A Gentle guide: Finding a PTSD therapist in bellingham, WA

PTSD
Written By Emily Soen

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you've already taken a huge step. That being acknowledging, at least on some level, that you are wanting more support. That's not a small thing. Living with PTSD can make even the most simple of tasks feel impossible. Add searching for the "right" therapist on top of that? One more huge mountain to climb. So just you being here right now is so commendable. Let's walk through this together, so that the mountain won’t be as huge anymore.

β€œYOU MADE IT THROUGH THE TRAUMA, YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE HEALING, TOO”
field with greenery nestled between the mountains
 

Bellingham is a great place to be on the lookout for a PTSD therapist. We’re small enough that providers often know each other and the local resources available, but large enough (with Western Washington University, St. Joseph’s, and a strong community mental health network ) that you actually have many promising options. That combination matters. You deserve options, not just whoever has the next available slot.

START WITH WHAT MATTERS TO YOU MOST

Before you even start looking, it’s probably a good idea to sit with some questions first. You can ask yourself questions like, β€œWould I feel safest with a therapist of a particular gender?”, β€œDo I want to meet in-person? Or virtually?”, and β€œIs there a certain type of training that I’d like my therapist to have?” These will guide you and give you some clarity before diving into the search.

 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

After you have your specific needs narrowed down, I’d suggest looking for the following:

  1. Trauma specific/trauma-informed training. This can include EMDR, CPT, trauma-informed CBT, or Somatic Experiencing. These are evidence-based approaches that are meant to be utilized specifically in trauma therapy. If a therapist doesn’t have every single training, that’s totally fine. What you’re looking for is their ability to explain why their approach is appropriate for β€œtrauma therapy”.

  2. Their rate and if they accept insurance. Most therapists in the Bellingham, WA area are charging from $130-200 depending on their level of expertise, training, and overall caseload. There are many therapists who accept insurance, but there are also many who are β€œprivate pay” only. It’s a good idea to have clarity about this before you schedule a consultation.

  3. Verbiage around β€œbody-based” or bottom-up approach. Trauma doesn’t just reside in our brains. It lives in our bodies, too. Our chests become tight, our breath labored, and our legs shaky. When working through PTSD, it’s important to have a provider who is aware of the connection between your trauma and your physical body. This means they will be prepared to support you fully during session.

  4. Goodness of Fit. This is so important to your overall therapy experience. Feeling safe, held, and supported by your therapist is vital if you’re going to do good work together. You won’t feel safe in the relationship right away, that takes time. But you want to feel like they β€œget” you and that you feel comfortable when talking with them.

  5. Cultural and identity competence. This is crucial. Your identities and culture shape and inform who you are and therefore need to be considered and attended to when doing trauma work. An informed therapist will have awareness and/or training on the importance of cultural competence. They should acknowledge how a client's race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and background shape their mental health, communication styles, and views towards healing.

 

i am worthy of the time it takes to do the things that will heal my heart

〰️

i am worthy of the time it takes to do the things that will heal my heart 〰️

 

WHERE TO FIND YOUR THERAPIST

This can be tricky! Therapist directories can feel overwhelming. They’re even overwhelming for most therapists! So let’s make it simple:

  1. Check Psychology Today. This is typically the most effective way to find your therapist. Utilize the filters (in-person/virtual, modalities, price range, insurance accepted/private pay) to narrow down your choices. From here, utilize the steps above and your self-created list of needs to identify a few candidates. I like to recommend typing up an introductory paragraph on Google Drive, then copy pasting it into the inquiry field of each therapist you want to reach out to. It saves you lots of time!

  2. Google β€œPTSD therapist in Bellingham, WA” and crawl the search results. Don’t be afraid to sift through more than the first 2 pages. Oftentimes excellent therapists won’t show up in the first page of Google.

  3. Check out local group practices, like Inside Passage Counseling or Rule & Associates.

Give yourself time to complete this process. It certainly doesn’t have to happen all at the same time. Listen to your body and take breaks as needed. Pacing yourself can be the key.

 

CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR CHOICE

The last step is to check in with your body and acknowledge the huge step you just took. You did the hard thing. And you deserve to feel good about that.

If you’re noticing any big feelings come up, oftentimes that can be part of this initial process. Just know that it can be a completely normal experience after making this leap.

Now you get to choose the PTSD therapist that is right for you. They should give you a sense of comfort, openness, and curiosity about the process. They should prioritize what is important to you. And lastly, they should be adequately trained to practice PTSD therapy. You get to take the next steps with them now and I wish you all the best.

Warmly,

Emily Soen

 
 

Gentle Reminder

This blog is meant to be educational and it is not a replacement for therapy or professional care. If something here stirs big feelings, I encourage you to bring it to a trusted therapist or support in your community. You do not have to sort through it all alone.

Emily Soen