Mother’s Day is often portrayed as a time of gratitude, celebration, and connection. For many, it can be a meaningful opportunity to honor a loving relationship. But for others, Mother’s Day brings up something far more complicated, grief, ambivalence, resentment, longing, or even relief. If you’ve been wondering how to cope with complex feelings about […]
How to Cope With Complex Feelings About Mother’s Day Read More »
Mental Health Awareness Month, observed each May, is a national reminder of the importance of emotional wellbeing, access to therapy, and reducing stigma around mental health care. While awareness has grown in recent years, many people still face barriers to finding affordable, affirming, and effective support. At Steffen Counseling Services (SCS), we view Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Month: Why It Matters and How to Access Support Read More »
If you live in Seattle, you know how long winters can feel. Short days, gray skies, and a steady drizzle that makes staying inside (and in your head) a little too easy. By the time the city finally starts to green up again, many people are carrying an emotional residue that no one warned them
Emotional and Relational Spring Cleaning: Letting Go After Seattle’s Gray Winter Read More »
Trauma doesn’t just live in memory—it lives in the body. If you’ve ever noticed your heart racing when recalling a difficult moment or felt “numb” during stress, you’ve already experienced your nervous system’s role in holding trauma. In therapy, somatic awareness is one way we begin to bridge this gap between body and mind. At Steffen Counseling
A Therapist’s Toolkit: How Therapists Use Somatic Awareness to Support Trauma Recovery Read More »
Ever wonder how therapists stay calm, centered, and emotionally balanced — even during tough moments? The answer lies in emotion regulation therapy skills: tools we don’t just teach our clients, but actively use ourselves. At Steffen Counseling Services, we view emotion regulation therapy as a collection of strategies that help people understand, manage, and respond
A Therapist’s Toolkit: Inside the World of Emotion Regulation Therapy Read More »
Why Seattle Winters Hit So Hard Seattle winters bring short days, gray skies, and long stretches indoors, which can quickly intensify low mood, anxiety, and isolation. When you already carry stress or trauma, this seasonal heaviness often lands harder because your nervous system is already working overtime to stay regulated. For many people, winter becomes
Rainy Season, Restless Mind: How EMDR Can Help When Seattle Winters Feels Extra Heavy Read More »
The following is an excerpt from the book, “We Get Better: 48 Treatment Options for Chronic Depression”, by Mollie Player: Ancient hunters, it is said, didn’t always run to catch their prey. Often, they walked over long distances using a technique called “persistence hunting.” Humans weren’t the fastest or the strongest animal in the
Depression Treatment Option: Making the Decision to Persist Read More »
What’s the Difference? Have you ever wondered whether you (or someone you know) have anxiety, ADHD, or maybe both? It’s a common question since these two conditions can look surprisingly similar on the surface. Both can make it hard to focus, stay organized, and feel calm, but they stem from very different causes. Let’s break
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate distress. While the underlying mechanisms of OCD are similar, the condition can present in various forms, depending on the individual’s specific obsessions and compulsions. Importantly, the way OCD manifests may differ
Choosing the right trauma therapist can be a transformative step in the healing process, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. When we are hurting, it can be difficult to take the steps towards healing. Whether you’ve experienced a single traumatic event or ongoing, complex trauma, the therapist you choose can make
Choosing the Right Therapist for Trauma Recovery Read More »
