Therapy

Ever experienced loss? Loss of relationship, a loved one, a job you loved, a home, dear pet? This world is riddled with loss. How do you care for and engage your grief? Does it have a hold on you that you can’t seem to get out of?

I have walked in my own grief for decades and still find myself learning new things about it and about myself. Learning how to love and engage grief helps it to have less of a hold on us and have more of a companion that occasionally visits.

If you have found yourself in a relationship with a narcissist, there is an impact on you.

Learning to navigate the relationship, as well as heal from the impact, is very important.

Impact versus intent – narcissists don’t always desire to impact those around them negatively, but often, their lack of ability to acknowledge another (another’s emotions, presence, differing opinion, etc), can be very hurtful.

Because of my corporate background, I’ve worked with and engaged executives for over twenty-five years and have repeatedly witnessed that a way of being at work that creates “success” can destroy a marriage or home life.

If you find yourself in this boat, you’re in the right place. Let’s connect.

If you feel this small whisper tugging at you, aching to understand more about yourself, listen to it. Usually, our first families (the ones we grew up in), can have an effect on how we operate in the world as an adult.

We can often find ourselves people-pleasing, even though we know we don’t want to. Or not knowing our own opinion when someone asks us a question. It can be infuriating to not know who we are.

If you find yourself questioning why you do what you do, understanding your story (where you came from and how that’s impacted you) can be so helpful and healing.

It allows us to operate in the world from a conscious choice instead of an unconscious belief system.

Learning who our most authentic self is is an incredible act of love.

Have a teenager you love to bits, but don’t understand? Are they driving you crazy because you feel you’ve done everything you can to help them and it just doesn’t seem to make a difference?

I’ve worked with countless teenagers and have ended up doing tons of parenting support sessions. If you would like some coaching on how best to engage your kiddo/teenager, please know that I’d be happy to help.

We’ll approach our time together, in part, by learning about the developing mind and what your child may be needing from a psychological, emotional, and developing brain perspective.

Before scheduling a therapy session, I offer a free 15-minute video discovery call with all potential clients. This gives us a chance to get to know each other without the pressure of a full session commitment 0f both time and money.

During the consult:

• You’ll have an opportunity to share more about why you’re seeking therapy
• You can ask me any questions you might have
• I’ll share with you my lens as a therapist and what to expect from our work together
• We’ll talk logistics, including scheduling and availability

I recommend that if we both feel it’s potentially a good fit after the discovery call, we schedule three weekly sessions. My clients have often shared with me that the first two sessions they were so nervous they couldn’t feel present enough to know how they felt about the therapy. But by the third session their nervous system was calm enough to make an educated and informed decision.

During the third session, my clients and I decide whether we want to continue working together, and if so, we create a road map for what that work may include.

If we both decide we’re a good fit after our discovery call, we’ll:

• Schedule our first session and find a spot on the calendar that works for you weekly.
• I’ll email you a few disclosure forms that need to be completed electronically (they only take a few minutes) before our first session.

Ever feel like you’re in a constant drama sitcom? Does it always feel chaotic in your internal world? Ever ache to have a moment of internal groundedness but not sure how to get there?

Ever felt like you are spinning mentally in an attempt to understand yourself and why you do what you do? Or trying to understand another – a conversation or why someone ghosted you or said what they said?

• From feeling chaotic to feeling grounded.
• From confused to understanding.
• From stuck to unstuck.
• From feeling lost to found.

You make sense – all of you. We must learn to understand what happened to us and how our bodies reacted. How did our body learn to survive and, in so doing, acquire a defense strategy that, once helpful for survival, is now problematic and getting in the way of deeper intimacy and connection?

Most of my clients and I have weekly sessions — this is where we see the most consistent growth. Weekly sessions is how I recommend we start; however, at some point we might mutually agree that every-other-week sessions will suffice. That is a decision we will come to together.

The goal of meeting is to help accomplish your healing and make you feel better. I have noticed that meeting monthly or every three weeks does not accomplish these goals. Therefore, out of respect for your time and finances, I only meet weekly or every other week with clients as that is the most effective for change, growth and healing.

The first session is a little longer, which gives us a chance to settle into getting to know each other. It’s called an in-take session. That means you have an opportunity to share with me what you feel comfortable sharing. There’s no pressure to spill your story all at once — if fact, I would encourage you not to. But this longer amount of time allows us to explore where we might focus our work.

I believe therapists and clients co-create their time together. That means, while I am the professional, I don’t hold myself out to be the expert on you. I believe you are the expert on you; however, often we may be very removed or unfamiliar with what we need. We just know we need help. That’s why our time together is co-created. You and I work together to navigate what might be most helpful.

My stance is nonjudgmental and I do not hold you in contempt for choices you have made. I want to understand your goals and desires, to ensure we are caring for them and working towards them.

Therapy is hard work, as healing is hard work. But I also believe that therapy can be fun and playful. We may find ourselves laughing hysterically over something really fun, or sitting in a moment of grief as we acknowledge and process a deep loss you’ve experienced. Both are welcome and healing.

Online therapy: Currently, I am doing online therapy for in-state Washington residents only. Online therapy is great as you:

• Get to do therapy from the comfort of your own home
• Schedule therapy at any time that fits your schedule
• Don’t have to commute
• Get to be in comfy clothes
• Have therapy anywhere there’s a cell phone or wifi connection and that’s private (including the privacy of your own car, if need be!)

You’ll need a stable wi-fi connection, headphones, computer or cell phone with a camera, and privacy.

In-person therapy: Available through intensive formats only. This is a great option for out-of-state residents who can travel to be in Washington state for a week while we work together. If you are interested in a week-long intensive, please email me and I can put you on the wait-list.

Equine-assisted psychotherapy (in person): equine-assisted psychotherapy is currently being offered in an intensive format only. If you are interested in this format, contact me and I can put you on the waitlist.

Yes. If there are no openings that align with your schedule, please let me know and I would be happy to add you to the waitlist with specifics of certain times and days of the week that work best for you.

I don’t believe we need to be in therapy forever. Many of my clients find that they’ve met their goals within 8-12 months and no longer need therapy.

My clients who do depth-oriented work have chosen to remain in therapy for much longer, as they have found understanding themselves and their story, the psycho-education, ongoing support and a place to process their thoughts and feelings each week as very helpful.

Therapists can only provide services in the states they are licensed. I am licensed in Washington state. You must live in Washington for us to work together in a therapeutic capacity.

Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. The risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, anxiety, or frustration when discussing aspects of life. Psychotherapy has been shown to have benefits that can include better relationships, solutions to specific problems, increased life satisfaction, improved physical health, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, there are no guarantees as to what each client will experience.

Because life can happen, if there are alternative openings within that same week as a possible reschedule, I will always offer that at no additional charge. If there are no additional openings, you are still responsible for the cancellation fee, which is the normal session fee.

If you’re not ready to start therapy, I get it. I’ve been there. Our bodies are often met with resistance when we think about starting — therapy can be unknown and the unknown is always scary.

I have two different online courses that may be a great fit for you as you start your therapeutic journey. People who have purchased these courses have shared that they have found them very helpful as they paved the way to understand themselves and feel more prepared to start their own healing journey.

Each course is one hour and costs $99.

Here’s what to expect from each course:

Course #1: Why Conflict in Relationship Happens (aka: Why Understanding your Story and Upbringing Matters)

• Identify how and why our upbringing impacts the way we engage in conflict as an adult
• Feel more confident in your ability to engage conflict, care for your body’s dysregulation, and help engage relationship conflict differently
• Walk away with a better understanding of what happens in your body when you are triggered in conflict or get flooded when there’s tension within your own body.

Course #2: What’s Happening in my Body when I Experience Anxiety or Depression?

• Identify how anxiety or depression shows up in your body and why
• Learn to identify which part of the nervous is being activated and how to care for that part of the nervous system so it calms down (i.e, becomes regulated)
• Learn which parts of your brain are off line when you’re in flight/fight/freeze and how to get your brain back on line
• You will be given different techniques to get your brain back on line and your nervous system regulated
• Walk away with a better understanding of what happens in your body when you experience depression or anxiety

You do not have to be a Washington state resident in order to purchase these courses. They are available nationally and internationally.

Disclaimer: This course is not intended to replace or substitute mental health treatment. Instead, it is for informational purposes only.

Like most specialty providers, I do not participate in any insurance plans. Paying out of pocket is a great option for people who want maximum privacy, confidentiality, and flexibility.

Being a private pay therapist means you will pay in full for our sessions at the time of service. However, depending on your insurance coverage, you may be able to receive 50-80% reimbursement.

Like most specialty providers, I do not participate in any insurance plans. Paying out-of-pocket is a great option for people who want maximum privacy, confidentiality, and flexibility.

Additionally, most insurance companies have made it incredibly problematic for therapists to be paneled. There are also restrictions for you, the patient. Insurance has many restrictions that limit who you can use as a therapist and the time you spend in therapy. They may stop coverage for a therapist and if so, the patient would need to find a new therapist with no notice. How awful to have established a safe relationship and then have it pulled out from underneath you by an insurance company.

Furthermore, insurance companies require a diagnosis, which permanently goes on your medical record. I don’t believe all issues should be diagnosed, let alone left on a medical record permanently.

Insurance companies do not reimburse therapists a reasonable living wage. It takes a massive amount of time, education, resources, and investment to become a fully licensed mental health therapist. Insurance companies undervalue the time, energy, and education as well as living wages for expensive cities such as Seattle and its surrounding suburbs. I believe in modeling work/life balance and understanding and respecting that massive amount of work that goes into being a therapist that a client can rely on, heal with, and achieve their goals.

A superbill is a form provided to you by the therapist. It lists your diagnosis, the dates of services and costs for each session that you have already paid for in full. It also identifies your name and address and that all reimbursements should go to you directly, as well as the therapist’s NPI (national provider identification number) and business number.

Superbills are issued within the first ten days of a new month, covering the prior completed month. I send these out by request only. Please let me know if you need a superbill and I will add you to my list.

Each health insurance company is different, as well as each plan within the company. Please use the network reimbursement calculator below to get an individualized estimate of what you expect to be your financial responsibility and what you can expect to be reimbursed.

If you have out-of-network benefits, they typically reimburse 50-80% of the cost of each session.

Most insurance companies have you upload your monthly superbill online (it’ll be emailed to you within the first ten days of the month) and they will mail you a check with your reimbursement.

For better understanding of your specific benefits, it’s always a good idea to call the number on the back of your health insurance card listed under Member Services.

You can ask them the following questions:

• Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health coverage?
• Am I able to use these benefits for tele-health?
• What percentage of outpatient psychotherapy sessions are covered per session?
• How much will I be reimbursed for a 45 min or 60 min psychotherapy session (CPT code: 90834 and 98037 respectively)?
• Does my insurance cover couples counseling?
• How do I submit claim forms for reimbursement?
• How long does it take for me to receive reimbursement?

There is an emotional cost as well as a cost in time. Therapy is an investment in yourself, one that will help you live a more healed, present life. It will also benefit all your loved ones you’re in a relationship with, as well as a more integrated and healed example for your kids.

The financial cost is listed below:

Fees with Tamasin Raiswell (Thomas), MA, LMHC, Therapist and Private Practice Owner:

Accepting new clients in Washington

Like most specialty providers, I do not participate in any insurance plans. Paying out of pocket is a great option for people who want maximum privacy, confidentiality, and flexibility.

My sliding scale spots are reserved for A Home Within (AHW) orphans and foster care youth.

This non-profit partners with therapists who volunteer their services, free of charge, for as long as the patient requests them. Foster care youth includes orphans and any child that is currently in foster care or an adult who experienced time in the foster care system.

A Home Within is a nationwide non-profit. If you or someone you know is looking for affordable, good quality therapy and has a history of being a foster care youth, please reach out to AHW (www.ahomewithin.org).

If you are a WA state resident and qualify for free therapy through AHW, please apply through the Seattle chapter and request Tamasin Thomas (Tamasin Raiswell) as your therapist.

If I’m unable to offer you a sliding scale spot, I’d be happy to offer referrals to trusted clinicians in the area.

There’s a great online resource, www.psychologytoday.com, if you’re hoping to find an in-network provider. You can look up the particular city you live in and find a therapist to work with that is networked with your insurance company, in person or virtual.

I have two different online courses that may be a great fit for you as you start your therapeutic journey. People who have purchased these courses have found them very helpful as the courses paved the way to understand themselves and feel more prepared to start their own healing journey.

Each course is one hour and costs $99.

Here’s what to expect from each course:

Course #1: Why Conflict in Relationship Happens (aka: Why Understanding your Story and Upbringing Matters)

• Identify how and why our upbringing impacts the way we engage in conflict as an adult
• Feel more confident in your ability to engage conflict, care for your body’s dysregulation, and help engage relationship conflict differently
• Walk away with a better understanding of what happens in your body when you are triggered in conflict or get flooded when there’s tension within your own body or with someone else

Course #2: What’s Happening in my Body when I Experience Anxiety or Depression?

• Identify how anxiety or depression shows up in your body and why
• Learn to identify which parts of the nervous is being activated and how to care for that part of the nervous system so it calms down (i.e, becomes regulated)
• Learn which parts of your brain are offline when you’re in flight/fight/freeze and how to get your brain back on line
• You will be given different techniques to get your brain back on line and your nervous system regulated
• Walk away with a better understanding of what happens in your body when you experience depression or anxiety

You do not have to be a Washington state resident in order to purchase these courses. They are available nationally and internationally.

Disclaimer: This course is not intended to replace or substitute mental health treatment. Instead, it is for informational purposes only

If I’m unable to offer you a sliding scale spot, I’d be happy to offer referrals to trusted clinicians in the area.

There’s a great online resource, www.psychologytoday.com, if you’re hoping to find an in-network provider. You can look up the particular city you live in and find a therapist to work with that is networked with your insurance company, in person or virtual.