Therapists in 98225

My name is Rachael Simmer and I'm a licensed mental health counselor in Bellingham, WA. Currently, I work with individual adults who identify as women, gender expansive and non binary.

I’m a compassionate, respectful, and effective therapist. For over 20 years, I’ve helped people improve their mental health and relationships. I also have extensive experience with issues of aging, grief and loss. My approach is solution-focused, stressing your strengths and values and how they can be used to overcome your problems.

**Currently accepting new clients** As you look to begin a counseling relationship, the right fit is critical. When we work together, you can expect directness, compassion, curiosity, and gratitude. I work with children, teens, and adults experiencing a wide range of symptoms. Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, difficulty communicating, and navigating difficult life transitions are a few of the most common issues that I work with clients to resolve.

I believe that counseling is an opportunity to hear and connect with yourself more clearly and closely. I am committed to listening with care and curiosity. I trust that you hold the deepest knowledge of yourself, your experience, and how to address whatever it is that feels painful or puzzling. With permission, I will offer tools, strategies or perspectives to support growth or change but my primary commitment is to offer companionship on your exploration of your inner terrain and experience of the world.

In all of my time working in the field of mental health and wellness, I have become completely awed by the strength, resiliency, and beauty of the human spirit. My work as a counselor is focused on reflecting and co-creating opportunities to bring forth our best self. By taking ownership of the stories we tell ourselves, we can overcome any adversity, reach any level of self awareness, and begin to live the lives we feel meant for. My orientation stems from a Gnostic (Self-Knowledge) exploration of the self, seeing who we are, where we begin and where we truly meet others.

Taking the decision to see a therapist can, for some people, sometimes be a challenging step and I would like to reassure you that I am here for you with compassion and respect. As a therapist, I would like you to be able to express your thoughts and truths in order to continue your path towards healing. I am interested in hearing your story and taking time to get to know the real you. I believe that our therapeutic relationship works best when you are able to freely acknowledge if we are moving in the right direction, which is why I regularly check in with you to make sure you feel we are addressing what matters most to you.

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

Seeking help says a lot about you - that you value your life, your health, and relationships. Perhaps you want to beat depression, manage anxiety, create change in your relationships, or find meaningful work. Or maybe you are suffering a loss, have relocated, or are struggling with chronic health issues. I have a deep passion for counseling, for supporting you in your courageous steps toward fulfillment and well being.

I love working with clients that are looking to face their challenges, find the tools to deal with them and change their life! I have seen clients be able to identify their issues and know they want to be able to feel joy again and I get excited to get the opportunity to walk by their side, learn those coping skills, so they are able to reclaim their inner strength.

Finding a counselor you feel safe with is essential. I am offering free 15 minute phone consultations so you can decide if I am the right fit for you. Life is hard enough right now, even if you don’t live with a mental health condition. I am also here to process stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, family issues, difficult emotions, behavioral concerns, coping skills, communication skills, safety planning, dismantling systems of oppression, and other concerns. I believe in collaborating to find solutions that are unique to your problems.

Good For You! You have taken the first step: You are asking for help at a time when life challenges have caused you to pause and reflect. Life can feel out of balance, leaving us with feelings of despair, anxiousness and loss. Our basic human needs are those of connecting to others. We feel pain and discomfort when we feel separated. It takes courage to look at ourselves, to find the meaning of the discomfort. This struggle can have profound lasting results for personal growth, better health, and closer relationships with our family, friends and the community at large.

Is you or your teen struggling with homework, sleep, or just feeling tired all of the time? Is anxiety getting the best of you that it can make getting homework, work or social events exhausting, or you are over thinking the things that you have said/submitted for homework? Are they overthinking interactions or school work. Or has it been difficult for your teen to get out of bed, or not getting their homework done. Maybe their are not feeling enjoyment from their hobbies like they use too. I work with teen girls (13 to 15) and individuals who are struggling with these symptoms. This can make the days feel exhausting, depleting.

Every parent dreams of raising their children in ways that enable them to not only survive, but to thrive. As life unfolds, parents may encounter personal difficulties, or problems related to their children, that compromise their ability to provide consistent, responsive care. They may then be susceptible to feelings of overwhelm and discouragement. I offer families a compassionate, collaborative, strength-based therapeutic approach. I respectfully join with them in the belief that "We are in this together, and together, we will find our way through."