Bio

Lacey Niemi is a licensed mental health counselor at OpenWorld Psychology who provides person-centered, strengths-based therapy for individuals and families. She believes deeply in the power of relationships and prioritizes building a strong therapeutic alliance as the foundation for meaningful change. Her approach integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and parts work, tailored to each client's unique needs and goals.

Lacey is passionate about helping people learn about themselves and work toward self-acceptance. She values systemic and cultural influences in her work and brings curiosity and warmth to exploring questions of identity, including neurodivergence, sexuality, and gender. She has particular experience supporting neurodivergent families through parent coaching, family therapy, and individual therapy for parents, helping families move toward acceptance and empowerment.

“Great-Fit” Clients

Lacey may be a particularly good fit if you are:

• Interested in self-exploration and looking to change how you relate to yourself and others

• Working on building self-compassion or developing more assertive communication skills

• Navigating questions about neurodivergence, sexuality, or gender identity

• A parent of a neurodivergent child seeking support, coaching, and a neurodivergent-affirming approach

• Looking for LGBTQ+ affirming care, including support around gender identity and transition

• Moving through a major life transition or processing trauma

Areas of Clinical Focus

Lacey's clinical work centers on:

• Self-exploration, identity, and self-acceptance

• Neurodivergence and supporting neurodivergent families

• LGBTQ+ affirming care, including support for transgender and gender-diverse individuals

• Life transitions

• Trauma

She integrates evidence-based approaches with a relational, culturally humble stance, meeting clients where they are and helping them build lives aligned with their values.

Parent Coaching and Family Support

Lacey has extensive experience supporting neurodivergent families through parent coaching and family therapy. She helps parents better understand their child's strengths and needs, develop effective strategies for the home environment, and move toward acceptance and empowerment as a family. Her approach is neurodivergent-affirming and emphasizes collaboration, compassion, and practical support.

Training and Background

Lacey earned her Master of Arts in Counseling from Saybrook University, a program emphasizing holistic, culturally humble, and progressive approaches to care. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from Ashford University.

Prior to her counseling career, Lacey worked as a Registered Behavior Technician with Autism Learning Partners, where she coached and empowered parents, built strong rapport with clients and families, and developed skills in culturally responsive, neurodivergent-affirming care. She also worked as an emergency substitute teacher in the Stanwood Camano School District, supporting students across grades K-12.

Lacey completed her clinical training at Beautiful Autism in Arlington, Washington, where she deepened her understanding of the neurodivergent experience, provided parent coaching, and developed her strengths-based therapeutic approach.