About
I Love To Share In Other People’s Healing And Growth
All my life I’ve had a deep affinity for connecting with people. It gives me profound satisfaction to cultivate a relationship where the other person feels trusted, respected, and safe. I have cultivated this connection in my decades of experience as a husband, father, friend, and funeral director. It’s what guides me as a therapist today. I love nothing more than to journey with people on their road to healing and share in their development and growth.
I Specialize In Helping People Process Grief And Solve Relationship Issues
I have decades of experience as a funeral director. I’ve helped thousands of individuals and families work through their grief and navigate all the painful and confusing emotions that come with it. This experience informs my work as a grief therapist today. I empower clients to find meaning in the wake of their loss. The goal is to help them create a new life for themselves while still honoring the memory of their loved one.
I also specialize in couples counseling. I’ve always found that my gentle therapeutic presence works well for couples experiencing conflict. With my specialized training in Gottman Method therapy, I can help couples improve their communication, dissolve conflict, and deepen their love for each other.
Additionally, I offer discernment counseling for couples who are on the fence about their marriage or relationship. Discernment counseling is usually more of a short-term commitment than couples therapy, since the goal is to help people figure out if they want to stay together or not. The great thing about this approach is that it allows couples to take the long view of their relationship, helping them see the big picture and reducing their tendency to make impulsive decisions.
Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one or struggling with relationship issues, my goal is to provide an atmosphere of warmth and openness. After all, I believe that a feeling of safety is essential for effective therapy. This is the cornerstone of my approach. I want you to feel heard, seen, and accepted for who you are.
A Little Bit About Who I Am
I once asked several friends: “What comes into the room when I do?” Their answers were all very consistent: they felt the presence of someone with sincere warmth and a willingness to engage, a unique way of understanding people, and a quiet sense of confidence that is part lava lamp, part laser beam. I feel that their assessment does a better job of describing me than I could.
In my spare time, I enjoy sitting at my eight-harness loom and weaving. I get great pleasure working with all the colorful threads to create beautiful objects. I also love to play the classical guitar, a hobby of mine that I’ve enjoyed since my youth. In the late summer and early fall, I often recharge myself by going solo backpacking in the mountains. Exercise is very important to me and I have an e-bike that I ride all year round.
My Work Outside Of Counseling
Outside of being a therapist, I am a funeral director and the community chaplain for the Seattle Police Department. As chaplain, I am dispatched to people’s homes to offer pastoral care and support when there has been a tragic loss.
Additionally, I am the umpire-in-chief for the Roosevelt University Green Lake Little League. I love calling an exciting game and being on the field with all the players and coaches. Umpiring requires intense patience, attentiveness, and understanding. All of these qualities benefit my work in counseling.
Between my innate ability to help others and my experience as a therapist, I am confident that I can provide the comfort and guidance you need. I am here to walk with you, laugh with you, cry with you, and be there for you when you need a helping hand. I would be honored to have a part in your journey.
Ross Kling is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Seattle, Washington. ( License # MR61258566) He has a Master of Arts in Couples & Family Therapy from Antioch University. Ross is Level-2 trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and is a Certified Discernment Counselor with the Doherty Relationship Institute. He also is certified in Grief Education from Grief expert David Kessler. Ross is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and Washington Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.