Ready to work
with Tim?
Private Pay & Insurance
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 helps people figure out what's actually keeping them stuck, and then helps them do something about it.
Serving individuals and couples in the Spokane Valley area, Tim works with adults facing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, and the emotional weight of loss and disability. He's especially drawn to working with people caught in patterns of self-doubt, anger, or ways of responding to life that used to make sense but don't anymore.
Tim is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that are still quietly running the show. If you've ever felt like you know something logically but can't seem to feel it or move past it, EMDR might be exactly what helps you get unstuck.
His approach is person-centered and strengths-based, which means he starts with who you already are, not a deficit to be fixed. He believes real growth happens between sessions just as much as during them, and he'll often send you home with something concrete to work on because he's serious about helping you build momentum, not just insight.
SPECIALIZING IN
EMDR
Trauma
Life Transitions
Anxiety
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.