​Hello, my name is Amber Saldivar, and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in Washington State (LH 60655813). I love working with people from all walks of life. I specialize in working with adults who feel stuck in cycles of anxiety and depression, chronic pain and other physical symptoms, and trauma responses.
Many of the clients who come to me are thoughtful, insightful people who have tried hard to figure things out on their own — yet still feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or trapped in patterns they haven’t yet been able to shift.
More About Me:
My work is grounded in the relational foundation of attachment theory. I believe that healing happens in the context of a safe, attuned therapeutic relationship where all parts of you are welcome. Together, we will gently explore the roots of your patterns — not to blame the past, but to understand how your nervous system learned to survive.
I am deeply passionate about supporting adults with developmental disabilities. I completed two years of clinical work with adults in the Community Networks Program at Sound Mental Health, while earning my hours toward licensure, and I have extensive experience in this area. My work with this community has shaped my commitment to accessibility, dignity, and person-centered care. I understand the unique relational, emotional, and systemic challenges that can arise, and I strive to create therapy spaces that are empowering, respectful, and collaborative.
I have a special interest in the mind–body connection and in working with individuals experiencing chronic pain and persistent physical symptoms. Drawing from PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy), EAET, (Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and other evidence-based approaches, I help clients understand the role of stress, emotion, and nervous system activation in physical symptoms. My goal is to never dismiss your pain, but to expand the lens — empowering you with tools that reduce fear, increase emotional clarity, and support your body’s capacity to regulate and heal.
People often describe me as warm, thoughtful, and compassionate. I balance insight-oriented work with practical tools, including mindfulness-based strategies, emotional processing skills, and collaborative goal setting. Whether we are working with anxiety that spikes under pressure, trauma patterns that linger in the body, or long-standing patterns of self-doubt, I aim to help you feel more grounded, self-aware, and empowered.
I view therapy as a route to feeling more fully alive — connected to your emotions, confident in your inner wisdom, and freer to live in alignment with who you truly are.
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Invite me to speak at your event!
I am available for speaking engagements on a variety of different topics. Some of the topics I have presented include the following:
Optimizing Nervous System Regulation During Medication Tapering
Pain Reprocessing Therapy: Enhancing Recovery for Injured Workers
Holistic Self-Care Strategies for Caregivers
Cultivating Communities of Inclusion and Belonging for People with Disabilities.
Integrating Neuroregulation into Music Education for Students with Disabilities
When I speak at your event, I can give the presentation in a lecture-style format, with time for questions and answers at the end. Or, I can offer a workshop format with interactive, hands-on activities integrated throughout the workshop.
Education
2012-2013: Internship: Child & Family Services at Sound Mental Health in Seattle, WA.
2013: M.A., Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.
2013-2015: I obtained my hours for licensure while working as a clinician and case manager in the Community Networks Program at Sound Mental Health, Tukwila, WA.
Recent Training
2025:
EMDR Basic Training by the Therapist Education Institute, 40 credits.
Treating Long COVID, Chronic Pain, Tinnitus, & Multiple Chemical Sensitivity with EMDR & Vagal Calming by Robin Shapiro, 3 credits.
Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain by Dr. Howard Schubiner & Dr. Mark Lumley, 15 credits.
Navigating Washington's New Confidentiality Standards for LMHC's, LMFT's, and Social Workers by Eric Ström, 3 credits.
Law & Ethics of Relationships, Professional Roles, and Boundaries in the Clinical Setting by Eric Ström, 2 credits.
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2024:
Emotional Freedom Techniques - Professional Skills 2 through ACEP, 13 credits.
An Overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): An Action Oriented, Clinical Approach by Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW, 6 credits
The Neurobiology of Attachment, by NICABM, 3 credits​​​​.
Ethics of Self-Care: An Art-Based Approach, by the NCEAI, 6 credits
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Applying Internal Family Systems as a Trauma-Informed Approach to Treat Substance Use & Mental Health Disorders by Hannah Smith, MA, LMHC, CGP, 3 credits.
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2023:
Freedom from Chronic Pain, taught by Dr. Howard Schubiner & Hal Greenham, 16 credits
Emotional Freedom Techniques - Professional Skills 1 through ACEP, 15 credits.
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*I also participate in professional consultation groups on a regular basis, including 1) the Practitioner Professional Development Program for professionals who have completed the Freedom from Chronic Pain course, 2) a consult group for therapists who support injured workers, 3) a consult group for therapists who specialize in disability, chronic pain, and chronic illness, and 4) consultation groups for EMDR therapists.
Contact
Let's connect to discuss ways I can help you along your healing journey.