At OptimalLife Wellness, we are fortunate to have a team of compassionate, supportive, inclusive therapists who love what they do: guide clients on a journey to mental wellness. In addition, we have an amazing administrative staff that keep our office running smoothly and help clients feel welcome. All of our licensed clinicians are independent contractors for OptimalLife Wellness. To learn more about each of us, click on the images below.

Our Therapists

Lara Symonds, MA, LMFT, DCEP, OptimalLife Wellness Center Owner & Therapist

Lara Symonds, MA, LMFT, DCEP

Founder & Owner of OptimalLife Wellness, Lara helps clients with anxiety, depression, PTSD and trauma recovery. She works with children, families, individuals, and couples.

Alana Harris, MFT Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Redmond.

Alana Harris, MFT Intern

Alana’s therapy approach addresses the emotional, social, spiritual, and physical aspects necessary for growth and change. She specializes in couples and children therapy.

Amrit Kaur, MA, LMHCA, OptimalLife Wellness Center Therapist

Amrit Kaur, MA, LMHCA

Fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, and English, Amrit’s areas of focus are anxiety, depression, family systems, life transitions, relationship issues, trauma, and PTSD.

Angie Tamayo, MA, LMHCA at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Bellevue

Angie Tamayo Montero, MA, LMHCA

Angie is a bilingual Spanish speaking therapist. She works with children, families, and adults using many techniques, including Mindfulness and Self-Compassion (MSC).

Dani Bohbot, LSWAIC, OptimalLife Wellness Center in Redmond.

Dani Bohbot, LSWAIC

Dani’s areas of focus include anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, OCD, depression, eating disorders, and LGBTQIA+ issues. She uses a strength-based, trauma-informed approach with her clients.

Deb Sommer, MA, LMHC, OptimalLife Wellness Center Therapist

Deb Sommer, MA, LMHC

Deb helps clients with anxiety, OCD, depression, parent coaching and support, and LGBTQIA+ issues. She uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), among other techniques.

Elizabeth Bryant, MFT Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Bellevue.

Elizabeth Bryant, MFT Intern

Elizabeth has experience in faith and spirituality transitions and is passionate about working with those in the LGBTQIA+ community as well as the intersection of faith and identity.

Eva LaFollette, MA, LMHC, OptimalLife Wellness Center Therapist

Eva LaFollette, MA, LMHC

Eva’s areas of focus include suicide and suicidal ideation, self-harming, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She incorporates her yoga instructor skills into therapy sessions.

Kirsten Laurel, Art Therapy and CMHC Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Bellevue.

Kirsten Laurel, Art Therapy and CMHC Intern

Kirsten works with individuals of all ages using creative, strengths-based approaches to empower her clients with the awareness, confidence, and skillsets they need to make intentional, lasting changes.

Laura McDowell, LMHCA at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Bellevue.

Laura McDowell, LMHCA

Laura works with individuals of all ages, using a variety of techniques to build a deep understanding of her client’s needs and the goals related to their therapy journey.

Mei Thompson, MS, LMHC, LPC-Associate, NCC, OptimalLife Wellness Center Therapist

Mei Thompson, MS, LMHC, NCC

Identifying as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), Mei is a bilingual Mandarin-speaking therapist who specializes in HSPs, inner child work, relationship issues, immigration assimilation, PTSD, and trauma.

Morgan Lee, MFT Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Redmond.

Morgan Lee, MFT Intern

Using her belief in people’s inherent worth and growth potential, Morgan helps couples, families, and children develop and expand their coping skills.

Sarah Young, MFT Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Bellevue.

Sarah Young, MFT Intern

Sarah is dedicated to guiding individuals, couples, and families toward their authentic selves. Compassionately direct, she believes you’re the expert in your life and your relationships.

Serena Stark, LSWAIC, OptimalLife Wellness Center in Redmond.

Serena Stark, LSWAIC

Serena works with clients with Eating disorders (Including ARFID), gender-based issues, trauma from gender-based violence, and persons in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Shana O'Connor-Wolf, MFT Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Redmond.

Shana O’Connor-Wolf, LMFTA

Shana works with children, families, and couples. She sees therapy as an open and non-judgmental collaboration of ideas and practices that holistically fit clients’ needs.  

Stephen Lee, MFT Intern at OptimalLife Wellness Center in Redmond.

Stephen Lee, LMFTA

Stephen works with children, families, and couples. He uses compassion, respect, and authenticity as cornerstones of his client’s journey with him.

Wenrui Li, MS, LPC at OptimalLife Wellness Center

Wenrui Li, MS, LPC

Wenrui specializes in trauma-related problems, such as chronic PTSD, anxiety, and depression, in teenagers and adults. She utilizes EMDR and IFS to guide her clients toward deep healing and self-discovery.