Bethany Suppes, LMFT
She/Her
Currently Accepting New Clients
Ages: 14+
Types of Therapy: Adult Counseling, Teen Counseling, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Counseling, Trans and Non-Binary Affirming Counseling, Neurodivergent-Affirming (Autism, ASD, ADHD, etc.)
Virtual Telehealth Appointments: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Evening Appointments: Virtually via Telehealth in Federal Way, Tacoma, Seattle-area and across Washington State
Life can feel overwhelming, especially when the world seems harder and more complicated than ever. But feeling overwhelmed doesn't mean you're failing, and you don't have to figure everything out on your own. I believe in creating a space built on compassion, collaboration, and nonjudgmental curiosity. Together, we'll explore your relationships, work toward healthier dynamics, and find a balance between staying true to yourself while feeling connected, supported, and like you belong.
Who I Love To Work With
I love working with people who are looking to better understand themselves and build healthier relationships. This includes therapists, couples, polycules, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I'm especially passionate about supporting people as they explore sexual satisfaction, both independently and within
relationships, challenge assumptions they may have grown up with, and work through misinformation or religious-based messages surrounding sexuality. I also enjoy working with the "sandwich generation," or adults navigating relationships with both their parents and their own children. I'm particularly drawn to supporting those recovering from the "golden child" role and learning to create healthier family dynamics while making room for their own needs.
Common Reasons Clients Contact for Therapy in Federal Way
Relationship Distress: Navigating conflict, communication challenges, disconnection, or recurring
patterns in romantic and personal relationships.
Religious Trauma and Deconstruction: Processing the impact of religious experiences, questioning
previously held beliefs, and exploring identity outside of past religious expectations.
Codependency Recovery: Recognizing unhealthy relationship patterns, developing a stronger sense
of self, and learning to prioritize personal needs while maintaining meaningful connections.
Boundary-Setting and Maintaining Boundaries: Learning how to communicate needs, establish
healthy limits, and feel more comfortable holding those boundaries in relationships.
Sexuality and Gender Expression: Exploring sexual identity, gender expression, and personal
experiences while building confidence and self-understanding.
Balancing Attachment and Differentiation: Finding a healthy balance between feeling connected to
others and maintaining your own identity, independence, and sense of self.
Depression and Anxiety: Working through persistent sadness, worry, overwhelm, or emotional
challenges that affect everyday life.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Exploring experiences of dissociation, identity, and the impact of
trauma in a supportive therapeutic environment.
ADHD: Addressing challenges with focus, organization, emotional regulation, and everyday
responsibilities.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Understanding and managing significant emotional and
physical symptoms related to the menstrual cycle.
What It’s Like in a Session With Me (Teen, Adult, Couples and Family Therapy)
My approach to therapy is collaborative and built on shared expertise, compassion, and nonjudgmental curiosity. I want to create a space where you can safely reflect on life's hardships, better understand your role in them, and explore healing without being hard on yourself. Your goals are yours to define, and we'll focus on what you want to bring into your life rather than simply what you want to leave behind.
Together, we'll look at patterns, where they may come from, and how past experiences and assumptions shape the way you see
yourself and the world. We'll also work on understanding your thoughts and feelings as important parts of your experience, rather than treating them as facts.
Education, Licensure & Professional Training
PhD (MFT, Texas Wesleyan University, 2019)
MMFT (Abilene Christian University, 2014)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - WA State
A Note From Me
Maybe you're feeling unsure about therapy. You might be wondering, "I already know what a therapist is going to say, so why bother?" or "Can someone who doesn't know me really help me work through this?"
Those questions are completely understandable. Being hopeful can feel vulnerable, and change can be intimidating. You don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out, and you don't have to navigate life's challenges alone. You and your relationships deserve to feel safe, secure, and connected. I'd love to work alongside you to help make that possible.
Over the years, both as a therapist and as a person, I've come to believe that compassion is often the missing piece between where we are and where we hope to be. It's amazing how much can change when we approach ourselves with compassion rather than pressure or stress. One thing my own therapist once told me has stuck
with me ever since: "If being hard on yourself worked, it would have worked by now." I find myself coming back to those words often, both in my own life and in my work with clients. Sometimes, the most meaningful change starts with simply being a little kinder to ourselves.
I offer virtual telehealth appointments to clients anywhere within Washington State including Seattle, Olympia, Tri-Cities, and Spokane. Daytime appointments, afternoon appointments, and evening appointments are available. Thrive Counseling Center accepts all major commercial insurance plans such as Premera, Regence, Aetna, Cigna, United/Optum, Kaiser HMO and PPO, and more. For more information please call or email our office.