Cole Stevens, MA, LMHC

My Work

I approach therapy primarily from a psychodynamic framework that is informed by depth psychology, relational therapy, and attachment theory. Our relationships, past and present, form the cornerstone of our greatest sufferings and our greatest joys in life, and deeply shape how we come to see ourselves and the world around us. My therapeutic work places a great deal of emphasis on both how our important relationships have shaped us, and our relationship as a vehicle for change. In my view, therapy is a space where you can simply be you. From depth psychology I bring the perspective that our unconscious mind (the “not-I” to our “I”) contains great wisdom, that the ways in which we fall ill are meaningful and contain the seeds of healing and integration, and that our dreams, fantasies, daydreams, and spontaneous thoughts tell us something about where we have been and where we might be going. I also integrate perspectives and ideas from mythology, narrative work, Gestalt therapy, mindfulness practices, and neuroscience.

My Belief

I believe that therapy is a profoundly sacred endeavor, a form of “soul work”, in which we come to know ourselves more fully in the presence of an attentive, compassionate other. I believe that at the heart of much suffering is loneliness and isolation – and that the goodness possible in knowing and being known is how we heal. I believe that our symptoms, our suffering, and the characteristic ways we may find ourselves stuck are meaningful communications from our deeper self, messages which bring transformation, if we can listen to them together with kindness and curiosity. I believe that therapy is the process of authentically becoming more of who you are meant to be, and that the guiding force in this work is the innate movement towards healing and growth present in each and every person. In the words of Joseph Campbell, it is by shining a light into places we normally may not dare to enter, or even look into, that we may find healing, richness, and a deepened sense of who we are. Likewise, I strive to bring myself fully, compassionately, and authentically to tend to the uniqueness of each story I encounter.

My Background

I received my BA in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound, and my Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. My graduate education provided experiential training in relational therapy and attachment theory, and I completed my internship providing therapy for couples, adults, and adolescents from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington (LH61465896).

My Self

As a young adult, years after I left home, I found myself struggling in ways I hadn’t expected, and couldn’t explain. Unable to understand what was happening, I sought out therapy, where I began to understand how my life, my relationships, and my story had shaped me. Gradually I came to understand that my symptoms were not random misfirings of the brain, but rather, messages from forgotten parts of myself. Intrigued by this experience, I began reading psychology books and studying my own dreams, a path that has led me to pursue counseling as a profession, and to a life that, years ago, I could never even have imagined. Because of my own healing journey, therapy is not merely a chosen profession, but something deeply connected to who I am and how I bring myself to this work. In my free time, I can often be found enjoying the forests of the Pacific Northwest, playing guitar, or enjoying a cup of coffee and a good book.

Contact

Please use the contact form below to learn about Cole’s availability.