Sophia Hilsen

Hello! I am happy you are here and have decided to take these next steps in creating the life that you want for yourself. Therapy looks different for everyone, as each person has their own unique life. To me, the purpose of counseling is to bring transparency to things in our lives that weigh heavy on us, to make the unknown seen and to help us feel less overwhelmed. Your values, background, and cultural experiences are the foundation of our counseling work; I will be alongside you as we work together to address the barriers that impact your relationships and keep you from being the best version of yourself. I work with individuals, couples, and adolescents who are motivated to better understand themselves and their relationships. I specialize in working with folks dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, trauma and women’s issues. I work from a trauma-informed, client-centered perspective and see the relationships we have with ourselves and the people in our life as the most important and influential components of a person’s life. In our work together, we will identify and rewrite your problematic narratives and thought patterns, explore your values, and strengthen your confidence to help you claim ownership and agency in your life. In this work, I will be using tools from Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I also work from a Relational-Cultural theory (RCT) background, which builds empathy, connection, a sense of growth, and mutuality in the therapeutic relationship. Not only can this be a great place to practice skills in a safe space, research shows that engaging in a genuine, caring relationship massively benefits all humans. I encourage you to advocate for the creative, therapeutic process that works best for you in our time together; I am always open to your feedback and suggestions. When working with couples, I believe the relationship between partners can offer life-changing growth and support. To foster the security that allows partners to share their vulnerabilities, provide comfort to each other, and deepen friendship and intimacy, I use tools from Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I am the most joyous version of myself when I am close to the ocean. I find myself drawn to the bodies of water when I am seeking a sense of peace, serenity, and bliss. I also love spending time in nature close to the beach or in the mountains hiking trails. I find community through playing sports on my local volleyball team and playing in tournaments on the weekends. On weeknights, my partner and I typically fill our stomachs with a delicious homemade meal, walk around town to debrief our days, then relax by watching an episode of Survivor, anime, reality TV, or a true crime documentary. My cat likes to cuddle up with me while I read my newest thriller, horror, or romance novel that was probably recommended by a close friend. I look forward to working with you.