MaKael White MA, LMFT, ATR-BC®

I believe in the healing nature of creative expression to deliver deeper and richer healing than what can be achieved using words alone. I practice integrated mental health, which brings a holistic approach to treating our minds and bodies. I believe that as social creatures, our true health is measured, supported, and maintained through our relationships. Because of this belief, I work from a holistic systems approach promoting a functional relational balance with our bodies, self, family, friends, and community.  

By approaching change through a series of small adjustments, we can bring about massive progress in our lives and the communities we live in. We can contribute to meaningful change in the systems and communities we live in through a similarly patterned strategy of small adjustments. We were not meant to complete life’s journey alone, and our best chance at success and sustainable good health is to include and work with as many of our organic supports as possible.

I am a Relational Art Therapist, Washington State Approved Supervisor, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Board Certified Registered Art Therapist℠. I graduated from Antioch University - Seattle in 2020 and began my official therapist career by helping establish Hope Development Practice from October 2019 to November 2024. I started my helping career over 15 years before that, volunteering as a caregiver for Alzheimer's, dementia, developmental disabilities, multiple sclerosis, and complex health and disability support as a teen. Eventually, this became paid work as a caretaker and part of the treatment team. Since then, I have worked in residential treatment, houseless services, harm reduction, child welfare, protective services, recovery, and outpatient mental health. 

As a therapist, I am open to working with any individual or family constellation. I specialize in working with gender and sexual identity development, religious trauma, intimate partnerships, and the LGBTQIA+ population.  I am a Poly Friendly Professional. I am an identity-affirming provider.

As a consultant, I have worked with government offices, therapy clinics, schools, and businesses to improve service delivery and outcomes for marginalized populations. My expertise is strongest regarding gender, crisis, mental health, LGBTQIA2+, and client experience. I operate from an intersectional lens and believe we need to work to address oppression in all forms, especially the impact experienced by those with identities at the intersection of multiple oppressed or marginalized communities.

As a Clinical Supervisor, I believe in the Empowerment Model for supporting new therapists. I am very passionate about creating an evermore representative, inclusive, and competent field of clinicians. Our support of our clients continues to develop as we learn more and more about the brain and body. Our understanding of the impacts clients experience in the many systems and occurrences in their lives. Staying connected to student therapists continues to inspire me to stay as current on evidence-based practice, research, and treatment approaches. 

As an educator, I believe in uplifting the next generation of professionals in our field. It is our responsibility to use our positions to not only uphold rigor in professional degrees, but also deliver high-quality learning for skills mastery in service delivery, AND broaden the field by reducing unnecessary barriers for future clinicians that deepen and increase representation, voice, and diversity in our field. By uplifting our students, we ensure more expansive research to improve measures and interventions, ensure the continued development and quality increase of services in our field, and increase accessibility to representative and affirming mental health care.

We create the future together.