Lin Thoennes, ARNP

About Lin

Welcome. I'm a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and my private psychotherapy practice is located in Redmond, WA. I began my career as a registered nurse in 1970, working first as a labor and birth nurse and prenatal education instructor. My professional path has moved through all aspects of child bearing: prenatal care, birth and postpartum care, newborn and infant health, infertility issues, pregnancy and early infancy loss. It has been my privilege to accompanying many families through the life-changing experience of making and growing a family.

My interest and concern for the emotional health of new mothers and fathers inspired my return to graduate school, and I received my masters' degree in family and infant health in 1992. In addition, I studied family therapy, hypnosis, and psycho-social development. I opened my private practice in 1993, working primarily with new mothers experience postpartum mood disorders and loss due to miscarriage and stillbirth.

It became evident very quickly that there were few resources for newborn families who were experiencing emotional and psychological difficulties, or for couples struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss. So in addition to my work as a psychotherapist, I began providing continuing education to health professional about maternal mental health issues. I also formed a consultation/teaching group for other psychotherapists, providing training and support.

Currently, my psychotherapy practice includes clients working through issues of pregnancy and birth, parent & infant attachment, grief and loss, postpartum depression and anxiety disorders, major life transitions and adjustments, and family of origin struggles. My goal is to assist individuals in moving through difficult times, developing strategies with the client to improve their quality of life and relationships. I also provide continuing education for health professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of perinatal mood disorders, and on care of parents who have experienced the loss of a child during pregnancy or infancy.