Tobi Nussbaum M.Ed., LMHCA

Hello! My name is Tobi, an art and play-based therapist with over a decade of combined experience helping children both in clinical and school settings. I am drawn to supporting sensitive, creative kids and teens who feel emotions deeply and/or march to the beat of their own drum. I support individuals navigating anxiety, grief and loss, identity (including LGBTQIA+), ADHD and autistic experiences, twice-exceptionality, trauma and family conflict. My liberation-oriented, trauma-informed approach honors familial context while respecting each unique person through a neuro-affirming lens. At Upstream, meaningful change begins with connection, being seen for our authentic selves, and includes a felt sense of safety. Influenced by my own therapist as a child, who helped me navigate big feelings and school challenges, I center curiosity and warmth in every session. I use evidence-based somatic approaches, play, art, narrative therapy, mindfulness, eco-therapy, psychoeducation, and CBT/DBT to help each client feel understood and cared for. I named my practice after Mary Oliver's essay Upstream, drawn to its reflections on interconnectedness, self-discovery, and the experience of swimming upstream against life's currents. In the space where wonder and presence meet, we connect deeper to each other and ourselves, and the possibility of change unfolds For Parents and Caregivers: I understand that families often seek support when big or confusing behaviors begin to take over daily life. Together, we explore what those behaviors may be communicating and develop creative, developmentally appropriate strategies that strengthen self-awareness, regulation, and advocacy across home, school, and everyday routines. I draw from Positive Discipline principles when supporting caregivers and always aim to create a collaborative, team-based experience. My background as a school counselor and a therapist includes facilitating groups, conducting school observations, collaborating with wraparound supports, and reviewing IEPs, 504s, and evaluations to help children thrive. I'm currently accepting new clients for both in-person and telehealth sessions. I honor you and/or your child’s identity, regardless of culture, faith, background, or orientation. Upstream acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.