_edited.jpg)
Issues
Anxiety
Trauma
Depression
Life transitions
Parenting
Gender identity
Family challenges
Interpersonal relationships
Body image
Personal growth
Rites of Passage
Self-designed ceremony
Ages:
Adults
Caitlin Cavanaugh (she/her) MA, LMHC
*Not accepting clients at this time*
360.224.2540
About me
As a child growing up in the suburbs of San Francisco, my connection with nature primarily took place through the creation of fantastical medicinal concoctions scavenged from my small front yard, or playing on the windy beaches, hunting for sand dollars. As I matured, I spent time exploring herbal medicine more formally, studying with herbalists and often growing the plants themselves. I also worked on farms and as a landscape gardener – anything that would get me outside, in the dirt, and in contact with plants. Connecting to the land and the healing properties so gracefully hidden in plain sight gave me a sense of peace and purpose; but I noticed that I came alive in the meaningful conversations had with others as we weeded, harvested, pruned, and foraged. Being in contact with nature seemed to deepen the experience of being humans together.
This observation repeated itself in many other life experiences – both personal and professional – and eventually led me to the path of counseling. After sharing extended time in the wilderness with others, obtaining a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz, and working in outdoor education, it was clear to me where my heart was. In the Spring of 2014 I graduated with a Master’s in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University. During this program, I gained additional training in Equine Assisted Gestalt Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and interned as a counselor at a middle school in Denver. Upon graduation, I undertook a mentorship in somatic trauma work, and more recently incorporated Lifespan Integration into my work with clients – a modality that couples beautifully with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to which I am partial. I spent two years as a counselor in residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programming for individuals with eating disorders, and have been a practicing Licensed Mental Health Counselor here in Bellingham since 2016. My practice is primarily office-based at this time, but
there is much flexibility for meeting outside or having walking sessions during the spring, fall, and summer months when the days are longer!
When not seeing clients, I am typically in the company of my two wonderful children and can often be found playing with our animals, caring for our garden, getting messy in the kitchen, or exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Therapeutic Approach
We are designed to be in relationship. We are designed to find safety through genuine belonging. Unfortunately, we don’t all get that experience – particularly early on. In my practice, I strive to create a warm, authentic space in which you can show up as you are and engage in healthy, honest relationship. Sometimes we laugh a lot in session, sometimes there are tears, sometimes we celebrate what’s whole and perfect in your world, and sometimes we hone in on the nuances of long-held survival patterns. Above all, I believe in being real together. Being real means making space for the full spectrum of emotion and having the willingness to experience it as it arises. Hence, my approach integrates mindfulness, attention to the felt-senses of the body and awareness of thoughts. I operate from the perspective that our bodies and our psyches are wise, that – like an ecosystem – there are no bad parts, no mistakes; every element has a function and each of those is geared toward supporting our existence, even if we don’t quite understand how just yet. Our work together is to build that understanding, increasing your ability to listen deeply to yourself. This may look like psychoeducation, developing coping and regulation strategies, or engaging in trauma work; maybe it will look like a self-created ceremony in the wilderness marking a major transition. There are lots of possibilities. Ultimately the form is a co-creation of our unique interplay – what we each bring to the table. If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out.
.