situation.
He serves individuals and couples in the Spokane Valley area dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, and the emotional weight of loss and disability. His approach is strengths-based and person-centered, grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside his EMDR work. Tim sends clients home with concrete tasks between sessions because he believes real growth happens outside the therapy room as much as inside it.
Tim is currently accepting new clients at The Couch in Spokane Valley, WA, and is a strong fit for anyone stuck in repeating emotional patterns, processing trauma, or working through grief or life-altering change.
SPECIALIZING IN
Education
Liberty University - M.A. Clinical Mental Health
Western Michigan University - M.A. Orientation & Mobility
Western Michigan University - M.A. Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
University in Michigan - B.A. Psychology
Additional Certifications
Pending
What working with Tim actually looks like.
HIS APPROACH
Tim isn't the kind of therapist who lets you wander in circles. He listens carefully and genuinely, and he creates real space for you to feel heard. And then, when the time is right, he helps you figure out what to actually do with what you're feeling.
He describes the process like hiking a steep trail. At the start, you're carrying a heavy pack, all the weight of whatever brought you here. The climb is hard at first. But as you keep going, something shifts. You get stronger, and piece by piece, you start letting go of what you've been holding. By the time you reach the top, you're not the same person who started. You've changed, and the weight you're no longer carrying is proof of it.
Tim is a mix of listener and gentle challenger. He won't let sessions drift without purpose, but he also respects that some parts of the process need space. He'll actively listen, reflect, support, and at the right moment, he'll encourage you to try something different. He also sends clients home with real tasks between sessions because he believes growth doesn't stop when the hour ends.
When hard moments come up in session, when someone shuts down, gets angry, or wants to quit, Tim stays steady. He sees those moments as a normal part of the process and meets them with sensitivity, encouragement, and no judgment.
By the end of your work together, Tim hopes you feel lighter, more balanced, and genuinely equipped to handle whatever comes next.
A good fit for: Individuals stuck in repeating patterns, people navigating anxiety, grief, or recovery, anyone who needs both a compassionate listener and someone willing to gently push forward.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Helps couples identify and shift the underlying emotional patterns that drive conflict and disconnection.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
For experiences that don't respond to talk therapy, EMDR helps the brain process what it's been holding. Tim uses it to reduce anxiety, fear, and depression, and to help clients show up differently in their everyday lives.
Ready to work with Tim?
Booking is simple. Reach out and we'll get you scheduled, usually within the week.
Questions? office@thecouch.us · 509.655.9843
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
Not sure Tim is the right fit? That's okay.
Finding the right therapist is personal. Browse the rest of our team or let us help match you.
The relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important factors in whether therapy works. We take the match seriously.
THE COUCH · SPOKANE VALLEY, WA