Stacey Hannigan, LMHC

You survived the past.

Start thriving in the present.

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This isn’t your first rodeo.

You’ve been to therapy before, but just talking about your past did not lessen the pain, or change your reactions to it. Sometimes talking about it made it feel even worse. And, frankly, you’re sick of telling your story.

Memories still pop up out of nowhere, you still assume the worst of those around you and sometimes the whole world still feels unsafe and overwhelming. All of this makes it really hard to connect to the people you care about and to function in your daily life.

I use EMDR therapy to bridge this gap. This allows us to focus on both the body and mind, and access memories and thoughts in a different way than talk therapy alone. My passion is working with trauma survivors, which involves holding space for the stories you know will (or have) overwhelmed your family, friends and maybe even other therapists.

You are not broken, you don’t need to be fixed. You just need to find healing.

I do have an affinity for cardigans and mugs of tea, and I probably will ask you how you’re feeling, but don’t think that makes me like every other therapist.

I will call you on your shit and tell you things that might be hard to hear if I think they’ll be helpful.

And I will also be mindful and gentle with sensitive stories and experiences.  

My priority is that you feel safe enough to share your most vulnerable thoughts, feelings and memories and know you will not be judged, criticized or shamed, even if there are elements of these stories that cause feelings of guilt or regret.

I will honor your story, in all its messiness, chaos, confusion, and contradiction, and we’ll work through it together.

My Guiding Principles

 

All are welcome here

Every person deserves quality, nonjudgmental, and safe health care. Every client should feel safe in therapy regardless of their religious/spiritual beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation or relationship structure, or racial, ethnic or cultural background. It is important to acknowledge the intersectionality of each of our identities and to celebrate the ways these identities meld together to make up who we are as a whole.

Your unique path to healing

No two paths to healing are the same, and I will not try to make yours fit into a preconceived idea. While therapy can be a huge part of healing, I recognize that it is often only one part of the journey. And if you do therapy, it should flex to fit you, not the other way around.

I believe we all do what we can, when we can, and in the way we are each uniquely able to do it. 

Your path is sacred and deserving of respect.

An authentic connection

I believe a therapeutic connection should feel real, not cold or overly clinical. It is important to me that you feel comfortable sharing your whole self in the session, without censorship or reservation, and that you feel met in that space first and foremost by another human, not a text book.

Without connection, there is no healing.

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    Education & Licensure

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) # LH60412589 _____

    Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology from the Alaska Pacific University 2009

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    Trainings & Certifications

    EMDR trained since 2016

    Primary Care Behavioral Health Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Medical School 2009

    Specialized training related to trauma, complex trauma and dissociation

    Specialized training in facilitating EMDR Intensives

    Specialized training related to LGBTQ2IA+ clinical issues and community needs

    Specialized training in providing telehealth services and best practices for online therapy

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    Professional Associations

    National Certified Counselor (NCC) since 2015

    Member, EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) since 2018