Summer Stullick
My name is Summer Stullick, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Mental Health Professional, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I started in the mental health field in 2015, after receiving my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington and starting work as a Mental Health Therapist on an Adult Inpatient Unit. I enjoyed being that support person for others going through difficult times, providing that safe space and listening ear, leading daily groups to help others learn to cope with life's struggles. I decided to return to school in 2016, and graduated with my Master of Science in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University in 2020. Over the last 10+ years, I have worked with adults in crisis, inpatient, and outpatient settings, and every experience has been valuable in helping me better serve clients. I connect well with clients because I can relate to the human experience on a personal level, while still remaining professional and helping them better get to know themselves. Prior to working in the field, I had personal experience with family and friends close to me over the years struggling with their mental health, and I wanted to know more about how to support them and how the human brain and behavior work. I wanted to make a difference and be a positive change in others' lives, even if it's simply showing up and listening or offering a kind word.
First session
In a first session, we will be focusing on a combination of rapport building, going over mental health history to now, looking at various factors and aspects of your life and health that contribute to your mental well-being, and answering questions you may have about therapy or me as a provider. I like clients to know who they're working with, and feel they can ask things openly. We will create a treatment plan with goals related to what you want to work on in therapy and how I can best support you. Being nervous in a first session is normal, so I make sure not to push clients too hard with answers for questions and meet them where their comfort level is at. Building rapport can happen over a couple of sessions before a client feels comfortable and opens up more to their therapist. I like to normalize this and let clients know I respect their limits and process with this.
Strengths
I have over a decade of professional, educational, and personal experience in the mental health field. I am consistently learning evidence based techniques and educating myself in-between sessions to better serve clients. I understand the journey of therapy having been in the client seat as well. I have worked in a variety of settings, with various age groups, and diagnoses to get a well rounded view of mental health. I enjoy the work I do with clients, making a difference in any way possible.
Ideal clients
I work with clients who are motivated to become the best version of themselves and find ways to manage and keep balance with their mental health. I look at various aspects of wellness that contribute to your self-care and mental health, help understand where your thoughts and behaviors are stemming from, find ways to cope through life's challenges, and gain insight and reflection into yourself. I will help you gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to implement positive change in your life by tapping into your strengths, resources, and helping you identify your next steps. I will provide a safe space for you to express yourself and your concerns, meet you where you're at in your journey while providing support, validation, active listening, and tailoring my approach to what best fits your needs and comfort level. I can help you to better understand yourself and feel a sense of relief, hope, less alone. I can help with managing depression, stress, processing and making sense of trauma, coping with life adjustments, and seeking balance in one's life. Finding a therapist and seeking therapy isn't always an easy decision. I am glad you are here, and taking a step towards making your mental health a priority. Helping a client reach their goals varies in approach depending on the situation at hand and where the client is at in their stages of change. I help clients reach their goals by increasing coping skills and finding healthy alternatives to maladaptive skills, getting them to reflect on their thinking patterns and behaviors, and "what's at the root." I support clients in finding a balance with self-care and various aspects of wellness through structure, routine, engaging in interests, hobbies, and strengths. My goal is to get clients to a point in their therapy journey that they feel empowered with the resources, tools, and support to manage and accomplish goals themselves and sustain the positive changes in their lives.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify current behavior and thinking patterns, factors impacting quality of life, and help identify alternative/healthy ways of coping for symptom relief and working towards personal goals. I provide psychoeducation to better understand oneself, and give clients techniques and information to practice or review in-between sessions to help improve their mental health and wellness.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
My approach is to be supportive, validating, encouraging towards clients to create a safe space for expression. I help clients identify their strengths to help increase their awareness and personal growth so they feel more in control of managing their symptoms.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing helps clients feel more comfortable with change by identifying obstacles or ambivalence. I ask open ended questions, reflect what you are sharing and summarizing to identify steps going forward to reach your personal goals.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- WashingtonLicense MHC.LH.61339519