Mariah Sullivan

I am passionate about working with trauma, particularly relational trauma such as domestic abuse, sexual trauma, and childhood abuse or neglect, as well as systemic trauma related to gender, weight, socioeconomic status or experiences within the mental health system. I also work with clients who may not identify with the word “trauma,” but notice longstanding relational patterns, shame, or attachment wounds impacting their lives.

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I also specialize in working with eating disorders and addiction, often approaching these concerns through trauma-focused and systemic lenses. I prioritize reducing shame and understanding these behaviors within the context of how they developed and what they have helped a person cope with, while also working toward lasting change.

 

With a background in exercise and nutrition, I integrate these areas into therapy when appropriate. I particularly enjoy working with clients who want to explore their relationship with food and movement, begin exercising, or navigate the intersection of mental health and recreational athletics.

My approach tends to work especially well for people who are highly self-reliant, perfectionistic, and may have difficulty understanding their emotional experience. You may struggle to slow down or prioritize your own needs, minimize the impact of difficult experiences, feel dysregulated by loss of control, or hold yourself responsible for things that were never entirely within your control.

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Many of my clients want to understand not only what they are experiencing, but why. I frequently incorporate psychoeducation about trauma and the nervous system, eating disorders, nutrition, behavior change, and the mind-body connection. My style is active and collaborative, and I work particularly well with people who appreciate being challenged and encouraged to consider new perspectives.

I take a relational, feminist, and existential approach to therapy, integrating cognitive, behavioral, mindfulness-based, attachment-oriented, and somatic frameworks. I believe our struggles make the most sense when we understand both the person and the world around them. This means balancing personal agency and accountability with recognition of the social, cultural, and relational forces that have shaped our experiences and beliefs about ourselves. I also integrate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) when appropriate.

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Above all, I focus on the therapeutic relationship. I bring humor, transparency, and directness into sessions and balance offering guidance and challenge with allowing you to lead us toward what feels most meaningful. I want therapy to be a space where we can laugh, be vulnerable, challenge old patterns, and talk honestly about difficult things.

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Qualifications: 

I am a licensed counselor in Washington, Oregon, and New Hampshire. I hold master’s degrees in counseling psychology and kinesiology with a concentration in sport and exercise psychology. I am also a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). I have received EMDR basic training through Thrive Training and Publications.