You are always enough.

My name is Rachelle Olson and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Bellingham, Washington.

I have over five years of experience working in mental health in a variety of settings: as a counselor in both community mental health and private practice, at Western’s suicide prevention program, at a local crisis hotline, as an advocate at Bellingham’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, and at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center

I work with individuals ages 13 & up. My areas of interest include anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, grief, body image issues, shame issues, identity development, parenting techniques, self-care skills, life transitions, relationship issues, and developing self-love/self-compassion.

My Therapeutic Approach

I named my practice “CareSpace” because I provide a caring and nonjudgmental space for you to share your story and build on your unique inner strengths. My hope is that you will find our work together to be supportive, transformative, and empowering.

I am trained in traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing our automatic negative thoughts and behavior patterns. I also regularly incorporate aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which includes practicing mindfulness and developing self-compassion.

Therapy for Teens

Navigating the teenage years can be challenging, both for adolescents and for their parents and families. This is a time of significant change for one’s mind and body. If the client is open to it, I encourage the engagement of parents and family members in their counseling so I can better understand the teen’s support system and how we can all work together to strengthen the teen’s mental health and encourage their transition into young adulthood.