Steven Frank
I’m Steven Frank, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in California, now living in Seattle and working with California residents through telehealth. I’ve been licensed since 1983 and began my private practice in 1993.
I’ve been trained in EMDR (a specific treatment for trauma), and will use that method as needed, when appropriate, and with your understanding of the process, and consent.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in inpatient psychiatric settings as a California‑licensed Psychiatric Technician, where I gained early experience supporting people in acute emotional distress.
First session
I think that it’s important for a person entering therapy to know what to expect from treatment. So I will take the time to really understand what someone wants from therapy and how they would like to get there. The first couple of sessions are spent with my learning about you and why you are seeking help. I’m very interested in your view, what you want from therapy. I can also let you know what I’m thinking. Whatever we end up doing will be something that you feel good about. The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions From feedback over time, I do hear from client reviews of my ability to communicate a feeling of caring and empathy,,,, especially when with someone that needs and requests help. I know that I do care about the person in front of me.
Strengths
Over the last several decades, my work has focused on adults dealing with depression, anxiety, and trauma. In recent years, I’ve specialized in PTSD treatment and EMDR, helping clients process overwhelming experiences and regain a sense of stability and safety. From my years of experience, I know that stepping into therapy can feel daunting, but you don't have to navigate life's changes in isolation. In our early sessions, we will focus on your vision for the future. I will ask questions to help us clarify what you truly want to gain from therapy and how you want things to look on the other side. You are the expert on your own life—only you can answer those questions. Once we define your goals, I am here to understand your perspective and help you get where you want to go. My commitment to this work is shaped not only by professional training but also by personal experience. In 1972, I went through a period of severe depression and anxiety that led to hospitalization. It was a difficult time, but it taught me something essential: what these experiences feel like from the inside. That understanding has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to guide how I show up with clients.
Ideal clients
They are highly aware that their past is affecting their present. They might be logically aware of what happened to them, but they cannot simply "think" their way out of the emotional or physical responses (like anxiety, triggers, or exhaustion). They are living with a nervous system that won't settle. Even when their current life is objectively safe or "fine," their body is still reacting as if the trauma is actively occurring.
Treatment methods
EMDR
Many of the people who find their way to me are carrying experiences that still feel "too much"—memories that show up uninvited. My practice is dedicated to helping adults navigate the lingering, invisible impacts of trauma, anxiety, and relational wounds. My clients are typically individuals who have tried their hardest to push through their pain, only to find that their physical and emotional exhaustion can no longer be ignored. You are here because you are ready to stop managing your symptoms and start resolving them. My work with the Family Advocacy Program at Fleet and Family Support Center, NAS Lemoore in 2012, profoundly shaped my understanding of trauma and its treatment. When service members returned from deployments with PTSD, my role was to recognize those symptoms and connect them with the most effective care available. The specialists there utilized a highly effective method called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Witnessing the impact of that treatment firsthand was a turning point for me, ultimately leading me to pursue my own certification in EMDR so I could bring that same level of healing to my private practice.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Man
White
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Bipolar Disorder
Crisis Intervention
Dissociative Disorders
Military/Veterans
Mood Disorders
Older Adults
Recent Hospitalization
Suicidal Ideation
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Doesn't specialize in
Career Counseling
Child or Adolescent
Chronic Illness
Domestic Violence
Eating Disorders
Fertility & Reproduction Issues
Foster Care/Adoption
Gambling Addiction
Health/Medical Issues
Learning Disabilities
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Perinatal Mental Health
Physical Health Condition
Postpartum
School Issues
Sex Addiction
Sex Therapy
Women's Issues
Licensed in
CaliforniaLicense 18319