CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

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I (B. Bartja Wachtel - He/Him/They/Them) am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, with a Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Washington University. My focus and experience are in partnering with adolescents (17+), adults, and elders in their relationship to chronic emotional and physical conditions. 

 

My primary areas of focus and experience include: neurological conditions (ALS, MS, Parkinson's, early on-set Dementias); terminal illness and end of life; experiences of physical and sexual trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, and loss; challenges in spirituality and meaning; non-dominant gender, racial, cultural and romantic orientations; men's issues involving "toxic masculinity" that prevent intimacy; veterans and maternal mental health; family-friend and professional caregivers; as well as conditions of depression and anxiety.

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If you don't see your insurance listed above, please contact your insurance to determine if they will accept a "Super Bill" from me for therapy.

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WHAT IS THERAPY

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Therapy, Psychotherapy and “counseling” mean the same thing—what we call “talking therapy:” spending some set-aside time, initially each week, with your therapist talking about life challenges, areas where you feel stuck or overwhelmed, and engaging your skills and strengths in facing difficulty, as well as developing some new ways of doing things or internal ways of shifting that relieve your suffering and move you toward some peace, contentment and hopefully some meaning in it all.  Most importantly, you and your therapist develop a plan around behaviors, emotions and ways of thinking that support you in improving how you feel emotionally and function in daily life, or what we might call your “well-being.”  Additionally, your therapist addresses skills you might use that are based in the best, well-researched practices. While some people do see a Psychiatrist for prescribing medications, which can be helpful for a short period of time, especially in conjunction with talking therapy, this is not the focus of talking therapy.

 

The most important part of therapy is feeling a connection with your therapist, and I fully support you in making sure you have the best fit.  It is your right and duty to end the therapeutic relationship when services are no longer serving you.  A listing of alternative agencies or therapists can be provided upon request.

 

It is reasonable to expect that over time you would spend about 53 minutes each week, by insurance policy, for 6-12 weeks with a therapist, in order to make enough progress to get you on your way to meeting your personal goals for emotional well-being.

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Along with the more traditional skills in mental health, Social Workers tend toward a more holistic view of your life, with skill and knowledge in navigating the bigger picture of your thoughts, physical health, relationships, values or spirituality, work life and community, all of which have challenges and strengths.

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MY APPROACH

 

I practice primarily from the approaches of mindfulness based therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), self-compassion and positive psychology, which are all grounded in contemplative neuroscience and psychological evidence based research.  I also have training in other approaches that provide flexibility in addressing your concerns, keeping what might work for you at the center of our work together.
 
In the well-established neuroscience research on the human mind, there are a few things we know about the ways we react to the stress and pain of life: We often get stuck in resistance to the very normal experience of human suffering.  We become stressed by things over which we have no control; aging, disease and death—as though something has gone terribly wrong.  This same research also offers some solutions: In awareness we can acknowledge suffering, that we are disconnected from the fullness of our human experience and ourselves.  We can transform the usual reaction of moving away and disconnecting from pain in the mind, body and relationships.  Instead we can respond, purposefully, by moving toward and internally inclining toward your experience and yourself; cultivating tenderness, interconnectedness, and wise attention--because you are suffering.  There are these tremendous resources within yourself that hold space for a sense of wholeness, especially during emotionally painful experiences and feelings of imperfection.  In the research, these ways of responding to suffering are closely correlated with improvements in mental health, physical health and an overall sense of well-being.

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PROCESS OF THERAPY

 

I honor your experience by compassionately and non-judgmentally listening, being present and fully aware of your experiences of the mind, and how this impacts your physical health and relationships.  We engage various ways of being—by bringing a measure of acceptance to suffering, which may show up in any given moment of your life.  Initially we are just being curious and noticing the ways in which you may have become disconnected from any aspect of yourself or overwhelmed by emotions.  When possible, we cultivate compassionate awareness toward your experience and say in a tender way, “What are you resisting?”  By beginning to internally incline in this way toward the pain of life, without feeling the need to condone anything; we allow transformation to naturally come out of a measure of acceptance of what is.
 
My intention in these interventions is to provide as much structure and predictability as possible.  We will often spend our time together in a brief mindfulness practice—centering ourselves in awareness of what is rising to the surface in emotions, thoughts, body sensations and the core values that hold the most meaning in your life.  In this we are bringing the possibility of reconnection and expanded connection with the greater suffering and joy of your full humanity.
 
This foundation can be a resource to you when things become challenging or devastating in the present or future.  In more ways than one, this is not about continuing a cycle of wishing that things be different than what they are or striving to keep some pleasurable experience.  Once we can accept our experience and ourselves just as we are, then change, connection and a measure of contentment often come.  I would be honored to join with you in our common humanity on this adventure.

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  SPECIALTIES

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Chronic & Neurological Conditions (Alz, ALS, MS, PD, TBI)

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Gender Spectrum Queer Positive (Transgender, Non-Binary, Pangender, Genderqueer)

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Affiliative/Sexual Orientations (Lesbian, Pan, Bi, Gay, Hetero/Homoflexible)

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Social Justice & Deconstruction of Settler Society

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Men’s Issues (Toxic Masculinity, Vulnerability, Compassion)

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People of Color (Supremacy Culture of Trauma)

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Feminist Thought

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Consensual Multiamory (Polyamory/Monogamy/Sex-Positive)

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Caregivers (Family, Friends, Professional, Mental Health & Medical Providers)

 

Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum

 

Spirituality

 

Veterans

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CONCERNS

 

Adjustment Disorders

 

Anxiety

 

Behavioral Issues

 

Coping Skills

 

Depression

 

Domestic Violence

 

Emotional Disturbance

 

Family Conflict

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Gender Dysphoria

 

Grief/Loss

 

Mood Disorders 

 

Relationships - Social, Polyamory, Monogamy

 

Sexuality 

 

Sleep or Insomnia

 

Somataform Disorders

 

Terminal Illness/End of Life

 

Toxic Masculinity 

 

Trauma

 

Work Stress

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CLIENT FOCUS

 

Adults 

 

Elders (65+)

 

Adolescents (17+)

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TREATMENT ORIENTATIONS

 

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

 

Compassion Focused

 

Ecological-Systems

 

Mindfulness Based

 

Motivational Interviewing 

 

Narrative Therapy

 

Person Centered

 

Positive Psychology (Strengths Based)

 

Self-Compassion Based

 

Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

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MODALITIES

 

Individuals

 

Couples (Only where one is in the Caregiving Role)

 

Family

 

Group

 

 

 *Any and all information disclosed through this webiste are the sole expressed views of EMFM and are in no way condoned or endorsed of any other contracted or associated entity.