Click here to contact our client care coordinator about working with Joe!
Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
-Adolescents & Adults (Age 10+)
-LGBTQIA+
-Trauma
-Racial trauma
-Biracial & binational couples
-ADHD
-Trans and Non-Binary Affirming
-Third culture clients & transracial adoptees
-Acculturation & immigrant issues
-Grief & loss
-Attachment & Family of Origin issues
-Depression
-Managing stress and anxiety
-Internalized Oppression
*Uses art and play in work with clients
In person West Seattle, Auburn & Telehealth
Joe does not accept insurance. Fees are on a sliding scale which will be agreed upon before meeting for a full session.
Joe's fees:
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50-minute session for individuals: $35-$100
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50-minute session for families and relationships: $35-$100;
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80-minute session for families and relationships: $50-$150.
Joe Makka-Agonafer, Clinical Intern
Pronouns: he/him
“Connection is why we’re here. We are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.” - Brene Brown
We are all made for relationships, and there is inevitable suffering without connection to ourselves and others. Most of our deepest hurts and traumas are created in relationships and can be healed through relationships. If you have felt stuck personally or in your relationships, therapy can be a powerful avenue to experience individual and relational healing in a safe and secure environment.
I believe that all people are born with the capacity for healing and that through negative life experiences, we lose touch with that capacity. My work centers on how we can collaborate to help you rediscover this innate capacity so that you can get back in touch with your authentic self and with those you love.
I hope to create a warm and welcoming therapy space with unconditional acceptance of you as a person. The only way to do this is to build a relationship of trust in an environment that feels emotionally safe for you to explore your concerns.
As a gay, black immigrant in the US, I know that we possess marginalized identities that influence how we perceive ourselves and our worth. This societal oppression can have profound negative consequences on our mental health, and it is important to broach these topics in therapy.
My approach...
I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families who feel like they live between two or more cultures, including third-culture individuals, trans-racial adoptees, and bi-national and bi-cultural couples. As a former teacher, I look forward to serving families with older kids (ages 10-12) and teens. I am also passionate about working with folx, especially youth, in the LGBTQIA+ community.
As a systems-oriented therapist, I focus on how each member of the system contributes to ongoing difficulties without losing sight of the strengths that everyone brings. I hope to gently interrupt problematic patterns that no longer serve you and your relationships while instilling hope that your situation can change.
We are all distinct individuals with diverse needs and goals. I like to adapt my approach to suit each client so that we fully address your most important concerns. My approach is socioculturally attuned, strengths-based, and anti-oppressive. I draw from various modalities, including emotion-focused therapy (EFT), Gottman Method couples therapy, attachment-based family therapy (ABFT), solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), internal family systems, and narrative therapy.
Professional training & memberships...
I am a master’s level student in the Couple and Family Therapy program at Antioch University Seattle. I earned two bachelor’s degrees, one a BA in Psychology (with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology) from California Southern University and the other a BA in Drama and Theater Studies from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. I am also currently pursuing Level One training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
I am a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT).