Emberlene "Ember" Cossette, LICSW

Emberlene "Ember" Cossette is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Washington who blends formal training with broad hands-on experience to support people facing a range of life challenges. She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington, Tacoma and graduated with honors from Saint Martin’s University with a Bachelor of Psychology focused on ethics and war trauma. Ember's clinical background has included work with immigrants, detained individuals, people with disabilities, and clients across diverse ages, genders, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.

Ember approaches care from a values-driven perspective that centers access and dignity, holding that mental health is a right rather than a privilege. Her practice draws on client-centered methods alongside evidence-informed strategies to address stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties, depression, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue, among other areas.

She emphasizes connection - between people, communities, and the natural world - as a source of meaning and resilience. As she has noted through reflection on the words of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, "The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that ... exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy.... For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust." That sense of shared belonging informs Ember's respectful, grounded approach to supporting change.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Ember integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma-focused techniques to tailor care to each person. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so the person feels heard and respected while exploring goals and values. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption. Trauma-focused approaches attend directly to the impacts of past harm, using structured interventions to help process traumatic memories and reduce their influence on daily functioning.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Ember sees treatment as a collaborative effort and will work with clients to choose strategies that match their needs, goals, and personal preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility, allowing sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit work, family, and daily life. These options make it easier to connect with licensed professionals and therapists from familiar settings, increasing consistency and access to care while supporting ongoing progress.