Family Therapy in Seattle, WA

I am a direct, warm, engaged and interactive therapist. I love working with couples and families seeking deeper intimacy and with individuals who approach their life challenges as opportunities for personal growth. I encourage clients to trust themselves, follow the wisdom of their bodies, and do what they truly love. My best work is with clients who not only seek immediate relief but also want to empower themselves emotionally, creatively, and spiritually.

One of Stefanie’s core beliefs is that therapy should be a collaborative process, where clients are empowered to be the leaders in their own care. She meets clients where they are at, providing a safe and non-judgmental space for them to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Stefanie believes in tailoring therapy to each individual's unique needs and goals,and works closely with clients to develop personalized goals. Stefanie offers individual sessions to clients and she is a compassionate and experienced therapist specializing in trauma-informed care, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and DBT skills

Opening up around the vulnerable and intimate details of our lives can be very uncomfortable. There is so much pressure to be “happy”, “better”, or “perfect”, while receiving messaging that being anything else is unacceptable. We are very adaptive yet often struggle to effectively get our needs met, so may engage in avoidance behaviors and withhold or internalize our feelings to try to prevent things from getting worse. You want to feel more like your true self and get more satisfaction out of your relationships. You need an unconditionally supportive, non-judgmental, creative, and humorous therapist who accepts you however you are.

I see therapy as a gateway to strengthening our authentic self through healing, learning, acceptance and growth. It is often through our self-proclaimed imperfections that we find the greatest gifts, insights and points of focus that help us understand and become clear about the path we are walking and the possibilities that are before us. We have all known suffering, loss, trauma and despair. These experiences may shape us but they do not have to define us.

My healing begins from a place of connection and an appreciation of your potential and the power we have to impact each other. I will support you in your search for greater meaning, emotional awareness and empowerment in a world that can be overwhelming and isolating. We will begin a thoughtful exploration of how your past experiences and relationships impact you presently. Together we can uncover and co-create new meanings out of your experiences, and these new understandings can give you the power to relate differently to yourself and others.

I work frequently with individuals and couples who are motivated to gain more insight into themselves and who are struggling with career stress, overcoming early trauma and neglect, mild addictive behaviors, depression, anxiety, obsessive thoughts and behaviors, relationship conflict, and those who are trying to find a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. My aim is to not only treat or view you as a set of symptoms, but to also help you acquire a deeper understanding of your self and from where those symptoms might be coming.

Do you feel like no matter how hard you try, you are stuck in the same patterns of emotions and choices? When my clients start therapy with me they often feel confused, exhausted and have difficulty making changes due to years of living in survival mode due to trauma. Sometimes, they even feel shame about who they are and the choices they are making. When they end therapy with me they feel more clear about their needs, desires and how to get both met. In therapy you can create a future that centers your assets and strengths to build a future that honors your desires and values.

Wherever you are in your therapeutic journey, my first goal is to offer a warm, empathetic space where you can be comfortable exploring the questions that brought you here. I welcome individuals, couples, kids, teens, and families and I am a long-practicing ally to BIPOC and LGTBQIA+ communities.

I am a Seattle based Art and Psycho-Therapist, serving Adults through a means of verbal and visual expression. I work to explore each clients experiences through creative expression, not only as an emotional outlet but also as a window into other parts of the self and a way to create meaningful and lasting change. I work to conduct therapy in a means which makes the client feel heard and safe to explore their inner experience. Diving into memories and behaviors which no longer serve us can be uncomfortable work. Knowing this, I find the therapeutic relationship to be imperative to the foundation of making change.

I love working with the seekers - the ones who are feeling stuck in relationships or patterns, who have as deep a desire to understand as to move beyond. I am here for the psychologically curious - those who want insight and meaning while they strive to create a life that isn't painful all the time. Your pain needs to be tended to, but your capacity for joy and fun and play must simultaneously be cultivated. Life is complicated and problematic. Our power lies in our creative and flexible responses to our setbacks.

Life can be challenging. Let’s work together to create a safe space where we acknowledge and explore patterns that aren't working in your life. Our time together is focused on you – listening to what you’re going through in a non-judgmental environment.

I work with clients from a strengths-based perspective, focusing on resilience development and a collaborative process. I take into consideration where the child or adolescent is truly at and what is going to best engage them—be it artistic expression, play therapy, narrative therapy, creative writing/journaling, or more structured interventions. I focus on the fulfilled development of the whole individual, taking into account a systems approach, intersectionality, and developmental psychology. My approach is deeply rooted in attachment theory; focusing on developing a healthy bond to better facilitate trust and overall growth.

With 42 years as a therapist I can say that my passion and joy is sitting with couples and individuals who want more meaning and depth in their relationships. Spirit leads the way in my work. Watching couples light up when they understand how to "be present with curiosity in listening to their partner" adds spark to my day. Knowing that they are beginning to get the tools for change that grow inner confidence is what brings richness to my work and hope for them.

The past is just a story we tell ourselves. Through early formative experiences, we mold core beliefs about belonging, worth, and lovability. Therapy is a place to untangle the narratives we have internalized (perhaps unconsciously) and impact our ability to show up in the world authentically and connect with others deeply. Understanding our past can help us bring compassion and awareness to the present moment. Let us bravely explore the complexity and messiness of the human experience - embracing all that you are.

Currently Taking New Clients. I understand you are looking for help and this is the first step to healing your life. I specialize in working with couples, as well as adult individuals struggling with addiction. I see you as a whole person and am mindful of the pain you have experienced and get there are many ways to recovery. In my work with substance abuse I understand the feelings that come along with the burden of addiction. Will I be accepted; am I enough to be loved; do I belong? These are normal questions for most people suffering and questioning addiction. I create safety to help explore these questions.

Wanting to make a change and move forward, but feeling stuck? It is often difficult to get a good grasp of your experience when you have a lot on your mind. Sometimes it gets in your way of a wish to change. It can be challenging to be kind and gentle to yourself as well as to your feelings at a time. These experiences often make one feels stuck. I believe, increasing awareness and understanding of experience(s) will help you to gain alternative perspectives that would help you to no longer feel stuck and/or afraid.

Through my experience of being a therapist, I have come to believe that people change and grow through acceptance of where they are coupled with increasing awareness of areas in their lives that concern and/or constrain them. I work by listening carefully to my clients, seeking to understand their experience, and assisting them to be who they are while also helping them to shed or work with habits and patterns which are limiting them. I believe I am well-suited to being a therapist and I find the work very fulfilling.

In psychotherapy much depends upon the rapport. You must feel comfortable with the therapist and hopeful about the therapy. When you feel this way, therapy is more likely to be helpful to you. I have been practicing clinical psychology since 1977. I focus on the interplay between our internal world and our relations with others. Not restricted to one approach, I integrate a range of useful change strategies including interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral. Psychotherapy is both an educational process and an interpersonal process. Each person’s experience is unique. I have special interest in eating disorders, relationship disturbances, depression, and stress.

I have worked extensively with adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, chronic pain, chronic illness, disordered eating, body dysmorphia, difficult life transitions, grief, burnout, and overwhelm. I believe discovering our authentic self, landing safely back in our body, finding the deeper meanings underneath our current symptoms, releasing patterns that no longer serve us, and identifying our fears, hopes and desires can help us find a renewed sense of peace and purpose in our life.