Therapists in Bellingham, WA

Many of us see our own upbringing as “it wasn’t that bad.” And yet our current choices and reactions reflect back to us patterns of deep wounding. Generational trauma, family shame, parental caretaking, and distorted expectations all have deep impacts on our journey to discovering and living our true self. Black Sheep Healing works with people who realize that there can be another way. This is for people who are having a human response to an inhumane world.

Welcome. My therapy practice was built with a vision of providing care to my community in ways that reflect my values as closely as possible. Those values center around my belief that healing comes when we have access to safety and authentic connection because the deepest answers we may need arise ultimately from within ourselves. I seek to be an active participant in creating a culture of care for all people. I come into this role from my own healing journey that is always on-going, still often surprising, and practiced with intention because it’s been my most meaningful source of freedom, inspiration, strength, and clarity.

I work with a wide variety of folks who are experiencing mental health, trauma, family, and life related stressors. With experience supporting children ages 3 and up, teens, adults, and families I aim to provide holistic services meeting folks where they are at in their journey. My work includes providing affirming services for LGBTQ+ and Non-monogamous folks. I am skilled at providing services for neurodivergent (ADHD/Autistic) folks aimed at increasing self-understanding and coping with the stressors of the outside world.

3/5/24 - Accepting New Clients! Ready to break free from anxiety, stress, and overcome life's challenges? Are you yearning for improved relationships, greater contentment, and to start living a life that feels more manageable? If so, I'm here to help you reclaim your life and your confidence by reconnecting you with your inner strength and wisdom so you may create a healthier, more fulfilling life. Together, we'll uncover the root causes of your struggles, and I'll equip you with practical tools and skills so you may navigate life with resilience and grace.

Whether you’re looking to heal wounds, understand your role in the world, or develop practices to support a lifetime of wellbeing, I offer a non-judgemental space to explore what it means to be you in a complex world. We will not only examine the broader systems and dynamics that have informed your life story, but work together to explore your sense of self, obtain clarity about how you got here, and develop a pathway to healing and acceptance. Drawing from research on neuroscience and mindfulness, I will help you increase attunement with your body and its unique safety signals.

I believe therapy can serve as a potent and powerful conduit for healing, a place where you can say the things that you often don't, a cozy nest for sharing your most vulnerable self in search of hope and meaning, a platform for decision-making and action as you forge your way through change and growth. I believe it is our right and journey as humans to find and create a life of meaning. Our suffering is often the result of old behaviors, old traumas, old ways of thinking that we cling to in fear. And I believe that each individual is unique, with strengths, hopes, and challenges.

I'm queer and I specialize in supporting LGBTQ+ and nonmonogamous adults around trauma, family of origin issues, gender affirming care, and anxiety, including OCD. Before therapy, many of my clients think: Being in my head is stressful- there are things I'm afraid of talking about, or even thinking about. My past is still affecting me. Setting boundaries can be really hard. Sometimes I have nightmares or flashbacks of things I've been through. If that sounds like you, I can help. Therapy can be a safe, non-judgmental space to make sense of your experiences and create meaningful change in your life.

We all have the capacity for healing and personal empowerment but life can get in the way! You want to detach from painful past experiences, start liking yourself again, and start really living your truth. Your relationships keep feeling hallow and disconnected. Worry about rejection or safety feels normal. You're barely keeping up with things, let alone trying to add in a therapy appointment each week! But you can feel it. You just can't keep avoiding these simmering feelings anymore because they keep coming back, they just keep coming back. I'm glad you are here, you're in the right place.

I am passionate about working with adults with a history of trauma, especially those with childhood trauma and ongoing stressors. Your story matters, and I am here to listen and partner alongside you as you discover meaning and healing in your journey. I frequently employ a trauma-informed, person-centered approach as these modalities inspire empathy, understanding, and safety in the therapeutic relationship. You are the expert of your own life, so our work together will involve collaborating and promoting your health, healing, and unique treatment preferences.

I enjoy finding a person or family's strengths and resources in a warm and inviting environment. My practice is research based and brings the best resources in a down to earth and nonjudgmental way.

Do you yearn for more harmonious relationships in your life? I will support you to uncover patterns that lead to disconnection, cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and others, develop more effective communication skills, and explore solutions that can lead to lasting, positive change. Healthy relationships are fundamental to our well-being and yet the pathway is not always simple or clear. With a nonjudgmental, holistic, and growth-oriented approach, I counsel individuals, parents, intimate partners, and families who struggle with interpersonal issues so that they can achieve more ease and harmony in their relationships.

I assist those who have become aware that the story they are currently living is no longer serving them well. Together we will create a therapeutic environment that cultivates this initial awareness. Through the learned application of compassionate boundaries and a mind/body integrative approach, we work to resolve the past dysfunctional or traumatic parts of your story. As we bring balance to our mind/body through awareness, we may align ourselves with our spiritual center to create a new intentional, energetic story that allows healing and the possibility of wellbeing. I further offer nature therapy and grounding/yogic guidance.

Sometimes it is really hard to persist. Making change or accepting reality can be confusing. Reaching out to a therapist can be scary. With empathy and an anti-oppression approach, I can help you examine what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, frozen, or confused. I specialize in working people who move through the world differently, particularly trans and queer people.

As a Certified Hakomi Therapist my offering is a Somatic Experiential Psychotherapy modality that is gentle, non-judgmental, and compassionate; a form of assisted self-study where the client studies his or her responses to explorations in a mindful state of consciousness. We become aware and touch upon the very organizing experiences that have been a part of our habitual life - the patterns that no long serve us. We increase clarity, creativity, confidence and awareness and break through obstacles towards ease, connection and vitality. I am available for phone or online sessions.

I work with each client to find and apply the most effective strategies for liberation from anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and/or addictions. 35 years experience working in and directing treatment programs and in private practice. Author: The New Template for Recovery. Visit chrisportmanphd.com

Therapy is a gift. Its power is rooted in our ancestry, biology, and deep capacities to relate to one another. It isn't something scientists devised in a laboratory. It's a natural process we each have the right to enjoy by simple virtue of being human.

I utilize a therapeutic approach that emphasizes training received in Contemplative/Mindfulness Psychology, Cognitive Behavior, Gestalt Therapy, & Emotional Focused Therapy. My approach evolved out of several years of working within the Adventure Therapy field supporting people in awakening to a deeper relationship with themselves & community. I have 25yrs of extensive experience serving adolescents/young men. I also serve men in transitional life phases, couples struggling with communication & parents/families in conflict. I look to assist clients in understanding their mental/emotional self via a direct empathetic approach.

You matter, your mental health matters. I approach every client with an open mind and ready to help think outside the box. I believe the whole person matters, not just placing one piece of the puzzle in the correct spot. To truly understand oneself is to find a proper place for all the puzzle pieces to create a beautiful picture.

I specialize in helping preteens, teens, and young adults work through anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. I believe that the key to success in therapy is providing genuine, unconditional positive regard for clients and authentically listening to and caring about their lived experiences. My approach to therapy is one that is tailored to the individual and their unique life experiences. I currently have a waitlist for new clients aged 10 and up.