Therapists in Bellingham, WA

Mental health counseling for individuals, couples, and families. Trauma recovery. Narcissistic/ power and control relationship abuse. Immigration psychological evaluations for Hardship, Cancelation of Removal, U Visa, Substance Abuse, VAWA, and others. Services offered in Spanish, Portuguese, and English

I enjoy my work as a psychotherapist even more today then I did when I started over 20 years ago. There is so much power and insight that comes from a truly authentic relationship between therapist and client. You, the client, can then take what is learned in the safety of the therapeutic relationship out into the world full of Other relationships and feel equipped to navigate them in a way that is aligned with who you are. Whether it's your self as a mother, daughter, brother, or son, there is meaning to unfold in everything you do.

Struggles lead to new growth. I welcome you to my private practice where I provide women with wise, kind, non judgmental counsel. Although life may fall apart, our identity may seem lost, or we spiral into self hatred because of things we are afraid to talk about, this is an opportunity for healing and evolution. Liberate yourself and discover self love, purpose, strength and wholeness here. I invite you to bring your feelings of guilt, shame, fear and self loathing and know that it is safe. I approach the messiness of being human with non judgement, authenticity, and sometimes a good dose of humor as needed.

Do you often feel stressed or worried, or that you can't turn your mind "off"? Do you feel stuck in your life, but uncertain of how to change? Are you engaging in behaviors that sometimes you don't even understand? Some of these experiences could be related to trauma; together you and I will explore and identify the varying causes of these feelings and change your thinking patterns. In trauma therapy, we understand that the memories from your past can be triggered by the present--memories don't exist on their own. Each experience and memory is attached to another in your body and mind.

I’m very experienced with trauma and can resolve its effects very quickly I also am very effective with addiction problems

My clients tend to be holistic in orientation. They are motivated, and seek to get unstuck then to grow personally and spiritually.

Have you experienced a loss that is impacting your quality of life? My focus is to support individuals who are experiencing chronic grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, identity confusion, or developmental adjustments as a result of traumatic events, environmental changes or life transitions. As you engage in a therapeutic trusting relationship, your core strengths, values, insights and resilence will emerge to gain balance. Humans are in a continual process of transformation. When developmental process is interrupted by an event, loss or stuck in the social structures we live in, an opportunity for new growth becomes possible.

Most conflict involves relationship: a relationship with ourselves, our parents, our children, our lovers, our bosses, our co-workers. This is the one area where education fails us. We inhabit an adult body with a child's knowledge of how to interact with the world and ourselves and that is where a therapist's knowledge can be beneficial. "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it" (Rumi). I can help a client find and diminish those barriers.

Is this a time in your life when you want to move forward, to change self defeating behaviors or simply find relief from uncomfortable feelings that seem to come out of nowhere? My individualized plan for therapy can help you get to where you want to be. You are not a statistic or a stereotype. Culture can impose unrealistic standards on our supposed "roles" in society. You are unique & yet share the wonder, awe, yearnings & passion of all humans that deserves to be fully expressed. If you are willing to be a full participant in your therapy you will see new doors open to you in life, feel more confident & experience peace.

Through Life Stages: offers an array of services including but not limited to individual, children, couples and group counseling, crisis intervention, grief and loss therapy and conflict resolution. Dr Kaufman uses state of the art Mental Health Assessments. The Assessment includes a comprehensive social history, referral information, diagnostic impression, significant findings, and recommendations for treatment. A thorough Mental Health Evaluation like this is the best way to help yourself, your child, and your family. As a Professional Counselor Isabel E. Kaufman is experienced, knowledgeable and able to help!

As a licensed counselor in Washington state helping clients learn how to understand and bring more clarity to their mental, emotional, and physical, challenges. My work focuses on understanding more about how each persons unique life experiences have brought you where you are today. Working with transformative modalities such as EMDR I currently offer many ways to process and find greater relaxation, ease and deep lasting healing. Through my own personal life work, journey and engagement in the field of mind body, somatic and transformational practices, I offer a deep understanding of the depths of being human, here now.

I specialize in working with clients that try to manage life's pain with substances and other addictions. Many of my clients want to simply change their using habits and I work to support them weekly in understanding their intentions, feelings and motivations as they make healthy changes to their relationship with alcohol or other drugs. As we well know, many clients suffering from substance use disorders have a myriad of other issues that drive these compulsive coping mechanisms; I am experienced in many co-occuring issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma or grief. Supervisor: T. Christopher Portman PhD.

Your trauma does not define you. As your therapist, I will empower you to understand and reprocess your past and offer you new skills to fully embody the present moment. I have expertise and training in reprocessing trauma, healing low self-esteem, managing anxiety and depression, resolving relationship conflict, and navigating life transitions.

Welcome! Counseling begins with safety, support, empathy, and trust. Perhaps we seek a non-judgmental ear that will listen, connection to our personal strengths, or an approach such as EMDR, DBT, CBT, or coping skills. I draw from multiple approaches so that therapy is collaborative and customized to meet your unique needs, hopes, and goals. I am trained in EMDR, an effective approach in healing from trauma. Helping youth of all genders is one of my specialties and I dedicate part of my practice to kids, tweens, and teens. I happily work with adults too. I am a LGBTQIA+ ally and cultural awareness is important to me.

Our subconscious mind holds the memories and perceptions of every experience from childhood to adulthood. As we continue our journey, the unresolved past continues to affect our bodies negatively and influence our thoughts, behaviors, and everyday life on an unconscious level. We may not understand why we feel or react as we do to certain situations or why the same patterns show up every time and unexplained symptoms and circumstances keep repeating themselves. Often this prevents us from moving forward with our lives, achieving clarity and authenticity.

I will assist you in processing traumatic memories, depression, anxiety, anger.

Choosing to explore therapy can elicit a number of emotional responses. For some, this is an important step in recognizing an issue and deciding to move toward resolve. Others may experience a lack of clarity in regards to what exactly needs to change and uncertainty about entering therapy. No matter where you are in your healing, I offer a safe and personal therapeutic process to fit your specific needs. My goal is to work toward your desired outcome by offering a collaborative and supportive exploration of your concerns while utilizing an integrative style of therapeutic modalities that are all firmly established through research.

Finding a therapist can feel a lot like swiping through dating apps trying to find the right fit. You want to work with someone who gets you and is thoughtful and easy to talk to. That's how I work. I work with individuals and couples in a warm, attachment based approach. I'm here to help you heal old patterns, vent, or whatever you need. We can figure out the traps you fall into, cry, and laugh for 50 minutes. I'm not here to judge you or tell you how to live your life, just to support you in living authentically.

These are stressful times for nearly everyone. We need each other more than ever, for company, for comfort, and for compassion about the particular ways life stressors affect our health, happiness, mood, financial security, relationships, substance use, and more.