Kevin Riffel
Hello! I'm a blind, loving, funny, and sincere person. I'm imperfect and have learned to be (mostly) okay with it. Growing up with a degenerative eye disease left me with a weight on my chest of fighting what my body was doing and trying to convince everyone I was fine, when I wasn't. I think we're all trying to hide ourselves from ourselves and from others and it is complete nonsense. Every part of you is welcome, even the parts you hate about yourself or that others find difficult. Often the parts of us we fight against are there for a very good reason. Once we show those parts love and respect we can start to be okay.
I'm imperfect and have learned to be (mostly) okay with it. Growing up with a degenerative eye disease left me with a weight on my chest of fighting what my body was doing and trying to convince everyone I was fine, when I wasn't.
First session
When we first meet, I'll get to know a bit about what you're looking for and how we want to proceed. I'm trained in enough evidence-based practices and in ways to use them, that we can make a plan that is based on what you are wanting and the best fit for you. I come across as relaxed and a bit informal, but am taking our work very seriously and will be constantly monitoring whether what we're doing is getting us where we want to go.
Strengths
My greatest strength as a therapist is the genuine unconditional love. That will instantly be off putting to many of you reading this, but it's the truth. I'm professional, dedicated, enthusiastic, smart, honest, safe, open, well-trained and deeply uninformed about pop culture (due to my refusal to have a social media account). But above all, I love.
Ideal clients
I work best with clients who are openly flawed like me. Life is very overwhelming at times, and we make it a lot harder on ourselves when we pretend to be someone we're not. When we work together it's all about how you see the world and how you respond to it. I'll be honest with you, but not harsh. I will not manipulate you and tell you what you want to hear, if you need to hear something else. I assume the best from you, and truly love every client I have ever worked with. I'm playful, sarcastic, energetic, but can calm it down to meet your energy level.
Treatment methods
Play Therapy
I am a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), and Association for Play Therapy Approved Trainer. I love adapting evidence-based practices that traditionally are done using talk therapy, and translating them into a virtual play therapy world. I use Minecraft, songs, movies, video clips, and more to experience clients' world views and reflect on them similar to how talk therapy works, but without the need of using speech to communicate. "Play is the language of children and toys are their words." - Gary Landreth. I believe that we all learn how to speak and make sense of the world through play, and continue to have that language in us throughout our lives.
Attachment-based
How we form relationships and how we see ourselves in them affects everything. Having an understanding of our attachment needs and the needs of those we care about is often that the heart of the pain we feel. Attachment-based treatment has been meaningful to me for more that 12 years.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) uses the relationship between child and caregiver to heal traumatic memories and build safety for the future. I have been using CPP for about 10 years.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is foundational for many providers. Understanding how our thoughts, behavior and emotions relate to each other can be very useful. I tend to pair CBT with play therapy and attachment theory, while connecting to our body awareness.
EMDR
EMDR can be a power way to process trauma and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. I have experience providing EMDR traditionally and by use of play therapy.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- WashingtonLicense MHC.LH.60700340