Missy Lichau, LMHC, LPC

Owner & Principal Therapist

Missy is a mental health therapist serving clients in Washington, Colorado, Texas, and Florida through telehealth, with Walking Therapy available near Gig Harbor, WA. Her approach is warm, practical, and collaborative, with space for humor, honesty, and real-life problem solving. Outside of work, Missy loves spending time with her family, running, strength training, hiking, cooking, traveling, and reading just about anything and everything.

 Credentials

Degrees & Licensure

  • BA, Psychology & Human Development — University of California, Davis (1998)

  • MA, Counseling Psychology — National University (2001)

  • Post-graduate study in Educational & Developmental Psychology (2008–2010)

  • ESA, Washington State School Counselor (2012)

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Certifications

  • Executive Functioning & ADHD Certification

  • EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

  • Certified in Nutritional Psychiatry — UMass Hospital & Harvard University

  • Certified Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) Practitioner

  • Certified Walking Therapist

  • Precision One Nutrition Coach

  • Washington State Supervisor, August 2026

Specialized Training

  • CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)

  • DBT (mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness)

  • Eating Disorders (assessment, treatment planning, recovery supports)

  • CBT for Personality Disorders (skills-based, schema and behavior change)

  • Nutritional Psychiatry & Integrative/Functional Mental Health (food–mood science, lifestyle medicine, nervous-system regulation)

  • Complex Trauma and PTSD Training - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMD

Professional Background

  • CPS Social Worker, Sacramento County (2000–2002)

  • Adoptions Supervising Social Worker (2002)

  • Mom (2002–∞) — my favorite leadership role

  • Adjunct Human Services Professor, University of Phoenix (2007–2013)

  • 15+ years in schools as counselor, mentor, and behavior specialist—communication systems, behavior plans, and IEP/504 advocacy