Merrillee Royse, LICSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Helping those navigating loss or change to feel heard, seen, and supported as they move toward what’s next.

Loss comes in many forms in life. Sometimes it’s due to the death of a loved one, but it can also be due to the loss of a relationship, experiences related to childhood, foster care, or adoption, or the deconstructing of a faith or belief system and the community & support that came with it. You may be a helping professional who is intimately familiar with loss in a different way.

Just as loss looks different for everyone, so does the experience of navigating it. You may feel like you don’t recognize yourself, feeling depressed or unmotivated in ways you haven’t before. It may feel like you’re under a constant “fog,” unable to think clearly or get things done. Your relationships might be struggling as you pull away from those close to you because no one can truly understand what you’re going through.

When your world has been shaken, I believe you deserve a place where you can take your time to find your footing again. I work with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to put words to the areas they need support, then develop a plan to help cope with the changes and challenges they’re experiencing.

One of the reasons I specialize in grief, loss, and life transitions is because I’ve experienced them myself. I know how isolating it can be and how relieving it can be to not have to “explain” yourself, and I want to offer that to you as part of our work together.

A little more about me…

Outside of work, I love spending time with my Labrador, Buster, and my granddaughters, tending to my up-and-growing rose garden, and exploring small town main streets around WA. 

I was inspired to go into social work after meeting with a counselor myself while navigating a divorce. She was 83, wonderful at what she did, and still loved her work. She inspired me to pursue my dream of helping people and I hope to be 83 one day and still loving my work, too.

I love empowering people to see beyond the struggles they are facing now. So often we limit ourselves with our own self-talk and the people we surround ourselves with, but I believe we are all capable and have the wisdom within us to create the kind of change we want to see.