Individual Therapy Archives - Steffen Counseling Services...

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Is Depression a Disability? Understanding the Impact on Mental Health

Depression is more than feeling sad or having a difficult day. It’s a mental health condition that can affect how you think, feel, behave, and navigate everyday life. For some people, depression creates occasional challenges, while others experience symptoms that make even simple responsibilities feel overwhelming. If you’ve been struggling with depression, you may have […]

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Crippling Anxiety: Signs, Causes, and How Therapy Can Help

Individual Therapy, Low Cost / brittany

Anxiety is something almost everyone experiences from time to time. But when anxiety becomes so intense that it interferes with work, relationships, sleep, daily responsibilities, or your ability to enjoy life, it can feel overwhelming. Some people describe this experience as “crippling anxiety.” While this isn’t a formal clinical diagnosis, the phrase can describe anxiety

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What Is Internalized Homophobia, and How Can Therapy Help?

Couples Therapy, Individual Therapy, Low Cost, Sex Therapy / brittany

Have you ever felt like you needed to hide a part of yourself to be accepted? Maybe you’ve experienced shame about your sexual orientation, felt uncomfortable expressing affection toward a same-sex partner, or worried about how others might respond if they knew who you truly are. These experiences may be connected to internalized homophobia—the process

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A therapist sitting across from a client

Types of Trauma Therapy: Finding the Right Path Toward Healing

EMDR, Individual Therapy, Low Cost / brittany

Trauma can affect many aspects of life, from emotional well-being and relationships to sleep, confidence, and the ability to feel safe. The good news is that healing is possible, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Understanding the different types of trauma therapy can help you make informed decisions about your mental health and

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Kink and Aging: How Desires and Bodies Change Over Time

Couples Therapy, Individual Therapy, Low Cost, Sex Therapy, Uncategorized / brittany

Getting older doesn’t mean your sexuality has to become less interesting. For people who practice BDSM, or have sexual interests outside conventional expectations, kink and aging can bring up some unique questions. Your body may change. Your desires may change. Your relationships and priorities may change. Sometimes, the ways you experience pleasure or participate in

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A couple silhouetted in the sunset holding up their baby

How to Help Your Wife With Postpartum Depression: A Guide for Partners

Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Low Cost / brittany

Having a baby can bring profound love and joy, but it can also bring exhaustion, uncertainty, and difficult emotions. If your wife is experiencing postpartum depression, you may feel worried, helpless, or unsure about what to do. You may also wonder how to help your wife with postpartum depression without making her feel pressured or

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Anxiety While Driving in Seattle: How to Manage Driving Anxiety and Feel More Confident on the Road

General, Individual Therapy, Low Cost / brittany

Driving in Seattle can be stressful even when you’re not experiencing anxiety. Heavy traffic, freeway merges, steep hills, bridges, construction, unfamiliar roads, and rainy weather can make getting behind the wheel feel overwhelming. For some people, however, driving causes more than ordinary frustration. Anxiety while driving can lead to racing thoughts, physical symptoms, panic, avoidance,

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Chronic Depression: Life Doesn’t Always Get Better, But We Do

Individual Therapy, Licensed Associates / brittany

Life doesn’t always get better. “Things fall apart; The center cannot hold,” Yeats wrote in his poem “The Second Coming.” Sometimes, bad things happen. Sometimes, good things don’t. This is true for everyone, but it might be even more true for people with a difficult condition like chronic depression. Since life doesn’t always get better,

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Trauma Dumping: What It Means and How to Set Healthy Boundaries

Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Low Cost / brittany

Talking about painful experiences can be an important part of healing. Sharing with a trusted friend, partner, family member, or therapist can help you feel understood and less alone. But emotional conversations can sometimes become overwhelming for the person listening. You may have heard this described as trauma dumping. The term is commonly used to

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A serene therapy session between therapist and client in a cozy, light-filled living room.

A Therapist’s Toolkit: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and Anxiety

General, Individual Therapy / brittany

When anxiety or intrusive thoughts become overwhelming, it’s natural to look for ways to feel safer or more certain. You might check something repeatedly, avoid certain situations, seek reassurance, or engage in mental rituals to reduce distress. While these behaviors can provide temporary relief, they can also reinforce the cycle of anxiety over time. Exposure

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